Magee scored the Fire's winning goal against Philadelphia last weekend
If someone was to ask who the hottest player in Major League Soccer is at this very moment, the answer would certainly be Mike Magee.
Magee is the MLS leader for goals in 2013, having scored 14 times in 20 games played - split evenly between the Fire and his previous club the LA Galaxy - with eight of his markers coming since he joined the Illinois side in May in a deal that sent Robbie Rogers to LA.
At the time, the hoopla surrounding the deal revolved around Rogers’ coming out as the first ever openly gay athlete active in North American pro sports.
Clutch goal scorer
However, what was lost in the media circus was that the Fire acquired one of the most clutch goal scorers in MLS history. In his 15 post-season appearances, he’s scored eight goals, including a number of game and series winners.
His timely performances have continued in the uniform of his hometown team since making his debut on June 2, helping his hometown team to a 6-2-2 record since the trade.
Prior to his arrival, the Fire toiled near the basement of the league, having won just twice in 12 games - good for a lowly record of 2-7-2. Now, Chicago is just five points out of a playoff spot, sitting in 7th spot in the Eastern Conference with 28 points.
Team player
Magee has been known as a versatile player throughout his career. Although he’s lined up mostly as a striker or midfielder, Magee has dabbled in a number of positions, including goalkeeper!
On June 25, 2011, he came on as a goalkeeper in the 43rd minute of a match against the San Jose Earthquakes after an injury to starting goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and a red card to Josh Saunders.
Magee made four saves, including a late stop on a point blank short from Steven Lenhart, preserving a clean sheet for the Galaxy in a 0-0 draw.
Magee for MVP?
Although there are still number of games left to play, Magee is making a serious run for one of the most successful individual season of all-time. He’s already topped his previous season best goal scoring record (10) in just 20 games played, he’s has recently shared a locker room with the Impact’s Marco Di Vaio and Patrice Bernier at the all-star game and he has almost single-handedly turned the Fire’s fortune around after a dismal start to the 2013 campaign.
