CHICAGO, IL --
The Chicago Fire has announced that goalkeeper Jon Busch and midfielder Logan Pause have signed multi-year contract extensions with the club. Busch, 32, was named the 2008 Panasonic MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and earned MLS Best XI honors. Pause is in his seventh season with the Chicago Fire and has appeared in 148 games, starting 127, through his MLS career. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.
"We are very pleased to have both Jon Busch and Logan Pause remain on our roster. Both players are great professionals who are not only valuable assets on the field and important contributors during every game, but are both important role models for our younger players," said Fire Technical director Frank Klopas.
After joining the team in 2007, Busch stepped into a starting role for the Fire in 2008 season and made the most of his opportunity. Busch was the only Fire player to start and play 90 minutes in every regular and postseason 2008 match. With a goals-against average of 1.1 and 10 shutouts, Busch earned the honor of 2008 Panasonic MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, MLS Best XI, and 2008 Chicago Fire MVP. U.S. Men's National team head coach Bob Bradley took notice of Busch during the 2008 season and invited him into the first national team training camps of 2009 in advance of a friendly against Sweden and a World Cup Qualifier against Mexico. Busch has started and played 90 minutes in both of the Fire's first two matches and has posted a goals-against average of 1.00.
Since arriving in Chicago in 2003, Pause has average 24 league games played each year with at least 1,350 minutes played per season. In 2007, Pause made his mark early, scoring the game-winning goal in the Fire's first-ever season opener at TOYOTA PARK in a 1-0 victory over New England. In 2008, Pause helped the Fire to their 10th playoff appearance with his 27 matches started. The Hillsborough, North Carolina native has started and played the full 90 minutes through the Fire's first two matches of 2009.
After picking up four points through their first two games on the road, the Fire return to Chicago for their 2009 home opener at TOYOTA PARK this Sunday, April 5 (My50 Chicago, TeleFutura, 2 p.m. CT) against the New York Red Bulls. Tickets are available now by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com
TRANSACTION: Chicago Fire re-sign goalkeeper Jon Busch and midfielder Logan Pause.
