Independence coach Mike Jeffries prepares for Chicago return, U.S. Open Cup round of 16
In 1998, at the age of 35, Charlotte Independence coach Mike Jeffries landed his first job with a Major League Soccer team as an assistant coach for the expansion Chicago Fire.
In the franchise’s inaugural season, Jeffries and the Fire won the U.S. Open Cup. Theyreclaimed the championship in 2000. Jeffries left Chicago only to return as an assistant from 2008-10 and as director of player personnel from Oct. 2010 through Sept. 2011.
On Tuesday, Jeffries returns to Chicago once again, as the Independence squares off against the Fire in a U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 match.
“It will be fun for me to go back and be able to walk into Toyota Park,” Jeffries said. “I have good memories from there and good memories from Chicago. It will be nice to be a part of all that, but the whole thing is about the guys.”
In Charlotte’s first Cup appearance, Jeffries’ squad is the lowest-level team left in the tournament, which dates back to 1914 and is the oldest national soccer competition in the United States.
Representing the Division III United Soccer League, the Independence upset MLS’ New England Revolution 1-0 on June 17 to advance to the round of 16.
With a 0-0 draw against the Richmond Kickers on Friday, Charlotte is unbeaten in four of its past five matches. Chicago has won only one of its past five matches, but Jeffries said the Independence still need to be at their best to knock off the four-time Cup champions.
“We’ve got to have good concentration throughout the match, be tuned in throughout the match and we have to make a few plays that make a difference at some point,” Jeffries said. “Somebody has to step up. We’ve got a sense (of confidence), but those are some of the things that have to go right for us to beat an MLS team.”
Hired in 2013, Fire coach Frank Yallop wasn’t with Chicago at the same time as Jeffries. But having coached against Jeffries and watched the Independence defeat the Revolution, Yallop knows his team faces a stiff challenge.
“It’s always nice when someone can come home where he (Jeffries) worked and bring his team,” Yallop said Monday during a conference call. “I hope it’s not too good of a homecoming, but it will be good to see Mike and his team.
“We know it’s not an easy game at all, and it never is. They’re a good fight, and they’ve proven that in their division. We better be ready for it.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Independence coach Mike Jeffries prepares for Chicago return, U.S. Open Cup round of 16."