While there’s plenty of hoopla surrounding the Columbus Crew and the club’s quest to win a second-consecutive MLS Cup, the Crew Academy has not-so-silently also produced a successful 2023-24 campaign that should excite Black & Gold supporters.
Here’s a quick rundown to get you up to speed about all the happenings within the Columbus Crew Academy:
One Club philosophy is stronger than ever
Nancyball isn’t just for the Columbus Crew First Team — Crew 2 and the Crew Academy play with a similar style and confidence, too.
Just as Black & Gold supporters have seen Capybara players integrate well into the First Team over the past two seasons, the same is happening within the youth teams below. Not only have Crew Academy graduates become active members of First Team training sessions and made match day squads, but individual quality has never been better, either.
Two seasons ago, Mohamed Farsi and Jacen Russell-Rowe were the first Crew 2 players to feature for the Crew in an MLS match. Fast forward to recently, when Taha Habroune and Cole Mrowka both signed with the First Team as MLS Homegrown Players. In January, Habroune, who made his MLS debut on Apr. 13 at Real Salt Lake, became the first Crew Academy Player to progress directly to Crew 2, then the First Team. Mrowka and Habroune became the second and third youngest players to make an MLS debut in Club history. Habroune and Mrowka bring the Crew’s total of Homegrowns Signed to 19.
They’re not the only Academy alumni finding success in the higher ranks... Aidan Morris recently signed a contract with EFL Championship side Middlesbrough FC. Morris’ move to Europe was sad to many supporters who had an affinity for the Homegrown midfielder, but those with a different perspective see this as a Massive move for Morris and a positive reflection on the Crew Academy’s developmental pathway. Luckily, Sean Zawadzki, another graduate of the Crew Academy has broken into the lineup, finding good form, and effectively occupying that midfield opening.
But it’s not just Crew 2 players signing with the First Team. Crew Academy players are joining the Capybaras in MLS NEXT Pro as well. Anthony Alaouieh, Chris Rogers, Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Stas Lapkes, and Giorgio De Libera all signed with Crew 2 from the Academy.
International Call Ups
The 2023-24 season featured the most call-ups the Academy has ever had in a year, and there’s no reason to think that'll slow down anytime soon.
This season, 12 athletes received individual call ups to youth national team camps and events, representing four different countries:
Keller Abbott – USA
Chase Adams – USA
Tristan Brown – USA
Jamil Danjaji – USA
Dacian Delgado – Puerto Rico
Gianmarco Di Noto – USA
Immanuel Ewing – USA
Prince Forfor – USA
Taha Habroune – USA
Francisco Mendoza – Mexico
Isaac Tortola – USA
Zach Zalewski – Poland
Crew 2 integrated player pathway
As mentioned above, the Crew also has a strong player pathway between Crew 2 and the Academy. As a result, the Crew 2 roster is drastically younger in 2024, as the club has focused on opening opportunities for younger players to experience the professional caliber.
Players who competed on the team’s UPSL side that finished third in the 2023 National Fall Playoffs are now members of Crew 2 and playing on Amateur agreement – which would allow them to potentially play collegiate soccer.
Nathan Salerno, Jackson Lindimore, Joshua Veycheck, Ty Nero, Owen Presthus, Mohamed Saad, Phoenix Wooten, and Tristan Brown were part of the UPSL side and are now making appearances for the Capybaras. So far this season, Crew Academy products have combined for 10,495 minutes through nineteen MLS NEXT Pro league matches.
Crew 2 has seen 10 players make their MLS NEXT Pro debuts after developing with the Academy. Notably, Cooper Flanary made his MLS NEXT Pro debut on July 30 in the 1-3 road win over New York Red Bulls II. He scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal in only his second appearance with the squad.
One player to watch is 16-year-old forward Chase Adams who’s producing a breakout start to his time with Crew 2. Despite turning 16 in April, Adams already has scored seven goals through 12 MLS NEXT Pro appearances in 2024.
GA Cup Recap
The Crew Academy had a fine showing at the 2024 Generation adidas Cup early this spring at IMG Academy in Florida.
