Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC has announced the appointment of Michael Stephens as the Head of Recruitment. A former player and scout for the team, Stephens will be responsible for leading efforts to identify, recruit, and acquire top talent. He will report directly to Gregg Berhalter, Director of Football and Head Coach.

“I’m pleased to welcome Michael back to the Club as our Head of Recruitment,” said Berhalter. “Having worked closely with him at the U.S. Men’s National Team, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and attention to detail that he brings to talent recruitment. His deep knowledge of MLS, combined with his experience at the international level, will be a significant asset as we look to build a winning team and establish the Fire as a leader in player recruitment.”

Stephens' role includes designing a talent acquisition strategy for both domestic and international markets. He will manage the scouting network worldwide and work with technical staff to align recruitment strategies with team needs.

"I would like to thank Gregg and everyone at the Chicago Fire for this incredible opportunity to work for my hometown Club,” said Stephens. “We will give our all to put a team on the field that the fans can be proud of."

Hailing from Lisle, Illinois, Stephens joins after three seasons with LA Galaxy's technical staff. During his tenure there, he helped lead them to playoff qualifications in two out of three seasons. Previously, he was an Advanced Scout for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2019-2022.

Stephens began his professional career with LA Galaxy in 2010, winning two MLS Cups during his time there. After stints abroad and with other teams, including Chicago Fire in 2015-16, he ended his playing career by winning an NASL championship with San Francisco Deltas in 2017.