Frank Klopas

Infobox Football biography
playername= Frank Klopas
fullname = Fotios "Frank" Klopas
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1966|9|1
cityofbirth = Prosimna
countryofbirth = Greece
height = height|m=1.75
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1983-1988
1988-1994
1994-1996
1996-1997
1998-1999
clubs = Chicago Sting (indoor)
AEK Athens FC
Apollon FC
Kansas City Wizards
Chicago Fire
caps(goals) = 140 (62)
049 0(6)
054 0(7)
045 0(6)
nationalyears = 1987-1998
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 039 (12)
manageryears = 2004-2006
2008-present
managerclubs = Chicago Storm
Chicago Fire ("Technical Director")
pcupdate = 31 May 2006
ntupdate = 22 June 2006

Fotios "Frank" Klopas ("Greek: Φώτιος «Φρανκ» Κλόπας") (born September 1, 1966 in Prosimna, Greece) is a retired Greek-American soccer forward and midfielder. Klopas is the new Technical Director for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. He was formerly a color commentator for Comcast SportsNet Chicago for Chicago Fire television broadcasts.

Youth

Klopas emigrated to the United States when he was 8 years old and received U.S. citizenship on his 18th birthday. He and his family settled in Chicago, where he attended and played boys soccer, at Mather High School, which he led to the Chicago Public League championship his senior year.

Chicago Sting

In 1983, he signed with the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League straight out of high school, but an injury led to him missing the team's final outdoor season. Klopas would play for the indoor Sting in the MISL for four seasons. He earned second team All Star honors during the 1986-1987 season.

Move to Greece

In 1988, Klopas moved to Greece to play with AEK Athens FC. He played four seasons with the team. However, he tore his anterior crucaite ligament in 1991. That injury and a subsequent infection hindered his playing for nearly two years. In 1992, Klopas signed a contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation to play full time for the United States men's national soccer team. After the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Klopas returned to Greece and signed with Apollon FC in 1994 for the remainder of the 1994-1995 season, as well as the 1995-1996 season. He debuted with Apollon on January 7, 1995 against his former Greek club, AEK Athens FC.

MLS

In 1996, Major League Soccer began developing teams for its inaugural season. In order to ensure an equitable distribution of talent to each team, MLS allocated known players to each team. MLS allocated Klopas to the Kansas City Wizards. Klopas would spend two years with the club, and was then dealt to the expansion Chicago Fire. He would play two years for Chicago before retiring, helping them to the MLS Cup in 1998 and the U.S. Open Cup to complete "The Double."

In four years in MLS, Klopas scored 13 goals and added 16 assists. He had six goals and five assists in 40 games -- 24 starts -- for the Fire, including both goals in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Mutiny in the Fire's first ever game at Soldier Field on April 4, 1998.

Klopas' most notable goal for the Fire came in Golden Goal overtime of a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew in the U.S. Open Cup Final on Oct. 30, 1998, at Soldier Field.

On January 25, 2000, Klopas announced his retirement from playing professional soccer. The Fire then hired him as the team strength and conditioning trainer. After the 2000 MLS season, Klopas resigned from the Fire due to personal reasons.

National team

Klopas made his debut for the U.S. national team in 1987 and scored 12 goals in 39 international appearances. He played for his country at the 1988 Olympics. In 1994, he had surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, but returne in time for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also scored the game-winner in a 3:0 shocker over Argentina at the Ca|1995.

Coaching

On June 2, 2004, Klopas was named the head coach and general manager of MISL's expansion franchise Chicago Storm. He led the team to a playoff berth in its second season, but left it on July 24, 2006.

On June 5, 2004, the Fire inducted Klopas into the team's "Ring of Fire," which celebrates outstanding players and contributors to the organization. The team inducts one person a year, who is no longer affiliated with the club. Klopas is joined in the Ring of Fire by former players Peter Nowak and Lubos Kubik and former general manager Peter Wilt.

Frank Klopas also is an owner of a youth soccer club in Chicago called F.C. Drive.

Technical Director

Klopas was named the first Technical Director for his former club Chicago Fire in January 2008.

Honours

Chicago Sting
*NASL Championship: 1984

AEK
*Greek Championship: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994
*Greek Super Cup: 1989
*Greek League Cup: 1990
*Pre-Mediterranean Cup: 1991