The Under-15 and Under-17 Teams both featured in youth soccer’s premier event and rattled off wins. The U-15 side beat three MLS teams (Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC), but the main takeaway was the opportunity to face international competition.
The U-15’s gave us a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal preview by facing CF Monterrey, and the U-17’s matched up with HNK Hajduk (Croatia) and Argentinian side Club Atlético River Plate.
Crew Academy and Pre-Academy Programming
And speaking of international competition, Academy players served as the Ball Boys in the Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinal home leg of the match with Monterrey – one of the biggest games in the club’s 29-year history.
In addition to being Ball Boys, the players also have had a few touchpoints with the First Team at and around the OhioHealth Performance Center. The teams had a First Team match analysis, a player Q and A session and also spoke with First Team staff about nutrition to help become even more talented players.
The U13 and U14 sides also hit their stride this past season with great showings and performances across the hybrid age groups. The two youngest competition teams within the Crew Academy, they really are the future of the Black & Gold.
The U14 group had a solid showing at the Patterson Cup in Kansas City in June, as the Crew finished second in their group. The young Black & Gold won their opening match, 2-0, against the Portland Timbers Academy before a scoreless draw with Minnesota United FC U14 Select. Columbus rounded out group stage action with a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo before a 3-2 win over the New England Revolution in a consolation match.
But the fun isn’t exclusive to the Crew Academy. On Apr. 29, Crew Pre-Academy players faced off with the Futures Training Program for a friendly at Historic Crew Stadium. Players from Crew Youth’s Futures Training Program who impress have the chance to join the Pre-Academy or Academy ranks next season or beyond.
Playoffs and Postseason Review
In May, the U15 and U17 teams competed at MLS NEXT Flex at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. The U15 squad won their group, effectively clinching their spot at the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, the Academy version of the MLS Cup, which took place June 15 – 23 at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Nashville, TN.
The 2023-24 season concluded with the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs which featured both the Crew’s U15 and U17 sides. The U15 group fell to Colorado Rapids in the Round of 32 before going onto finish strong with wins over Toronto FC and Athletum Academy.
Meanwhile, the U17s finished the season strong with three wins in the Showcase event, scoring 13 goals in the process.
Crew Academy also received individual player recognition with Cooper Flanary from the U17 squad being selected to compete in the MLS NEXT Best Game, which took place on June 18 at the MLS NEXT Cup event.
As the Black & Gold continues its One Club player pathway to develop great players and individuals, the collective tide of Crew players is elevating in a way that impacts all aspects of the Black & Gold. Just as Patrick Schulte went from the Crew 2 into winning MLS Cup and playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the next group for future Crew stars is already representing the club in younger age groups.
The All-Stars of MLS took to Lower.com Field on July 24, but that wasn’t the only All-Star game in Columbus last week. The third edition of the MLS NEXT All-Star Game was hosted at Historic Crew Stadium on July 23. Crew Academy products turned Crew 2 standouts Chase Adams and Tristan Brown started the match and helped lead the East to a 4-2 comeback victory. Dan Lock served as Head Coach of the East, alongisde Saad Abdul-Salaam as an assistant. Eddie Hertsenberg was an assistant coach for the West and David Winner was the Goalkeeper Coach for both sides.
"It’s been a year of progress for the Academy and our Player Development space,” said Director of Player Development Dan Lock. “From having the most national team call ups in our Academy history, to seven Academy players signing professional contracts, playoff appearances for our U19 and U15 squads and launching a club-wide style of play. We have been able to add to an already strong foundation and are grateful for the opportunities our players have had and the support provided by club ownership and leadership. I'd like to say a big thanks to all our players, parents, host families and staff for all their hard work and contributions to creating a positive environment for our players. We're excited for the 2024-25 season and to continue to build on everyone's hard work and establish Columbus Crew as one of the top Academies in MLS."
The MLS Cup wasn’t a one-off. Columbus is all about sustained success. The Academy’s strong 2023-24 season suggests that it will continue for years to come.
