Wilfried Nancy signs contract extension with Columbus Crew

Retaining Nancy is a big deal for Columbus. He's one of MLS' brightest coaching stars and one of the few foreign coaches to have come up exclusively through the league. Nancy got his start as a youth coach at CF Montréal and earned his way up to an assistant coaching role with the first team. He was promoted to head coach in 2021 after nearly a decade with the squad, and Montréal moved from ninth place to second in the East under his tenure.

Nancy's time at Columbus has been charmed from the start. His one season with the club brought more than just a championship to Ohio: it brought a new style of play and a winning mindset. Nancy's Columbus is fluid and humble, with players swapping roles in the center of the park to ensure every last square foot of space on the field is theirs. 

"This is the spirit of my team," he said on Wednesday in advance of Columbus's crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup match with Monterrey. "Cucho [the team's star striker] is the first defender, and my goalkeeper is the first attacker."

Nancy and the Crew broke records with this style in 2023. They tied the club's best-ever points haul with 57 and broke MLS' best-ever scoring record with 67 goals scored in the regular season. Nancy also became the first Black coach to win the MLS Cup in the league's 27-year history.

"It is an honor to be the head coach and sign this contract extension." Nancy said. "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."

With Columbus's 2023 season already one for the record books, the rest of the league should be wary of what an evolving Crew is capable of achieving.

Nancy and Columbus will continue their journey this weekend against the Portland Timbers.