The 2003 Columbus Crew season was the club's eighth season of existence and their eighth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on April 5 against Los Angeles Galaxy. It was the third season under head coach Greg Andrulis.
This was also the final season for longtime Crew icons Mike Clark, who retired as the club's all-time appearance leader (now second), and Brian McBride, who went to play in the Premier League at Everton and Fulham.
Roster
Technical staff
Non-competitive
Preseason For the preseason match against Cincinnati Riverhawks, the Crew brought in non-roster invitees Shane Curran, Gary Berry and Bret Jones from the Columbus Shooting Stars. The Crew spent a portion of preseason in Portugal where they played a series of friendlies against local teams. They brought in Michael Thomas as a non-roster invitee on this trip. After returning from Portugal, the Crew went to Florida to continue training. They played another series of friendly matches. Omar Belbey joined the team as a non-roster invitee on this leg of preseason.
Midseason The Crew played a midseason friendly against Santos Laguna in Kansas City as a double header with Kansas City Wizards vs. Dallas Burn which was the first time all three Clark owned MLS teams played in the same stadium on the same day. The Crew who came into the game with many injuries called up Taly Goode, Kevin Friedland, and Taylor Graham from Kansas City Wizards.
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
CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
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 CONCACAF Champions' Cup Total 1 GK Jon Busch30001040 2 DF Frankie Hejduk60003191 3 DF Mike Clark51001061 4 DF Mark Williams50000050 5 DF Chad McCarty50001060 6 DF Eric Denton701021101 7 MF Diego Walsh21001031 8 DF Duncan Oughton60001070 10 MF Brian Maisonneuve50000050 11 FW Jeff Cunningham20001131 12 FW Edson Buddle20100030 15 MF Freddy Garcia00000000 16 MF Ross Paule20000020 17 FW Brian West20010021 18 DF Nelson Akwari10000010 20 FW Brian McBride30000030 21 MF Kyle Martino10001020 22 GK Tom Presthus00000000 23 FW Alex Pineda Chacon00000000 24 MF Jeff Matteo10000010 25 FW Michael Ritch00000000 27 MF Andres Murriagui00000000 28 DF Jake Traeger00000000 31 GK Michael Ueltschey00000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 4 DF Daniel Torres10000010 13 DF Brian Dunseth60000060 26 MF Trevor Perea00000000 - MF Ryan Mack00000000 - GK Clint Baumstark00000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Champions' Cup Total Games Played 1 Jon Busch400027 22 Tom Presthus20109 31 Michael Ueltschey00000Players who left Columbus during the season: - Clint Baumstark00000
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource DF Diego Walsh SMU Mustangs Drafted in round 1 of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft January 17, 2003 DF Nelson Akwari NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for a second round draft pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft January 17, 2003 FW Michael Ritch Auburn Tigers Drafted in round 4 of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft January 17, 2003 DF Jake Traeger Ohio State Buckeyes Drafted in round 6 of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft January 17, 2003 DF Frankie Hejduk Bayer Leverkusen March 8, 2003 MF Ross Paule NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for Chris Leitch and Jeff Matteo March 13, 2003 MF Trevor Perea Duke Blue Devils Signed to a developmental contract March, 2003 GK Michael Ueltschey Cincinnati Riverhawks Signed to a developmental contract March, 2003 MF Ryan Mack Chicago Fire Signed to a developmental contract April, 2003 MF Jeff Matteo NY/NJ MetroStars Claimed off waivers May 23, 2003 MF Alex Pineda Chacon Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft July 31, 2003 DF Mark Williams Stoke City F.C. Signed via discovery August 21, 2003 MF Andres Murriagui Cincinnati Riverhawks Signed to a developmental contract August 23, 2003
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Clint Baumstark MLS Pool Short term agreement July 30, 2003 July 30, 2003
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource DF Chris Leitch NY/NJ MetroStars Traded with Jeff Matteo for Ross Paule March 13, 2003 MF Jeff Matteo NY/NJ MetroStars Traded with Chris Leitch for Ross Paule March 13, 2003 FW Dante Washington Virginia Beach Mariners Contract expired March 23, 2003 MF Ryan Mack Syracuse Salty Dogs Placed on waivers May 23, 2003 DF Daniel Torres Deportivo Saprissa Transfer, terms undisclosed July 2, 2003 MF Trevor Perea Cincinnati Riverhawks Placed on waivers August 20, 2003 DF Brian Dunseth Dallas Burn Traded for a fifth round draft pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft August 21, 2003 DF Chad McCarty Retired Placed on waivers December 31, 2003 MF Jeff Matteo Minnesota Thunder Contract expired December 31, 2003 DF Mark Williams Wimbledon F.C. Contract expired December 31, 2003 MF Alex Pineda Chacon Atlanta Silverbacks Contract expired December 31, 2003 MF Brian West Fredrikstad FK Contract expired December 31, 2003 GK Michael Ueltschey Puerto Rico Islanders Contract expired December 31, 2003 MF Andres Murriagui Atlanta Silverbacks Contract expired December 31, 2003
Loans out Pos.PlayerLoanee clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource FW Brian McBride Everton F.C. January 10, 2003 March 21, 2003 MF Trevor Perea Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements April, 2003 August 20, 2003 DF Nelson Akwari Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements April, 2003 End of Season DF Jake Traeger Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements April, 2003 End of Season FW Michael Ritch Syracuse Salty Dogs Multiple short term agreements April, 2003 End of Season GK Michael Ueltschey Montreal Impact Multiple short term agreements April 16, 2003 End of Season MF Andres Murriagui Cincinnati Riverhawks Multiple short term agreements August, 2003 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 17 Diego WalshDFSMU437 Michael RitchFWAuburn547 Guy AbrahamsonMFRutgers658 Jake TraegerDFOhio State
Round Pick Player Position Team 17 Ian JoyDFKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Awards
MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 1 Edson Buddle Los Angeles Galaxy 3 Brian McBride New England Revolution
2003 MLS All-Star Game Starters DF Frankie Hejduk Reserves MF Kyle Martino
Postseason MLS Fair Play Award FW Brian McBride
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Ross Paule Defensive Player of the Year – Eric Denton Scoring Champion – Brian McBride Man of the Year – Brian McBride Coach's Award – Brian Maisonneuve Goal of the Year – Brian McBride & Diego Walsh Humanitarian of the Year – Mike Clark Hardest Working Man of the Year – Frankie Hejduk Comeback Player of the Year – Edson Buddle
References