Brown leaving Chicago Fire again

The Chicago Fire confirmed Monday that first assistant coach C.J. Brown is leaving the team to join the staff of expansion club New York City FC.

"I have made a very difficult decision to leave the Fire," Brown said in a statement released by the Fire. "My family is very sad about leaving a place we consider our home, but I have been given a chance that I cannot pass up."

Brown played for the Fire for 13 seasons, becoming a fan favorite along the way. Those fans were disappointed when upon retirement as a player after the 2010 season he left the club to join the staff of coach Jason Kreis at Real Salt Lake.

Brown returned to Chicago last season as an assistant to first-year Fire coach and director of soccer Frank Yallop. He is leaving the team to rejoin Kreis in New York.

Brown, a member of the club's Ring of Fire hall of fame, is the Fire's all-time leader in competitive appearances, starts and minutes.

The Fire is left with Clint Mathis, goalkeeper coach Aron Hyde and conditioning coach Tony Jouaux on its technical staff. Former Fire forward Brian McBride served as a part-time coach during the 2014 season.

"It's disappointing to lose C.J. from our coaching staff, as we made every attempt to ensure he would remain with the club long-term," Yallop said. "In a sense C.J. saw an opportunity to 'get the band back together' so to speak. C.J. was a valuable part of what we are doing here and I have great appreciation for the work he put into this club over the past season."

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