The 2006 Columbus Crew season was the club's 11th season of existence and their 11th consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. The first match of the season was on April 1 against Kansas City Wizards. It was the first season under head coach Sigi Schmid.
This season is notable for being the first of MLS legend Kei Kamara's career, one which would have him play for a league-record 11 teams by 2025.
Roster
Technical Staff
Non-competitive
Preseason The Crew started preseason in Columbus and played games in Florida, Cyprus, Louisiana and California before returning to Ohio.
The Crew brought in the following trialists during training camp: Adam Frye, Brent Rahim, Edwin Miranda, Aleksey Korol, Chris Corcoran, Clint Baumstark and Piotr Świerczewski, Yaniv Abargil and Leonard Bisaku.
Unsigned draft picks Brandon Moss, Dayton O'Brien, Duke Hashimoto, Andy Gruenebaum and Ivan Becerra also joined the team for preseason.
Midseason Eberson was a guest player against Everton FC.
Postseason
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
Reserve League Overall table Pos Club Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts1Colorado Rapids Reserves (C)129302414 +10272Kansas City Wizards Reserves127322516 +9233Houston Dynamo Reserves127502417 +7213Real Salt Lake Reserves126332320 +3215D.C. United Reserves126512211 +11196FC Dallas Reserves124352013 +7177New York Red Bulls Reserves125611525−10168Chivas USA Reserves124531823−5159Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves124622019 +1149Chicago Fire Reserves114521618−21411Columbus Crew Reserves123811423−91012New England Revolution Reserves11074931−224
Match results
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 Jon Busch000000 2 DF Frankie Hejduk200020 3 DF Ritchie Kotschau400040 4 DF Rusty Pierce500050 5 MF Brandon Moss511061 6 DF Marcos González511061 7 MF Jacob Thomas100010 8 DF Duncan Oughton100010 9 FW Jason Garey200020 10 FW Joseph Ngwenya520052 11 MF Ned Grabavoy100010 12 MF Eddie Gaven300030 13 FW Marc Burch000000 14 DF Chad Marshall100010 15 MF José Retiz710071 16 FW Kei Kamara100010 17 MF Danny Szetela000000 18 FW Knox Cameron000000 19 FW Ivan Becerra000000 20 DF Tim Ward100010 22 FW Sebastián Rozental100010 23 FW Ezra Hendrickson100010 24 DF Jed Zayner000000 25 DF Ricardo Virtuoso100010 28 GK Andy Gruenebaum000000 29 GK Noah Palmer000000 30 MF Eric Vasquez000000 31 GK Bill Gaudette000000 33 DF Chris Leitch200020 88 GK Jonny Walker000000 99 FW Ryan Coiner000000Players who left Columbus during the season: 10 MF Kyle Martino100010 11 FW John Wolyniec000000 13 MF Dayton O'Brien000000 21 MF Leonard Bisaku200020 26 DF Joel Kitamirike100010 27 GK Dan Popik100010 27 GK Dominik Jakubek000000 29 FW Duke Hashimoto000000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Jon Busch3038 28 Andy Gruenebaum0003 29 Noah Palmer10111 31 Bill Gaudette30312 88 Jonny Walker0000Players who left Columbus during the season: 27 Dan Popik0001 27 Dominik Jakubek0000
Reserve League 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.
