If the Fire are to rebound from a miserable 2015, expect Razvan Cocis’ steady hand to be their guide.
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That’s an odd thing to say considering you can’t use your hands in soccer. But it’s appropriate because despite the chaos that has shadowed his life from time to time, little seems to faze the Romanian midfielder.
Cocis (pronounced Raz-van Koh-sich) was born and raised in Slatina, about 90 miles west of the capital, Bucharest. To put it mildly, Romania has endured massive turmoil the past few decades, including the ouster of Nicolae Ceausescu’s repressive regime and the country’s subsequent struggle to detach from communism.
In December 1989 alone, more than 1,000 people were killed in clashes between the military and protesters before Ceausescu was finally removed. Fortunately for Cocis, his parents and his brother, most of the violence took place far from their backyard.
“I remember a few things that my parents told me, like we need to stay at home and things like that,” said Cocis, who was 6 at the time. “We were watching TV and trying to figure out what’s happening. I was away from the shooting and stuff. The revolution started in most of the big cities. I was living in one of the big cities, but not very close to downtown, where the problematic area was. I remember a few things, like talking about it. But I don’t remember being scared or anything. Five days [after the revolution began], it was all gone.
“We were careful. [Our parents said,] ‘We’re not even going downstairs to play outside.’ I don’t remember the exact words, but we were staying in the building.”
While his country was striving to regain political stability, Cocis focused on soccer. He recalled watching matches with his father, whom he credits with instilling a love for the sport in him.
“I had a lot of time to practice by my own or with my friends in the park,” he said. “I lived in a neighborhood with a lot of buildings, and there were a lot of kids hanging out in the park. That helped my career and made me think about what I want for my future, like being a professional soccer player.”
Before coming to Chicago, he played for a handful of teams in Europe and Saudi Arabia and suited up for 50 matches with the Romanian national team. Then in 2014, Cocis was competing for a Ukrainian team when Russian troops invaded the Crimean peninsula.
“The problems were north and in Kiev, the capital,” he said. “I was more west, very close to the borders with Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. That part of the country was OK. There were still a few protesters in town but nothing much. I can’t say I was scared, but I was cautious about it, and people were talking about how there might be people coming to town just to protest like in some other cities. I flew through Kiev once or twice, and both times there were problems, but we walked through the city and it was OK.
“The invasion did encourage me to leave Ukraine, and I was waiting for an opportunity to play in the United States since 2013. I received the [Fire’s] offer and took it without hesitation.”
Relative to social unrest and keeping his wife and two young children safe, helping the Fire return to playoff contention barely registers on the Life Importance Meter. Still, it’s how Cocis and his team make a living, and he’s taken up a parental role in the locker room. At 33, Cocis is the oldest player on the Fire; the average age of the team is a smidge over 25.
“Razvan has turned into a father figure recently for the team,” defender Eric Gehrig said. “He’s always making sure everyone is OK, setting up team dinners and such for us to all spend time together.”
The Fire finished last in MLS in 2015 with 30 points, 19 shy of a postseason berth. One reason for the catastrophe is the team allowed a league-worst 58 goals while scoring only 43. Coach Frank Yallop was dismissed in the offseason, replaced by Veljko Paunovic. The roster was revamped drastically as well.
This season marks Cocis’ third with the Fire. Scoring is not his forte—he tallied just two goals and three assists in 26 games last year—but his endurance and array of skills impress his teammates.
“His engine and ability to cover ground is admirable,” Gehrig said. “He’s very, very fit, gets stuck in tackles, wins headers, sprays balls. His motor is what impresses me the most. He’s had a long career and to still be going at this high of a level is a testament to his professionalism.”
Cocis’ approach to soccer and outward demeanor are comparable to Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks’ “Captain Serious.” Even his wardrobe is not to be taken lightly.
“One thing that’s unexpected about Razvan is that he’s secretly into fashion,” midfielder Matt Polster said. “He walks in with his very European style, just walks in, shows his face and looks like a boss.”
As Cocis is one of only nine players returning to the Fire from 2015, the team hopes his influence accelerates their progression—all the way back to the playoffs.
“When emotions and feelings and speed are heightened, he’s a player that can help us calm things down,” said assistant coach Logan Pause, a Fire teammate of Cocis’ in 2014. “He’s someone that is important in terms of being steadying and consistent.”
THE DIGIT
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Fire midfielder Razvan Cocis has played for professional teams in six countries in his career: Romania, Moldova, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United States.
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