Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew

File:ColumbusCrew.png
Full name	Columbus Crew
Nickname(s)	The Crew, Massive, America's Hardest Working Team
Founded	1994
Ground	Columbus Crew Stadium Columbus, Ohio
Capacity	20,555
Owner	Clark Hunt
Head Coach	Robert Warzycha
League	Major League Soccer
2009	Eastern Conference: 1st Overall: 1st Playoffs: Quarterfinals
Home colors Away colors

The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio that participates in Major League Soccer. The club was owned by the legendary Lamar Hunt, who also owned the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas until his 2006 death. Upon his death, his son Clark Hunt took over his sports properties. The Crew currently plays their home games at Columbus Crew Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium ever built by an MLS franchise. From 1996 to 1998, the Crew played their home games at Ohio Stadium on the campus of the Ohio State University. The nickname "the Crew" is the result of a local fan contest. The team colors are black and gold. The team mascot is Crew Cat.

The Crew has won five major trophies: MLS Cup 2008, the 2004, 2008 and 2009 Supporters' Shields, and the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Crew won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy by a score of 1 to 0 at Columbus Crew Stadium. The game's lone goal was scored by Fredy Garcia. The Crew then won its first MLS Supporters' Shield during the 2004 in a tie-breaker over the Kansas City Wizards. During the 2008 MLS Season the Crew won its second Supporters' Shield by six points over Houston, en route to defeating the New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup 2008 by a score of 3 to 1. Guillermo Barros Schelotto assisted on all three Crew goals. The Crew reached one other final, the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final, which was postponed due to a hurricane and controversially relocated from Virginia Beach to Soldier Field, then the home of Chicago Fire, who won the match 2 to 1 after extra time.

The Crew clinched the 2009 MLS Supporters' Shield on October 22 after Chivas USA fell to Chicago Fire. This assured the Crew entry into the 2010 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League. The Black & Gold finished the 2009 MLS campaign with a 13-7-10 regular-season record, good enough for 49 points. The Crew went on to be eliminated by Real Salt Lake in the two-legged Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4-2 on aggregate. The team has 3 major support groups: "The Crew Supporters Union", "The Hudson Street Hooligans", and "La Turbina Amarilla". These supporters groups sit together in the northeast corner of Columbus Crew Stadium, known as the "Nordecke" (pronounced Nord-eck-uh), which is German for North Corner, and is a tribute to the German heritage of Columbus.

History

The Columbus Crew is a founding member of Major League Soccer. The team played its home matches in Ohio Stadium from its inaugural year in 1996 through 1998. Beginning in 1999, the Crew played all of their home MLS matches in the newly built Columbus Crew Stadium, the first soccer specific stadium for a top flight team in the United States and frequent host to key US Men's National Team fixtures.

File:Mls cup 2008 crew 657a.jpg

MLS Cup 2008 Winners

The Crew won its first trophy in 2002, capturing the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by beating the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in the Final. The win earned the Crew a berth into CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2003, where they defeated Árabe Unido of Panama 4-2 on aggregate before being eliminated by Monarcas Morelia as they lost the tie by an aggregate score of 6 to 2. In 2004 the Crew won the 2004 MLS Supporters' Shield.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto signed for the Crew in 2007, and in 2008 had an MLS MVP winning season leading the Crew to once again win the Supporter's Shield in 2008 before winning MLS Cup 2008, beating the New York Red Bulls 3-1 and assisting on all three goals. In 2009 he was rewarded with the honor of becoming the franchise's first Designated Player.

Television and radio

In 2008, Crew matches were telecast locally on the Ohio News Network. Dwight Burgess serves as play-by-play commentator, Bill McDermott and Dante Washington serve as color commentator for home and away games, respectively. Katie Witham is the sideline reporter for all games telecast on ONN.

English radio broadcasts can be heard on 610 AM WTVN with Neil Sika as play-by-play commentator and John Bluem as color commentator. Spanish radio broadcasts can be heard on 1550 AM WDLR with Marcelo Carrera as commentator.

