The 2008 Columbus Crew season was
the club's 13th season of existence and their 13th consecutive season in
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
, the top flight of soccer in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. The first match of the season was on March 29 against
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matc ...
. It was the third season under head coach
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid (; March 20, 1953 – December 25, 2018) was a German soccer coach.
Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the U ...
. Columbus also competed in the
U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a knockout cup competition in men's soccer in the United States. It is the country's oldest ongoing national soccer competition. The competition was first held duri ...
and the
MLS Cup Playoffs.
Background
The Crew's rebuilding under Sigi Schmid paid immense dividends in 2008, as the team won the Supporters Shield and their first MLS Cup championship. Argentine midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto won the league MVP award, capping an incredible season with his three-assist performance in the championship game.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
The Crew started preseason in
Columbus
Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to:
* Christopher Columbus (1451–1506), the Italian explorer
* Columbus, Ohio, the capital city of the U.S. state of Ohio
* Columbus, Georgia, a city i ...
and played games in
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
and
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
before returning to
Ohio
Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp:
Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso Moreno (born November 11, 1985) is a Cuban former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He defected from Cuba in 2007 and became a U.S. citizen in 2012. During his decade-long career with Seattle Sounders ...
,
Mamadou Bah
Mamadou Diouldé Bah (born 25 April 1988) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for US Raon-l'Étape. He played for the Guinea national team from 2008 to 2012.
Club career
Born in Conakry, Bah began his career at ...
,
Sandro
Sandro is an Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swiss, Georgian and Croatian given name, often a diminutive of Alessandro or Alexander. It is also a surname.
Sandro may refer to:
Given name or nickname
Sports
* Sandro (footballer, born 1973), Braz ...
,
Álvaro Pires,
Lars Ricken
Lars Ricken (born 10 July 1976) is a German retired footballer and the current managing director of Borussia Dortmund. From 2008 to 2024, he was the youth coordinator at Dortmund.
Ricken represented Borussia Dortmund throughout his entire prof ...
,
Roman Friedli and
Michael Ricketts
Michael Barrington Ricketts (born 4 December 1978) is an English former footballer. He played as a striker and was capped once by England, in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2002.
Ricketts had a 14-year career which saw him play for ...
.
Unsigned draft picks
Ryan Miller
Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) mostly for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL E ...
,
Zola Short,
Ricardo Pierre-Louis,
Lukasz Tumicz,
Cory Elenio,
Steven Lenhart
Steven Lenhart (born August 28, 1986) is a former American soccer player who is currently an assistant coach with the Westmont Warriors in NCAA Division II
Career
College and amateur
Lenhart grew up in Yorba Linda, California, and attended Es ...
and
George Josten
George Josten (born May 12, 1986) is a retired American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.
Career College and amateur
Josten attended Idaho Falls High School and played college soccer ...
also joined the team for preseason.
Preseason
Midseason
Competitive
Overview
MLS
Standings
= Eastern Conference
=
=Overall table
=
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
Conference Semifinals
Conference Finals
MLS Cup
U.S. Open Cup
Reserve League
Overall table
Match results
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
, -
, colspan=12 align=center, ''Players who left Columbus during the season:''
Disciplinary record
Clean sheets
Reserve League Statistics
Appearances and goals
Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
Disciplinary record
Clean sheets
Transfers
In
Out
Loans out
MLS Draft picks
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below:
Awards
MLS Player of the Week
MLS Player of the Month
2008 MLS All-Star Game
;Starters
* DF
Frankie Hejduk
Frank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk (born August 5, 1974) is an American former soccer player who played as a wingback and midfielder. At the club level he represented the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Bayer Leverkusen, St. Gallen, Columbus Crew, and the LA Ga ...
* DF
Robbie Rogers
Robert Hampton Rogers III (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player. He played as a winger and as a left back. Rogers has also represented the United States men's national soccer team. In February 2013, Rogers came ou ...
;Reserves
* FW
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (; born 4 May 1973) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Vélez Sarsfield.
Barros Schelotto played 16 years of his professional career in the Argent ...
