Columbus signs Warzycha to new multi-year deal

Columbus, OH – The Columbus Crew signed coach Robert Warzycha year contract Thursday.

Warzycha, 48, has been with Columbus since Major League Soccer started in 1996 as a player, assistant and head coach. He played for the Crew from 1996-2002, was an assistant from 2003-08, and took over for Sigi Schmid in 2009 as coach.

He has posted a 45-29-28 regular-season record on the Crew sidelines and has a 55-41-33 mark in all competitions. His .578 regular-season winning percentage is the best in club history.

The Crew currently lead the Eastern Conference with a 11-8-7 record.

"I believe Robert's record speaks for itself and that he has unquestionably earned the opportunity to continue leading our club," said Crew President and GM Mark McCullers.

"He has injected his vision and personality into our style of play, while perpetuating the culture of excellence we have built in recent years with his effective integration of new talent into our returning core group."

A two-time MLS All-Star and the club's MVP in 2000, Warzycha spent the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship season as a player/assistant coach, before moving to the sidelines full-time in 2003.

Prior to joining the Crew, Warzycha made 47 appearances with the Polish national team from 1988-95 and enjoyed a three-year stint with Everton of the English Premier League.

Per club policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.