The 1997 Columbus Crew season was the club's second season of existence and their second consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on March 29 against Colorado Rapids. It was the second season under head coach Tom Fitzgerald who was made permanent manager in the offseason.

Roster

Technical Staff

Non-competitive

Preseason Preason for the Columbus Crew began on February 15 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The Crew then trained in Pensacola, FL from February 20 through March March 5. They then trained in Orlando, FL from March 5 through March 12.

The Columbus Crew brought some non-roster invitees to camp. For the leg in Pensacola, FL they brought two Brazilian players. For the leg in Orlando, FL they brought former Crew goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi, three players from Argentina, two players from Trinidad & Tobago and former Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper Garth Lagerway.

Midseason

Competitive Overview

MLS

Standings

Eastern Conference

Overall table

Results summary

Results by round

Match results

MLS Cup Playoffs

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

U.S. Open Cup

The Columbus Crew did not enter the U.S. Open Cup in this season.

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 MLS Cup Playoffs Total 1 GK Brad Friedel210021 2 DF Ancil Elcock310031 3 DF Mike Clark602080 4 DF Janusz Michallik000000 5 DF Thomas Dooley202040 6 MF Todd Yeagley210021 7 MF Jorge Salcedo300030 8 MF A. J. Wood000000 9 FW Billy Thompson000000 10 MF Brian Maisonneuve200020 11 DF Mike Lapper200020 12 FW Pete Marino200020 13 MF Jason Farrell000000 15 MF Doctor Khumalo200020 16 MF Rob Smith110112 18 MF David Winner000000 19 MF Robert Warzycha603090 20 FW Brian McBride300030 22 FW Marcelo Carrera000000 24 DF Sergio Miguez100000 25 DF Ubusuku Abukusumo000000 26 GK Dusty Hudock000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 8 DF Brian Bliss100010 14 MF Altimont Butler000000 17 DF Todd Miller000000 21 MF Rob Jachym100010 23 FW Todd Deneault000000 25 FW Silvio Rudman100010 26 GK Aidan Heaney000000 26 GK Eddie Carvacho000000 26 GK David Allred000000 26 GK Randy Dedini000000

Clean sheets

No. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs Total Games Played 1 Brad Friedel71833 18 David Winner0004 26 Dusty Hudock0000Players who left Columbus during the season: 26 Aidan Heaney0000 26 Eddie Carvacho0000 26 David Allred0000 26 Randy Dedini0000

Transfers

In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource MF Jorge Salcedo Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for the 1st overall pick in the 1997 MLS supplemental draft, which was traded from Colorado Rapids for Adrián Paz. February 1, 1997 MF Rob Jachym Hartford Hawks Drafted in round 1 of the 1997 MLS College Draft. February 1, 1997 FW John Smith Rollins Tars Drafted in round 2 of the 1997 MLS College Draft. February 2, 1997 FW Todd Deneault South Florida Bulls Drafted in round 1 of the 1997 MLS College Draft. February 2, 1997 MF Jason Farrell Seattle Sounders Drafted in round 1 of the 1997 MLS supplemental draft. February 2, 1997 DF Billy Clifford South Carolina Shamrocks Drafted in round 2 of the 1997 MLS supplemental draft. February 2, 1997 DF Sergio Miguez San Martín de Tucumán Signed via discovery. March 26, 1997 DF Ancil Elcock Malta Carib Alcons Signed via discovery. March 31, 1997 FW Silvio Rudman Padova Allocated by Major League Soccer April 1, 1997 FW Thomas Dooley FC Schalke 04 Allocated by Major League Soccer May 3, 1997 FW Mike Lapper Southend United F.C. Allocated by Major League Soccer June 3, 1997 DF Ubusuku Abukusumo NC State Wolfpack Allocated by Major League Soccer as part of MLS Project-40. June 5, 1997 MF A. J. Wood NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for Brian Bliss July 8, 1997 FW Frank Klopas Kansas City Wizards Traded for Pete Marino. November 2, 1997 GK Mark Dougherty Tampa Bay Mutiny Selected in the 1997 MLS Waiver Draft. November 17, 1997

Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Aidan Heaney Carolina Dynamo April 16, 1997 April 19, 1997 GK Eddie Carvacho Atlanta Ruckus July 11, 1997 July 14, 1997 GK David Allred Raleigh Flyers September 4, 1997 September 7, 1997 GK Randy Dedini Nashville Metros September 9, 1997 September 22, 1997 GK Dusty Hudock Seattle Sounders September 26, 1997 End of Season

Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource FW Adrián Paz Colorado Rapids Traded for the 1st overall pick in the 1997 MLS supplemental draft, which was then traded for Jorge Salcedo from Los Angeles Galaxy. February 1, 1997 DF Ricardo Iribarren Club Almagro Departed team due to visa problems. February 4, 1997 DF Billy Clifford Jacksonville Cyclones Placed on waivers. March 7, 1997 FW John Smith Orlando Sundogs Placed on waivers. March 14, 1997 DF Paul Caligiuri Los Angeles Galaxy Sued Major League Soccer over a contract clause and was re-allocated to Los Angeles Galaxy. March 26, 1997 MF Altimont Butler Jamaica national football team April 14, 1997 DF Todd Deneault Placed on waivers. April 22, 1997 MF Rob Jachym New England Revolution Placed on waivers. May 28, 1997 FW Silvio Rudman C.D. Veracruz Placed on waivers. May 28, 1997 MF Brian Bliss NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for A. J. Wood July 8, 1997 DF Todd Miller Charleston Battery Placed on waivers. August 12, 1997 FW Pete Marino Kansas City Wizards Traded for Frank Klopas. November 2, 1997 MF Jason Farrell Chicago Fire Drafted 7th in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. November 6, 1997 MF Jorge Salcedo Chicago Fire Drafted 9th in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. November 6, 1997 MF A. J. Wood Chicago Fire Drafted 21st in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. November 6, 1997 DF Janusz Michallik New England Revolution Placed on waivers. November 13, 1997 GK Brad Friedel Liverpool F.C. Transfer, $1,600,000 December 19, 1997 DF Sergio Miguez Retired Contract expired. December 31, 1997 MF Doctor Khumalo Kaizer Chiefs Contract expired. December 31, 1997

Loans out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource MF Rob Jachym Milwaukee Rampage Columbus retains right to recall May 28, 1997 DF Todd Miller Charleston Battery June 7, 1997 June 10, 1997

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 13 Rob JachymMFHartford213 John SmithFWRollins323 Todd DeneaultFWSouth Florida

Round Pick Player Position College 213 Jason FarrellMFSeattle Pacific328 Billy CliffordDFSouth Carolina

Round Pick Player Position Team 15 Mark DoughertyGKTampa Bay Mutiny210 Bill HarteDFTampa Bay Mutiny

Awards

MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 7 Doctor Khumalo San Jose Clash 20 Thomas Dooley D.C. United

MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink August Brad Friedel

1997 MLS All-Star Game Starters FW Robert Warzycha Reserves FW Brian McBride

Postseason MLS Fair Play Team Award MLS Best XI GK Brad Friedel DF Thomas Dooley

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year GK Brad Friedel

Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Brad Friedel Defensive Player of the Year – Brad Friedel Scoring Champion – Pete Marino Man of the Year – Thomas Dooley Coach's Award – Mike Lapper

References