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name MLS Reserve League Total - MF Trey Alexander0000 19 FW Ivan Becerra0000 21 MF Leonard Bisaku1010 - MF Milton Blanco0000 - MF Lubomir Bogdanov0000 - FW Sallieu Bundu0000 13 FW Marc Burch3030 18 FW Knox Cameron1010 99 FW Ryan Coiner0000 - DF Rene Corona0000 - FW Brian Cvilikas0000 - GK Peter Dzubay0000 9 FW Jason Garey0000 31 GK Bill Gaudette0000 12 MF Eddie Gaven0000 6 DF Marcos González0000 11 MF Ned Grabavoy0000 28 GK Andy Gruenebaum0000 29 FW Duke Hashimoto0000 23 DF Ezra Hendrickson0000 27 GK Dominik Jakubek0000 - GK Jordan James0000 - MF Nowaf Jaman0000 16 FW Kei Kamara1010 - FW Gus Kartes0000 - DF Joel Kitamirike2121 3 DF Ritchie Kotschau1010 - DF John Krause0000 33 DF Chris Leitch0000 - MF Ahmad Manning0000 - DF Chad Marshall0000 - FW Brett McNabb0000 - MF Seung Meang0000 - FW Machel Millwood0000 5 MF Brandon Moss1010 - DF Thulani Ncube0000 10 FW Joseph Ngwenya0000 - FW Kevin Nugent0000 13 FW Dayton O'Brien0000 8 DF Duncan Oughton0000 29 GK Noah Palmer0000 - MF Jeremy Parkins0000 - DF Anthony Peters0000 27 GK Dan Popik0000 15 MF José Retiz0000 22 FW Sebastián Rozental0000 - DF Matt Schmidt0000 7 MF Jacob Thomas0000 - DF Jake Traeger0000 30 MF Eric Vasquez0000 25 MF Ricardo Virtuoso0000 20 DF Tim Ward1010 - FW Cam Weaver1010 - MF Kyle Widder0000 11 FW John Wolyniec0000
Clean sheets
No. Name MLS Reserve League Total Games Played - Peter Dzubay000 31 Bill Gaudette112 28 Andy Gruenebaum119 27 Dominik Jakubek002 - Jordan James000 29 Noah Palmer003 27 Dan Popik000
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource DF Marcos González Club Deportivo Palestino January 11, 2006 DF Joel Kitamirike Dundee F.C. January 11, 2006 DF Tim Ward NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for Chris Henderson. Signed to a developmental contract. January 12, 2006 FW Sebastián Rozental Puerto Rico Islanders January 13, 2006 FW Jason Garey Maryland Terrapins Drafted in round 1 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft January 20, 2006 FW Kei Kamara Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros Drafted in round 1 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a developmental contract. January 20, 2006 DF Jed Zayner Indiana Hoosiers Drafted in round 2 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a developmental contract. January 20, 2006 MF Brandon Moss New Mexico Lobos Drafted in round 3 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a developmental contract. January 20, 2006 FW Dayton O'Brien Memphis Tigers Drafted in round 3 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft January 20, 2006 FW Duke Hashimoto SMU Mustangs Drafted in round 4 of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft January 20, 2006 GK Andy Gruenebaum Kentucky Wildcats Drafted in round 1 of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. Signed to a developmental contract. January 26, 2006 FW Ivan Becerra UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Drafted in round 3 of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft January 26, 2006 DF Rusty Pierce Real Salt Lake Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft February 22, 2006 MF José Retiz Club Puebla March 21, 2006 MF Eddie Gaven NY/NJ MetroStars Traded with the rights for Chris Leitch for Edson Buddle March 28, 2006 MF Jacob Thomas VfB Lübeck March 28, 2006 MF Leonard Bisaku HŠK Posušje April 4, 2006 DF Ezra Hendrickson Chivas USA Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft April 28, 2006 DF Chris Leitch NY/NJ MetroStars April 28, 2006 FW Joseph Ngwenya Los Angeles Galaxy Traded with Ned Grabavoy for Kyle Martino and John Wolyniec May 12, 2006 MF Ned Grabavoy Los Angeles Galaxy Traded with Joseph Ngwenya for Kyle Martino and John Wolyniec. Signed to a developmental contract. May 12, 2006 GK Noah Palmer Real Salt Lake Traded for a first round draft pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft and the rights to Duke Hashimoto May 24, 2006 MF Ricardo Virtuoso FC Chiasso May 28, 2006 FW Marc Burch Los Angeles Galaxy Traded for a second round draft pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. Signed to a developmental contract. July 11, 2006 FW Ryan Coiner Holstein Kiel July 13, 2006 DF Duncan Oughton Columbus Crew August 18, 2006 DF Danny O'Rourke Toronto FC Traded with William Hesmer for a partial allocation November 17, 2006 GK William Hesmer Toronto FC Traded with Danny O'Rourke for a partial allocation November 17, 2006
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Dan Popik MLS Pool Short term agreement May 31, 2006 June 10, 2006 GK Dominik Jakubek MLS Pool Short term agreement June 18, 2006 July 9, 2006
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource DF Simon Elliott Fulham F.C. The Crew retains his MLS rights January 6, 2006 MF Chris Henderson NY/NJ MetroStars Traded for Tim Ward January 12, 2006 DF Chris Wingert Colorado Rapids Traded for a fourth round draft pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft January 20, 2006 GK Matt Jordan Colorado Rapids Traded for a third round draft pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft January 20, 2006 MF Marcus Storey Houston Dynamo Traded for a second round draft pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft February 16, 2006 FW David Testo Vancouver Whitecaps Placed on waivers March 3, 2006 FW Jamal Sutton Seattle Sounders Placed on waivers March 3, 2006 MF Luis Gallardo A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón Placed on waivers March 3, 2006 DF Stephen Herdsman Retired Placed on waivers March 3, 2006 MF Domenic Mediate D.C. United Traded for a fourth round draft pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft March 14, 2006http://www.dcunited.com/media-guide/history/All-Time-Player-Transaction FW Edson Buddle New York Red Bulls Traded for the rights to Chris Leitch and Eddie Gaven March 28, 2006 DF Joel Kitamirike Fisher Athletic F.C. Placed on waivers April 27, 2006 MF Kyle Martino Los Angeles Galaxy Traded with John Wolyniec for Ned Grabavoy and Joseph Ngwenya May 12, 2006 FW John Wolyniec Los Angeles Galaxy Traded with Kyle Martino for Ned Grabavoy and Joseph Ngwenya May 12, 2006 DF Duncan Oughton Columbus Crew Placed on waivers May 12, 2006 FW Duke Hashimoto Real Salt Lake Rights traded with a first round draft pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft for Noah Palmer May 24, 2006 MF Dayton O'Brien Atlanta Silverbacks Placed on waivers July 11, 2006 MF Leonard Bisaku Retired August 18, 2006 DF Ritchie Kotschau Toronto FC Selected ninth in the 2006 MLS Expansion Draft November 17, 2006 GK Noah Palmer Retired Placed on waivers November, 2006 MF Eric Vasquez Miami FC Placed on waivers November, 2006 FW Knox Cameron Canton Celtic Contract expired December 31, 2006 FW Sebastián Rozental Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. Contract expired December 31, 2006
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 Jason GareyFWMaryland19 Kei KamaraFWCal State Dominguez Hills213 Jed ZaynerDFIndiana327 Brandon MossMFNew Mexico333 Dayton O'BrienFWMemphis438 Duke HashimotoFWSMU
Round Pick Player Position College 13 Andy GruenebaumGKKentucky215 David ChunMFSMU327 Ivan BecerraFWUC Santa Barbara
Awards
Postseason MLS Athletic Trainer of the Year Rick Guter
Crew Team Awards Most Valuable Player – Marcos González Defensive Player of the Year – Marcos González Scoring Champion – Jason Garey & Joseph Ngwenya Man of the Year – Ritchie Kotschau Coach's Award – Ezra Hendrickson Newcomer of the Year – Jason Garey Goal of the Year – Joseph Ngwenya Humanitarian of the Year – Jed Zayner Hardest Working Man of the Year – Jacob Thomas Comeback Player of the Year – Duncan Oughton Fan of the Year – Kelly Brooks
References