New York (AFP) – Caleb Porter, who coached Portland to the 2015 Major League Soccer crown, and Tim Bezbatchenko, mastermind of Toronto’s 2017 title run, were named Friday to guide the revamped Columbus Crew.
The MLS club was saved last month when owners of the NFL Cleveland Browns agreed on a purchase deal that kept the team in Ohio while its former owner was granted an expansion team in Austin, Texas — where he had planned to move the Crew.
Columbus finished the last MLS season fifth in the 11-tam Eastern Conference and were eliminated by New York Red Bulls in the second round of the leg playoffs.
Columbus was delivered a setback when coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter was named the new coach of the US men’s national team last month, leaving the new Crew owners to find leadership.
The club responded by appointing Porter as head coach and Bezbatchenko as team president.
“Tim’s track record in building a successful team, including an MLS Cup in 2017, … make him uniquely qualified to serve as president and provide strong leadership,” the team said in a statement.
“Caleb has been a proven winner every place he has coached and like Tim won an MLS Cup in 2015. He has a deep understanding of how to build formidable and successful programs.”
Porter, who parted ways with Portland after five seasons following the 2017 campaign, coached the Timbers to a 2-1 win over Columbus in the 2015 MLS final. He went 68-50 with 52 drawn in his Portland stay.
Bezbatchenko joined Toronto FC in 2013 and departed on Thursday for his home-state club, replaced in Canada by Ali Curtis, former sporting director of the New York Red Bulls.
“It’s a tremendous honor. It’s a new era in Columbus,” Bezbatchenko said. “I’m excited to get started as we make our quest for championship titles.”
Porter was a national college champion coach at nearby University of Akron before jumping to Portland.
“I look forward to working closely with Tim to build on the success the team has had in recent years,” Porter said.
