Where we left off last year
2025 season: 54 points, 7th in the Eastern Conference, 12th in MLS
While the Crew finished in a respectable place in the Supporters’ Shield standings, 2025 was still a disappointing year.
With European interest swirling around Wilfried Nancy, Columbus had one more bite at the apple with their league-leading coach. But the team never quite came together. Injuries nagged in the defense. An in-season trade for Daniel Gazdag never proved worthwhile, with the Hungarian struggling in Ohio. Striker Wessam Abou Ali signed as a Designated Player in the summer and looked promising, but fell injured and missed the postseason, where Columbus bounced out of the first round against bitter rivals FC Cincinnati.
What changed in the offseason
Notable arrivals:
- Henrik Rydstrom, manager: Filling Wilfried Nancy’s shoes is no easy feat, but at least Rydstrom’s tactical approach won’t represent a massive departure from the Frenchman’s style. The former Malmo manager values possession, like his predecessor, using extreme overloads on one half of the field to break lines and create chances. Rydstrom’s tactics are fascinating and his personality is, too. It’s possible that the Columbus Crew have gone from one MLS cult personality to another.
- Jamal Thiare, ST: With Jacen Russell-Rowe off to Ligue 1, the Crew looked within MLS to find his replacement. Though Thiare, who was acquired for a minimum of $200,000 in GAM, is older and less positionally flexible than Russell-Rowe, he produced as a spot-starter in Atlanta last season.
