Columbus Crew 2

Columbus Crew 2
Full nameColumbus Crew 2
NicknameCrew 2, Capybaras[1][2]
FoundedDecember 6, 2021 (2021-12-06)
StadiumHistoric Crew Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
Capacity19,968
Coordinates40°0′34″N 82°59′28″W / 40.00944°N 82.99111°W / 40.00944; -82.99111
OwnerColumbus Crew
Head coachFederico Higuaín
LeagueMLS Next Pro
202515th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitewww.columbuscrew.com/crew2/

Columbus Crew 2 is a professional soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio that competes in the MLS Next Pro league, the third division of American soccer. The team is owned by, and operates as the reserve team of the Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. The team plays home matches at Historic Crew Stadium. The team was announced as a member of MLS Next Pro on December 6, 2021.[3]

History

On December 6, 2021, the Columbus Crew announced the formation of a reserve team in MLS Next Pro that would begin play in the 2022 season and that they would play at Historic Crew Stadium (the parent club's former home venue) in Columbus, Ohio.[4] At the same time, the club announced its first manager, Corey Wrey, who is the Crew's current Assistant General Manager, a position he will continue to hold.[5] The Crew 2 will be one of 21 teams that play in the newly formed league.[6] On January 28, 2022, the Crew announced that Laurent Courtois would serve as the team's first head coach.[7]

The club played their first match on March 26, 2022, which ended in a 0–2 loss to Inter Miami CF II at DRV PNK Stadium.[8] The first win came the following week with a 1–0 victory over Chicago Fire FC II.[9]

Crew 2 won the first ever MLS Next Pro Cup title, defeating St. Louis City SC 2 4-1 on October 8, 2022.[10]

The following year, the team once again qualified for the playoffs and made it to the Cup Final. They were defeated 1–3 by Austin FC II.[11]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of September 10, 2025[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 MF  COL Nicolás Rincón
31 FW  CIV Kevin Gbamblé
36 DF  ENG Pharrell Willis
39 FW  FRA Inza Koné
42 FW  USA Brent Adu-Gyamfi
No. Pos. Nation Player
44 FW  USA Anthony Alaouieh
51 MF  USA Gio De Libera
55 DF  USA Chris Rogers (Captain)
63 DF  USA Gianmarco Di Noto
No. Pos. Nation Player
65 FW  USA Prince Forfor
— DF  JPN Rui Aoki
— MF  HON Johann Chirinos
— MF  USA Moses Nyeman
— MF  USA Tarun Karumanchi
— DF  USA Isaac Heffess
  • ^
    First team player
    •
  • ^
    Columbus Crew Academy player
    •

    Staff

    As of February 21, 2025[13]
    Front office
    Investor-operators Dee and Jimmy Haslam
    JW and Whitney Johnson
    Dr. Pete Edwards
    President Issa Tall
    General Manager
    Director of Player Development Dan Lock
    Coaching staff
    Head coach Federico Higuaín
    Assistant coach Josh Williams
    Goalkeeper coach Alex Blackburn
    Performance coach Jorge Gonzalez
    Additional staff
    Manager of Soccer Operations Claire Quaassdorff
    Head Athletic Trainer Sara Kusner
    Assistant Athletic Trainer Alex Nucerino
    Equipment Manager Caden Fergison
    Video & Data Analyst Marc O'Neill

    Last updated: 14:20, February 21, 2025 (UTC)
    Source: [1]

    Team records

    Season-by-season

    As of March 19, 2025
    Season MLS Next Pro Playoffs Top Scorer
    P W D L GF GA GD Pts Div. Conf. Overall Player Goals
    2022 24 16 5 3 62 22 +40 55 1st 1st 1st Champions Jacen Russell-Rowe 21
    2023 28 16 3 9 58 46 +12 54 1st 3rd 5th Runner-up Gibran Rayo 12
    2024 28 11 7 10 51 47 +4 45 5th 7th 12th Conference Finals Chase Adams 9
    2025 28 5 6 17 40 64 –24 22 8th 15th 29th DNQ Chase Adams 10

    Head coaches record

    As of June 26, 2025
    Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
    Laurent Courtois  France January 28, 2022 January 8, 2024 59 38 8 13 137 77 064.41
    Kelvin Jones  United States March 13, 2024 December 10, 2024 28 11 7 10 51 47 039.29
    Federico Higuaín Argentina January 29, 2025 28 5 6 17 40 64 017.86

    Honors

    National
    Competitions Titles Seasons
    MLS Next Pro Cup 1 2022
    MLS Next Pro Regular Season 1 2022
    Eastern Conference 1 2022
    Eastern Conference (Playoffs) 2 2022, 2023
    Eastern Conference Central Division 2 2022, 2023

    Monthly Awards

    Player of the Month

    Goalkeeper of the Month

    Annual Awards

    MLS Next Pro Most Valuable Player

    Golden Boot

    Goalkeeper of the Year

    Coach of the Year

    MLS Next Pro Cup MVP

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Asta, Diana (July 10, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 visits the zoo to celebrate Capybara appreciation day". WSYX. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
    2. ^ Snipes, Tyler (September 24, 2022). "Capybaras in Columbus? The story behind Crew 2's unexpected identity". MLSNextPro.com. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    3. ^ "Crew 2". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
    4. ^ Benatar, Orri (December 6, 2021). "Columbus Crew launches development team, Crew 2". NBC4 WCMH-TV. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
    5. ^ Murphy, Pat (December 6, 2021). "Columbus Crew announces the creation of Crew 2". Massive Report. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
    6. ^ MLSsoccer staff (December 6, 2021). "MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
    7. ^ Crew Communications (January 28, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 appoints Laurent Courtois as first Head Coach". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
    8. ^ mlsnextpro. "Rodriguez brace powers Inter Miami II over Columbus Crew 2 | MLSSoccer.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
    9. ^ devinweisbarth (April 10, 2022). "Crew 2 looks to keep momentum following first win in team history". Massive Report. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
    10. ^ Tellitud, Jesus (October 8, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 hoist MLS NEXT Pro Cup with 4-1 win over St Louis CITY2". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
    11. ^ mlsnextpro. "CLBvsATX 10-22-2023 | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
    12. ^ "Crew 2 Roster". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
    13. ^ "Crew 2 Technical Staff". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
    14. ^ mlsnextpro. "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: May | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
    15. ^ mlsnextpro. "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: June | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
    16. ^ mlsnextpro. "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: August | MLSNEXTPro.com". mlsnextpro. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
    17. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro names Jacen Russell-Rowe first-ever Most Valuable Player". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
    18. ^ "Columbus Crew 2's Jacen Russell-Rowe wins 2022 MLS NEXT PRO Golden Boot with the most goals". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
    19. ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 23, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 goalkeeper Patrick Schulte named MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
    20. ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 23, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2's Laurent Courtois named MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the year". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
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