Columbus Crew, Wilfried Nancy Agree to Contract Extension

April 17, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew and Head Coach Wilfried Nancy have agreed to a contract extension, President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko announced today.

After being named the Black & Gold’s eighth full-time head coach in December 2022, Nancy – a 2023 Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award finalist – in his first season directed the Club to its third MLS Cup championship as it tied a franchise record with 57 points (third in the MLS Supporters’ Shield); posted a MLS-best 67 regular season goals, their first time pacing the league in the category; and led the league and set Club standards in many major statistical categories for performance at home.

“In addition to winning MLS Cup last year, we are excited to extend Wilfried’s contract because of the culture he has helped create within the Club, including our shared commitment to developing individuals both as players and as people, within the overall Crew ‘One Club’ philosophy,” said Bezbatchenko. “When we hired Wilfried, our top priority was ensuring alignment from the First Team through Crew 2 and the Academy with coaches, players and staff, including in our desired style of play, player profiles and most importantly, our club values. Wilfried has delivered in every way, and then some, with his leadership and devotion to entertaining soccer. We are confident with his and our team’s collective leadership and collaboration that we can continue to build upon the foundation that has been laid and consistently compete for championships for our fans and the City of Columbus.”

“The Columbus Crew is a fantastic Club with the Haslam, Johnson and Edwards families, Tim Bezbatchenko, our leadership, coaches, staff and players from the First Team to Crew 2 and the Academy, and it is an honor to be the head coach and sign this contract extension,” said Nancy. “We have a clear vision as a Club of what we want to do and how we can achieve it, and we can continue to write our story and evoke emotions. With humility, I’m very proud of what we have accomplished together during the past year, but most importantly, I am pleased with how we are focused on growing together and working to improve as a team and individuals.”

Nancy in 2023 became the first Black head coach to win the MLS Cup. With the Crew, he owns a 24-10-13 (.649) overall MLS record, including a 5-1-0 (.833) mark in the postseason. Last week, Nancy directed the Black & Gold to the…