Crew Soccer Updates air weekdays on 105.7 FM WBWR and 106.7 FM WRXS.

Sponsors

Since 2006 adidas has served as kit manufacturer for all MLS teams. Since 2008 Glidden has served as the Crew's shirt sponsor.

Rivals

Since 2008 the Crew have contested with Toronto FC for the Trillium Cup.

On March 28, 2009, the Columbus-Toronto Rivalry intensified, after a relatively flat rivalry in previous years. Results on the field remained in favor of Columbus, with the total series now 4-0-5 in favor of The Crew. However, an off the field incident involving several fans of both the home side and the large traveling contingent of Toronto FC supporters overshadowed the match itself. In the aftermath of the incident, one Toronto FC fan was arrested, another claimed to have been subdued with taser guns by Columbus Police. Both Toronto FC fans and officials in Columbus pointed fingers at each other. Crew Stadium reported damages to the stadium caused by vandalism in the south End of the stadium where Toronto FC fans were provided with designated seating.

Supporters: The Nordecke Transformation

Before the 2008 season, the Columbus Crew front office demolished the north stands where the most ardent of Crew supporters stood, in order to build a stage that would provide additional revenue by facilitating concerts and other events. Prior to this, the team's three supporters groups (The Crew Supporters Union, The Hudson Street Hooligans, and La Turbina Amarilla) sat apart because of differences between the groups ranging from age to ethnicity. The demolition of the stage forced the groups to come together into the north corner of the stadium, forming one large block of vocal support. Putting their differences aside the three groups formed the "Nordecke." The Nordecke (pronounced Nord-eck-ah) is German for "North Corner". The name "Nordecke" celebrates the city's German heritage and the section's new site, in the stadium's corner.'

Players

Current roster

As of November 25, 2009. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	USA	William Hesmer
2	DF	USA	Frankie Hejduk (captain)
3	MF	USA	Alex Grendi
4	DF	ARG	Gino Padula
5	MF	USA	Danny O'Rourke
6	DF	ENG	Andy Iro
7	FW	ARG	Guillermo Barros Schelotto
8	MF	NZL	Duncan Oughton
9	FW	USA	Jason Garey
12	MF	USA	Eddie Gaven
14	DF	USA	Chad Marshall
15	MF	USA	Kevin Burns

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
16	MF	USA	Brian Carroll
17	MF	NGA	Emmanuel Ekpo
19	MF	USA	Robbie Rogers
20	FW	VEN	Emilio Rentería
22	MF	SCO	Adam Moffat
23	DF	USA	Eric Brunner
24	DF	USA	Jed Zayner
25	GK	USA	Kenny Schoeni
26	MF	USA	Cory Elenio
30	GK	USA	Andy Gruenebaum
32	FW	USA	Steven Lenhart

Notable former players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

• Edson Buddle (2001–2005)
• Jon Busch (2002—2006)
• Jeff Cunningham (1998–2004)
• Thomas Dooley (1997–1999)
• Mark Dougherty (1998-2001)
• Ansil Elcock (1997–2001)
• Simon Elliott (2004-2005)
• Robin Fraser (2004–2005)
• Brad Friedel (1996–1997)
• Ezra Hendrickson (2006-2008)
• Fredy Garcia (2002-2003)
• John Harkes (2001–2002)

• Stern John (1998–1999)
• Doctor Khumalo (1996–1997)
• Mike Lapper (1997–2002)
• Brian Maisonneuve (1996–2004)
• Brian McBride (1996–2004)
• Alejandro Moreno (2007-2009)
• Mario Rodriguez (2005)
• Billy Thompson (1996–2000)
• Daniel Torres (2001–2003)
• Robert Warzycha (1996–2002)
• John Wilmar Pérez (2000–2002)
• Todd Yeagley (1996–2002)

