Columbus Crew is a prime example of a strong player pathway – MASSIVE REPORT

The Columbus Crew has embodied what having a successful player pathway to the professional ranks looks like. The Black & Gold have enjoyed success across multiple levels of the club in recent years. The Crew Academy recently finished third in the UPSL National Finals. Columbus Crew 2 of MLS Next Pro enjoyed back-to-back appearances in the cup final and everyone in Central Ohio is still on Cloud Nine following the senior team’s MLS Cup victory against LAFC in December.

Multiple players, like homegrown midfielder Sean Zawadzki, have ascended through the ranks of the organization and enjoy the success of not only themselves but the Club as a whole.

Zawadzki, an Olmstead Falls, Ohio native, recently signed a multi-year contract extension with the Crew after a memorable year ending with an MLS Cup.

“That’s why I’m here, that’s why I work for this Club,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “I was really happy to see — and I tease him a bit — Sean [Zawadzki], with the extension of the contract because you buy time when you have the players from the city, and he went through the academy, and after that, he is a professional player. We don’t have to tell him his desire to compete and so on. This is something that he has naturally.”

“All the players that come from the academy are very, very important because I believe that, the type of coach I am, it’s essential for me because I’m going to be able to teach them something else, and not about to compete, compete, compete.”

Like Zawadzki, Aidan Morris signed a contract extension last year and has seen success of his own while with the Crew. Both players have been recognized nationally and called up to the United States Men’s National Team’s annual January camp.

But there’s a quiet yet skillful player on the rise coming through the Columbus Crew organization, and that’s newly minted senior squad player Taha Habroune. “A young, modern, number eight,” said Nancy when asked about the deciding factor on getting the Columbus native a first-team contract.

“He’s a box-to-box player and, technically, has quality. But he’s able or so to, be able to play within the lines, but also to pass the ball behind the lines. He’s young, but he has a lot of personality.”

Habroune signed with the Club in January, making himself the 21st homegrown player signing in franchise history.

“It feels great; I’m finally official with the team. I grew up in Columbus and have been a Columbus fan my whole life. That was obviously the first thing I wanted to do growing up,” Habroune said during his media availability.
Habroune joined the organization five years ago and has continued to pave his path to the league through the Crew Academy, Columbus Crew 2, and now the first team.

The Columbus native signed an MLS Next Pro professional contract in May of last year, joining Columbus Crew 2 on yet another successful campaign run that ended with an MLS Next Pro Cup Final appearance. During his time with the Capybaras, Habroune appeared in 20 matches (14 starts), registering four goals and three assists.

“I got to take it step-by-step. I think Crew 2 helped a lot; I got to play in that professional environment. Obviously, it’s not what the first team is, but it’s a lot closer than what academy is,” said Habroune. He made his first team debut, playing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

“It’s important; you have a chance when you see the pathway through all stages. Through the academy, with the second team through the first team, it’s all quality, it’s all high level,” forward Jacen Russell-Rowe said.

“Going through each stage, you’re going to be prepared if you keep on developing the way they want; you’ll be prepared for the next level eventually.”

MLS comes with a high demand for physicality. But with the proper training and development, a young player like Habroune will be able to withstand the demands of playing in MLS.

“Been hearing it a lot from the coaches. Working to get stronger, whether it’s in the gym, also a bit on the field. Doing whatever I can to gain some weight.”

Furthermore, Columbus has set the foundation of what a successful player pathway should showcase. With players like Morris, Zawadzki, Habroune, and Keegan Hughes, the Black & Gold are shaping their roster for the future, and the Crew player pathway is just the blueprint of what teams in MLS should follow.