The 1998 Columbus Crew season was the club's third season of existence and their third consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on March 21 against Tampa Bay Mutiny. It was the third season under head coach Tom Fitzgerald.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
Preseason Columbus started preseason in the Orlando area. They brought their draft picks and some non-roster invitees into training camp that played in some of their early preseason games. These non-roster invitees included Vital Rivelino, Sander Vermuelen, Diego Cerro, Luciano Da Silva, Mikhail Zaritskiy, Chris Lewis, Francisco, and Alejandro Kenig. Alex Deegan from the Richmond Kickers also joined the Crew for 3 weeks in preseason.
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
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 U.S. Open Cup Total 1 GK Juergen Sommer00001010 2 DF Mike Lapper11000011 3 DF Mike Clark41100051 4 DF Ricardo Iribarren813000111 5 DF Thomas Dooley20100030 6 MF Todd Yeagley50100060 7 DF Scott Cannon00000000 8 FW Andy Williams00100010 9 FW Billy Thompson20000020 10 MF Brian Maisonneuve00001010 11 FW Jeff Cunningham10000010 12 MF Jason Farrell00200020 13 DF Ancil Elcock40202080 14 FW Stern John20000020 15 MF Andrew Gregor30000030 16 MF Rob Smith20100030 17 FW Brian West10000010 19 MF Robert Warzycha40100050 20 FW Brian McBride20200040 22 MF Marcelo Carrera10000010 24 MF Nick Theslof00000000 25 DF Ubusuku Abukusumo00000000 33 GK Mark Dougherty00000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 18 GK David Winner00000000 21 MF Brandon Ward00000000 23 FW Jimmy Glenn00000000 26 MF Craig Yacks00000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS MLS Cup Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Juergen Sommer401530 33 Mark Dougherty101212Players who left Columbus during the season: 18 David Winner00001
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource FW Brian West Virginia Cavaliers Allocated by Major League Soccer as part of MLS Project-40. January 20, 1998 FW Juergen Sommer Queens Park Rangers F.C. Allocated by Major League Soccer January 28, 1998 FW Jeff Cunningham South Florida Bulls Drafted in round 1 of the 1998 MLS College Draft. January 31, 1998 MF Andrew Gregor Portland Pilots Drafted in round 2 of the 1998 MLS College Draft. February 1, 1998 FW Henrik Nebrelius Tampa Spartans Drafted in round 2 of the 1998 MLS College Draft. February 1, 1998 MF Nick Theslof UCLA Bruins Drafted in round 3 of the 1998 MLS College Draft. February 1, 1998 MF Brandon Ward Richmond Kickers Drafted in round 1 of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft. February 1, 1998 MF Scott Cannon Richmond Kickers Drafted in round 2 of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft. February 1, 1998 MF Jason Farrell Chicago Fire Traded for Frank Klopas. February 19, 1998 FW Stern John New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers Signed via discovery. February 26, 1998 FW Andy Williams Harbour View F.C. Signed via discovery. March 2, 1998 DF Ricardo Iribarren Club Almagro Allocated by Major League Soccer after clearing up visa problems. March 30, 1998
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Chris Wanamaker Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreement. Did not make a game roster. April 23, 1998 April 24, 1998 FW Jimmy Glenn Rochester Raging Rhinos Short term agreement. May 12, 1998 June 30, 1998 FW Jason Cairns Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreement. Did not make a game roster. June 3, 1998 June 10, 1998 DF Mike Crosby Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreement. Did not make a game roster. June 3, 1998 June 10, 1998 MF Craig Yacks Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreements. June 3, 1998July 23, 1998 June 10, 1998 July 26, 1998 DF Brett Strang Cincinnati Riverhawks Short term agreement. Did not make a game roster. June 3, 1998 June 10, 1998
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource FW Frank Klopas Chicago Fire Traded for Jason Farrell. February 19, 1998 FW Henrik Nebrelius Ystads IF Placed on waivers. March, 1998 DF Brandon Ward Chicago Stingers Placed on waivers. March 30, 1998 GK David Winner New England Revolution Placed on waivers. June 30, 1998 DF Ricardo Iribarren Milwaukee Rampage Placed on waivers.October 31, 1998 DF Scott Cannon Richmond Kickers Placed on waivers. October 31, 1998 FW Marcelo Carrera Canton Invaders Placed on waivers. October 31, 1998 MF Andrew Gregor Seattle Sounders Contract expired December 31, 1998 MF Nick Theslof Retired Contract expired December 31, 1998
Loans out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource FW Brian West MLS Project-40 Multiple short term agreements. February 25, 1998 End of Season DF Ubusuku Abukusumo MLS Project-40 Multiple short term agreements. February 25, 1998 End of Season MF Andrew Gregor Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements. March 21, 1998 End of Season MF Nick Theslof Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements. March 21, 1998 End of Season GK David Winner Worcester Wildfire Columbus retains right to recall. April 17, 1998 May 16, 1998 MF Andrew Gregor MLS Project-40 Multiple short term agreements. April 23, 1998 End of Season
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 19 Jeff CunninghamFWSouth Florida221 Andrew GregorMFPortland224 Henrik NebreliusFWTampa333 Nick TheslofMFUCLA
Round Pick Player Position College 112 Brandon WardMFIndiana221 Scott CannonMFEvansville
Awards
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 4 Jason Farrell New England Revolution 5 Stern John Miami Fusion F.C. 11 Stern John San Jose Clash 20 Stern John Kansas City Wizards
MLS Player of the Month MonthPlayerStatsLink April Juergen Sommer August Stern John
1998 MLS All-Star Game Starters DF Thomas Dooley FW Brian McBride (MVP) Reserves FW Stern John MF Brian Maisonneuve
Postseason MLS Best XI FW Stern John DF Thomas Dooley
MLS Scoring Champion FW Stern John
MLS Goal of the Year FW Brian McBride
MLS Fair Play Award DF Thomas Dooley
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Stern John Defensive Player of the Year – Thomas Dooley Scoring Champion – Stern John Man of the Year – Mike Clark Coach's Award – Ancil Elcock
References