The 2016 Columbus Crew SC season was the club's 21st season of existence and their 21st consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States and Canada. The first match of the season was on March 6 against Portland Timbers. It was the third season under head coach Gregg Berhalter. The Crew's USL Pro affiliate this season was Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
Preseason The Crew started preseason in Columbus and traveled to Florida for a two week camp. They then played games in Arizona as part of the 2016 Desert Diamond Cup before returning to Ohio. The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp: Matt Pacifici.
Unsigned draft picks Rodrigo Saravia, Chase Minter, Kyle Parker, Marshall Hollingsworth and Vince Cicciarelli also joined the team for preseason.
Midseason
Competitive Overview
MLS
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
MLS Cup Playoffs
The Columbus Crew failed to qualify for the playoffs in this season.
U.S. Open Cup
Statistics Appearances and goals Under "Apps" for each section, the first number represents the number of starts, and the second number represents appearances as a substitute.
|colspan=12 align=center|Players who left Columbus during the season:
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK Steve Clark100000 2 DF Tyson Wahl221032 3 DF Corey Ashe100010 4 DF Michael Parkhurst200020 5 MF Dilly Duka000000 6 MF Tony Tchani810081 8 MF Mohammed Saeid200020 9 FW Justin Meram300030 10 FW Federico Higuaín000000 11 MF Cedrick Mabwati000000 12 FW Adam Jahn000000 13 MF Ethan Finlay200020 14 DF Waylon Francis200020 16 MF Hector Jiménez000000 17 FW Ola Kamara000000 18 MF Cristian Martínez100010 19 MF Rodrigo Saravia000000 20 MF Wil Trapp500050 21 DF Chad Barson000000 22 DF Gastón Sauro300030 23 GK Zack Steffen000000 24 MF Nicolai Næss000000 25 DF Harrison Afful100010 26 MF Ben Swanson000000 27 FW Conor Casey000000 29 MF Marshall Hollingsworth000000 30 GK Matt Pacifici000000 41 GK Brad Stuver000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 7 MF Emil Larsen000000 23 FW Kei Kamara000000 33 DF Amro Tarek000000
Clean sheets No. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Steve Clark80832 23 Zack Steffen0000 30 Matt Pacifici0000 41 Brad Stuver0114
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource MF Emil Larsen Odense Boldklub January 22, 2016 FW Conor Casey Philadelphia Union Signed as a free agent January 26, 2016 MF Rodrigo Saravia Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft February 4, 2016 FW Ola Kamara FK Austria Wien Signed via discovery February 4, 2016 MF Marshall Hollingsworth Wheaton Thunder Drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft March 4, 2016 GK Matt Pacifici Davidson Wildcats Signed as an undrafted free agent March 4, 2016 MF Dilly Duka Montreal Impact Traded for general allocation money, targeted allocation money and a second round draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft June 20, 2016 DF Nicolai Næss Stabæk Signed via discovery July 21, 2016 GK Zack Steffen SC Freiburg Signed via discovery July 22, 2016 FW Adam Jahn San Jose Earthquakes Traded for targeted allocation money July 30, 2016 DF Alex Crognale Maryland Terrapins Signed to a homegrown contract December 20, 2016 DF Jukka Raitala Sogndal Fotball Signed via discovery December 23, 2016
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource DF Amro Tarek Real Betis Signed via discovery. Original terms were for the entire season, but was placed on waivers on May 5. February 3, 2016 May 5, 2016 MF Cristian Martínez Chorrillo F.C. Loaned with an option to purchase contract May 17, 2016 End of Season
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource DF Sergio Campbell Pittsburgh Riverhounds Placed on waivers February 12, 2016 MF Romain Gall Nyköpings BIS Placed on waivers February 12, 2016 FW Kei Kamara New England Revolution Traded for general allocation money, targeted allocation money, a first round draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, a second round draft pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and a 2016 international roster slot. Crew retain a percentage of any future transfer fee. May 12, 2016MF Emil Larsen Lyngby Transfer, terms undisclosed July 10, 2016 DF Tyson Wahl Retired October 24, 2016 FW Conor Casey Retired October 24, 2016 GK Steve Clark AC Horsens Option declined November 23, 2016 GK Matt Pacifici Retired Option declined November 23, 2016 DF Corey Ashe Retired Option declined November 23, 2016 MF Cedrick Mabwati UCAM Murcia CF Option declined November 23, 2016 DF Chad Barson FC Linköping City Contract expired November 23, 2016 DF Michael Parkhurst Atlanta United FC Contract expired; Rights traded for general allocation money November 23, 2016 MF Mohammed Saeid Minnesota United FC Selected in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft December 13, 2016
Loan out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource MF Marshall Hollingsworth Pittsburgh Riverhounds On a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. March 17, 2016 September 25, 2016 MF Ben Swanson Pittsburgh Riverhounds On a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. March 17, 2016 July 29, 2016DF Chad Barson Pittsburgh RiverhoundsOn a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. April 30, 2016 April 30, 2016 August 10, 2016 August 20, 2016 MF Cristian Martínez Pittsburgh Riverhounds On a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. August 10, 2016 September 25, 2016 MF Rodrigo Saravia Pittsburgh Riverhounds On a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. August 10, 2016 August 20, 2016 GK Zack Steffen Pittsburgh Riverhounds On a match-by-match basis. Columbus retains right to recall at any time. Aug 13, 2016 September 25, 2016
MLS Draft picks
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. The picks for the Columbus Crew are listed below: Round Pick Player Position College 119 Rodrigo SaraviaMFFlorida Gulf Coast221 Chase MinterMFCal Poly231 Kyle ParkerFWUNC Charlotte241 Marshall HollingsworthMFWheaton360 Vince CicciarelliFWSaint Louis
Awards +MLS Team of the WeekWeekStartersBenchOpponent(s)Link 5 Justin Meram FC Dallas 7 Justin Meram Ethan Finlay New York City FC 12 Federico Higuaín Toronto FC 13 Ola Kamara Federico Higuaín Real Salt Lake 14 Ola Kamara Philadelphia Union 16 Ola Kamara New York Red Bulls 17 Ola Kamara Sporting Kansas City 19 Harrison Afful Toronto FC D.C. United 20 Justin Meram Orlando City SC 23 Ethan Finlay New York City FC 24 Michael Parkhurst Federico Higuaín New England Revolution 25 Nicolai Næss Steve Clark Philadelphia Union San Jose Earthquakes 28 Nicolai Næss Ethan Finlay Ola Kamara Orlando City SC 29 Harrison Afful Ola Kamara New England Revolution 30 Harrison Afful D.C. United Chicago Fire 32/33 Adam Jahn Chicago Fire New York Red Bulls
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 13 Ola Kamara Real Salt Lake
MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink October Justin Meram 1 goal, 4 assists
2016 MLS All-Star Game Reserves MF Wil Trapp
Postseason MLS Fair Play Team Award Team Administrator of the Year Zach Crusse
Crew SC Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Justin Meram Golden Boot – Ola Kamara Defender of the Year – Harrison Afful Humanitarian of the Year – Ethan Finlay Kirk Urso Heart Award – Hector Jiménez Academy Player of the Year – Devyn Etling
Kits
Type Shirt Shorts Socks First appearance Home Black Black Black Week 3 against Chicago Fire Away White/Yellow Teal White Week 1 against Portland Timbers
The away kit was based on the flag of Columbus.
References
Notes