MLS Preview: Columbus Crew

Hooligan Soccer

·7 febbraio 2025

MLS Preview: Columbus Crew

Club History

One of the 10 original clubs in the MLS’ inaugural 1996 season, they claim to be the oldest MLS club in existence, founded in early 1994 (the San Jose Earthquakes would dispute this). Their first ten years were marked by mediocrity punctuated with brief moments of brilliance and unfulfilled promise, with two exceptions. One was their unexpected 2002 US Open Cup win. The second was their 2004 season when they won their first Supporters Shield but were eliminated in the MLS Cup quarter-finals.

After a dismal three-year spell, the Crew re-emerged onto the MLS scene in 2008, winning their first MLS Cup trophy and two consecutive Supporters Shields. Another nine years of yo-yoing in the MLS middle tables was broken by a Cinderella-story run to the MLS Cup finals in 2020 and again in 2023.

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Ownership

Founded by Lamar Hunt, who retained his majority up until his 2006 death, the club’s control remained within the Hunt family until 2013 when Anthony Precourt took the majority of shares. His tenure was rocked with controversy, from changing the team name to Columbus Crew SC and threatening to move the club to Austin, TX. In 2018, the Haslam family, a prominent Ohio clan who also own the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and the Pilot Corporation, a petroleum company that operated over 800+ truck stops and convenience stores across the U.S. and Canada, took over the Crew and are still the current owners.

Notable Players

Given nearly 30 years of history, this list probably should be much longer.

Brian McBride (United States) – Forward The Crew’s first MLS drafted player, McBride played for the club from 1996-2003, when he left for Fulham. His 79 goals are still the club record.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Argentina) – Forward The Crew’s first Designated Player. Led team to the 2008 MLS Cup. Recorded 70 contributions over 102 games (33 goals; 37 assists).
Federico Higuaín (Argentina) – Midfielder A gifted playmaker with 58 goals and 52 assists in his seven years.
Frankie Hejduk (United States) – Defender Team captain from 2003-2010 and a defensive powerhouse.
Chad Marshall (United States) – Defender Three-time MLS Defender of the Year winner. Spent a decade with the club, and his 277 appearances are the club record.

Other Facts

The club owns MLS records for most highest cumulative attendance and sellouts.
Their supporter group is known as the Nordecke, named for the northern corner of their old stadium where they all congregated.
Their old home, Crew Stadium, was the first soccer-specific stadium built in the U.S. The team played there from 1998 through 2021.
The Hell is Real Derby, contested with FC Cincinnati, is named after a prominent billboard advertisement along the I-71 highway that connects the two cities.
Have had ten head coaches in their 30-year history.
All three of their MLS Cup wins have come the year after they did not qualify for the postseason.

2024 Performance

19W – 9D – 6W with 66 points. Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference, and 2nd overall.
As defending MLS Cup champions and exceptional regular season form, expectations were high for the postseason. Sadly, they fell to the New York Red Bulls in the Round of 16.
Still, the season must still be viewed as successful, as the club were runners-up in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Campeones Cup, and the winners of the Leagues Cup.
They declined to participate in the US Open Cup. While understandable given the other competitions on their schedule, it’s not right to snub your nose at tradition. Perhaps it was this karma that led them to stumble in the postseason.
Designated Player and top goalscorer Cucho Hernández made a $14M move to Real Betis earlier this month. Curious to see how the Crew make use of this newfound cash and the open slot.

Who to Watch 2025

Darlington Nagbe (United States) – Midfielder In an outstanding season for the club, it was a disappointing one from the team captain. He’ll need to do better.
Diego Rossi (Uruguay) – Winger The Crew will need more output than the 20 contributions from last season, given Cucho’s departure.
Lassi Lappalainen (Finland) – Winger Coach Wilfried Nancy knows this pacy Finn from his days at CF Montréal.

First Match

Host the neighboring Chicago Fire on Feb. 22

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