COLUMBUS, OH – After a devastating end to the 2022 season that saw the Columbus Crew fail to make the playoffs for the second year in a row, the Crew parted ways with Caleb Porter after three years. The search was on, to find someone who can help deliver championships to one of the most storied clubs in MLS.
On the eve of MLS 2015 — a day in which Crew fans live to forget — the Black & Gold unveiled their new man on the touchline in Wilfried Nancy. MLS Coach of the Year finalist for 2022 becomes the eighth head coach in franchise.
“I would like to thank Dee and Jimmy Hallam, Dr. Pete Edwards, and Tim Bezbatchenko for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be the next head coach for the Crew,” said Nancy.
“My family and I are excited to settle in and become part of the Columbus community, I am looking forward to working closely with Crew 2 and the Academy program. I’m eager to get started and welcome the players back on January 6 as we begin our quest to bring another trophy to Columbus.”
Nancy descends onto the Columbus scene after serving as head coach for CF Montreal during the 2021 and 2022 MLS seasons. His start date will come via visa issuance. The Crew compensated CF Montreal for releasing Nancy and select members of the staff, and allowing Columbus to negotiate with the select individuals.
“We are thrilled to welcome Wilfried to Columbus as the next head coach of the Crew,” said President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko.
“Throughout this process, it was clear that he is a knowledgable, insightful and innovative coach with extensive experience within the different levels of the North American soccer landscape. We know he is the right person to lead the team back into the postseason as we content for championships.”
During the 2022 season, Wilfried Nancy let Montreal to a club-best, regular-season record of 20-9-5 with 65 total points. Montreal finished second in the Eastern Conference and third overall in the MLS standings, just two points shy of Supporter’s Shield Winners LAFC. Montreal’s 20 wins were just second overall in the league, and they finished in the Top 5 for goals scored (63).
The Canadian side went unbeaten in eight matches from mid-March to mid-May. In the last 15 matches of the regular-season, Montreal went 11-1-3.
Nancy succeeded Thierry Henry in 2021. In his first season with the club, he was able to lift CF Montreal to winning the Voyageurs Cup with a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship.
Born in France, Nancy had a professional playing career that spanned 10 years. A defender, he donned the colors of Sporting Club Toulon, Beaucairois, Rain-l’Etape, Ivry, Noisy-le-Sec, Chatellerault and Orleans.
Nancy joined Montreal in 2011 working with the academy program and coached the U-18’s (2011-13), U-21 (2014), and U-16 (2014-15) before elevating himself to an assistant position with the first team in January of 2016.
