In 2018, Columbus Crew were at rock bottom — both on and off the pitch. The team finished near the bottom of the table and was on the verge of being relocated to Austin, sparking the now-famous #SaveTheCrew movement. Thanks to fan activism and new ownership, the club stayed in Ohio.
And they didn’t just survive — they thrived.
By 2020, the Crew won MLS Cup, and in 2022, they brought in Wilfried Nancy from CF Montréal. Under Nancy’s bold, possession-based system, Columbus evolved into a beautiful, attacking team that dominated games.
In 2023, Nancy led them to another MLS Cup title, defeating LAFC in the final. His emphasis on technical midfielders, creative buildup, and positional play has made Columbus arguably the most entertaining team in the league. In just a few short years, the Crew have gone from MLS’s crisis club to a model of success, proving that vision, patience, and fan support truly matter.
