The Columbus Crew has officially welcomed their new head coach, Henrik Rydstrom, nearly two weeks into the preseason. Rydstrom, who was appointed on December 31, 2023, to succeed Wilfried Nancy, experienced delays in arriving due to work visa complications. As the team commenced their preseason training on January 10 without their new leader, Rydstrom has now joined the squad in Florida, where he has already conducted his first training session.
In a recent introductory press conference held via Zoom, Rydstrom candidly expressed his frustration with the delays but acknowledged the support he received from the club’s leadership. “You get frustrated when things take time, but I also trusted everybody in the organization who did an amazing job,” he stated. Rydstrom emphasized the opportunity he had to prepare for his role while waiting for his visa, allowing him to connect with players and staff remotely.
Crew defender Malte Amundsen spoke positively about the team’s efforts during Rydstrom’s absence. He noted, “We have Laurent here and some of the academy coaches here to guide us, and most of all it was also us guys, us players, finding each other, bringing back good energy, getting the first layer of rust off, and now we’re ready to work hard with the coach.”
Rydstrom is set to make his coaching debut for the Crew when they face off against the Portland Timbers on the road on February 21, 2024. The team’s first home match under his leadership will take place on March 7, 2024, against the Chicago Fire.
As the Crew prepares for the upcoming season, Rydstrom’s arrival is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team, fostering a competitive environment as they aim for success in Major League Soccer.