• See also All-time Columbus Crew roster

Head coaches

Nat	Name	Years
Finland	Timo Liekoski	1996
United States	Tom Fitzgerald	1996–2001
United States	Greg Andrulis	2001–2005
Poland	Robert Warzycha	2005 (interim)
Germany	Sigi Schmid	2006–2008
Poland	Robert Warzycha	2009–

Team records

• Games: Mike Clark, 221
• Goals: Brian McBride and Jeff Cunningham, 62
• Assists: Robert Warzycha, 61
• Shutouts: Jon Busch, 25

MLS regular season only, through 2006 season

• All-Time regular season record: 166-165-67 (Through Oct. 26, 2008)

Stadiums

• Ohio Stadium (1996–1999)
• Columbus Crew Stadium (1999–current)

Results

Year-by-Year

Season	MLS Regular Season	MLS Cup Playoffs	Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup	CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League	SuperLiga
1996	4th, East	Quarterfinals	Did not enter	Did not qualify
1997	3rd, East	Semifinals	Did not enter	Did not qualify
1998	2nd, East	Semifinals	Final	Did not qualify
1999	2nd, East	Semifinals	Semifinals	Did not qualify
2000	4th, Central	Did not qualify	Quarterfinals	Did not qualify
2001	2nd, Central	Quarterfinals	Quarterfinals	Not held †
2002	2nd, East	Semifinals	Champions	Did not qualify
2003	5th, East	Did not qualify	Round of 16	Quarterfinals
2004	1st, East*	Quarterfinals	Round of 16	Did not qualify
2005	6th, East	Did not qualify	Round of 16	Did not qualify
2006	6th, East	Did not qualify	Round of 16	Did not qualify
2007	6th, East	Did not qualify	Did not qualify	Did not qualify	Did not participate
2008	1st, East*	Champions	Did not qualify	Did not qualify	Did not participate
2009	1st, East*	Quarterfinals	Round of 16	Did not qualify (08-09)	Did not participate
2010			Qualified for Round of 16	Presently participating in Quarterfinals (09-10)
2011				Qualified for Group Stage (10-11)

* Won MLS Supporters Shield † Made the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Giants Cup which was held instead of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2001

International competition

• 2001 CONCACAF Giants Cup
  • First round v. Deportivo Saprissa -- 0:2, 1:1 (Saprissa advance 3:1 on aggregate)
• 2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
  • First round v. Arabe Unido -- 1:2, 3:0 (Crew advance 4:2 on aggregate)
  • Quarterfinal v. Monarcas Morelia -- 0:6, 2:0 (Morelia advance 6:2 on aggregate)
• 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League
  • Group Stage
    • v. Puerto Rico Islanders 2:0, 1:1
    • v. Cruz Azul 0:5, 0:2
    • v. Saprissa 1:0, 1:1
  • Quarterfinal v. Toluca - Game 1 will be played Tuesday, March 9 in Columbus Crew Stadium and Game 2 on Wednesday, March 17 in Toluca, Mexico,.

Columbus Holds a 4-5-3 all-time Record in International friendlies

Honors

Domestic

League

• MLS Cup:
  • Winner (1): 2008

• MLS Supporters' Shield:
  • Winner (3): 2004, 2008, 2009

Cups

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup:
  • Winner (1): 2002
  • Runner-up (1): 1998

Minor Trophies

• Carolina Challenge Cup:
  • Winner (1): 2004

• Trillium Cup:
  • Winner (2): 2008, 2009

Average attendance

regular season/playoffs

• 1996: 18,950
• 1997: 15,043
• 1998: 12,275
• 1999: 17,696
• 2000: 15,451
• 2001: 17,551
• 2002: 17,429
• 2003: 16,250/Missed Playoffs
• 2004: 16,872/15,224
• 2005: 12,916/Missed Playoffs
• 2006: 13,294/Missed Playoffs
• 2007: 15,230/Missed Playoffs
• 2008: 14,622/12,911
• 2009: 14,447/TDB
• All-Time: 16,344
• All-Time Best Attendance For A Game: 53,844 on 07/04/2000 at Mile High Stadium.

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External links

• The Crew
• Hunt Park Insider