Postseason
;
MLS Most Valuable Player
* FW
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (; born 4 May 1973) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Vélez Sarsfield.
Barros Schelotto played 16 years of his professional career in the Argent ...
;
MLS Defender of the Year
The Major League Soccer Defender of the Year Award is an annual award handed out to the top defender in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest lev ...
* DF
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall (born August 22, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player. During his 16-year career, he played for Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Regarded as one of the league's greatest players of a ...
;
MLS Coach of the Year
The Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award is given by Major League Soccer to the best coach in any given season. The award has been given since the league's inception in 1996 and is determined by a vote from players, club personnel, and members of ...
*
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid (; March 20, 1953 – December 25, 2018) was a German soccer coach.
Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the U ...
;
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an annual acknowledgment of the best eleven players in Major League Soccer. The selection is determined by a collection of media, players, and MLS club technical staffs.
Winners
Appearances by player
The following players ...
* DF
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall (born August 22, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player. During his 16-year career, he played for Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Regarded as one of the league's greatest players of a ...
* DF
Robbie Rogers
Robert Hampton Rogers III (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player. He played as a winger and as a left back. Rogers has also represented the United States men's national soccer team. In February 2013, Rogers came ou ...
* FW
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (; born 4 May 1973) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Vélez Sarsfield.
Barros Schelotto played 16 years of his professional career in the Argent ...
Crew Team Awards
* Most Valuable Player –
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (; born 4 May 1973) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Vélez Sarsfield.
Barros Schelotto played 16 years of his professional career in the Argent ...
[https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2008/10/28/schelotto-team-mvp-nordecke-gets/23574279007/ ]
* Defensive Player of the Year –
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall (born August 22, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player. During his 16-year career, he played for Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Regarded as one of the league's greatest players of a ...
* Scoring Champion –
Alejandro Moreno
Alejandro Enrique Moreno Riera (born July 8, 1979) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a forward, and who is a television commentator for ESPN FC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America. Moreno won three MLS Cups during ...
* Man of the Year –
Frankie Hejduk
Frank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk (born August 5, 1974) is an American former soccer player who played as a wingback and midfielder. At the club level he represented the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Bayer Leverkusen, St. Gallen, Columbus Crew, and the LA Ga ...
* Coach's Award –
Brian Carroll
Brian Carroll (born July 20, 1981) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder, notably appearing for D.C. United Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He is the only player in ML ...
&
Alejandro Moreno
Alejandro Enrique Moreno Riera (born July 8, 1979) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a forward, and who is a television commentator for ESPN FC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America. Moreno won three MLS Cups during ...
* Newcomer of the Year –
Gino Padula
Gino Mauro Padula (born 11 July 1976) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a left back. Born in Lanús, Padula played in Argentina, Spain, England, France and the United States. He started his career in the esteemed River ...
* Goal of the Year –
Robbie Rogers
Robert Hampton Rogers III (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player. He played as a winger and as a left back. Rogers has also represented the United States men's national soccer team. In February 2013, Rogers came ou ...
* Humanitarian of the Year –
Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven (born October 25, 1986) is an American former soccer player who played 11 seasons in Major League Soccer, primarily with the Columbus Crew. In July 2012, Gaven became the youngest player to play in 250 MLS matches at 25 years and 257 ...
* Hardest Working Man of the Year –
Brian Carroll
Brian Carroll (born July 20, 1981) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder, notably appearing for D.C. United Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He is the only player in ML ...
* Comeback Player of the Year –
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall (born August 22, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player. During his 16-year career, he played for Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Regarded as one of the league's greatest players of a ...
* Fan of the Year –
Nordecke
The Nordecke ( /nɔːrdˈɛkə/); is the independent supporters collective for the Columbus Crew. They are situated in the north stand of Lower.com Field.
History
Supporter culture of the Crew was fragmented during the first decade of matches ...
References
{{MLS Cup winning seasons
Columbus Crew seasons
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team began play in 1996 as one of the 10 cha ...
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team began play in 1996 as one of the 10 cha ...
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team began play in 1996 as one of the 10 cha ...
MLS Cup champion seasons
MLS Eastern Conference champion seasons
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...