Henrik Rydström Appointed as Head Coach of Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew has officially announced the appointment of Henrik Rydström as their new head coach, highlighting his ability to merge successful outcomes with a contemporary, attacking playing philosophy, a key focus following the club’s recent achievements in Major League Soccer (MLS).

“Henrik has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout his extensive coaching and playing career, and we share a unified vision for how to advance and evolve the Club’s dynamic style of play,” stated General Manager Issa Tall. “During our search for a head coach, we emphasized the significance of candidates’ personalities and their commitment to the club, alongside their coaching credentials. Henrik exemplifies these qualities, and we are excited to kick off the 2026 season with our enduring goal of consistently competing for championships in Columbus.”

Rydström remarked that his decision to join the Crew became increasingly evident during the interview process. He cited the club’s attacking style, strong work ethic, and the supportive fan culture as key attractions, expressing his ambition to build on recent successes while raising performance standards.

“With every meeting with Crew leadership, the sense that this Club is special intensified, and it became clear that I wanted to be a part of it,” Rydström explained. “As a coach, I admire the Crew’s playing style and the enjoyment it brings the players, along with the emphasis on hard work and the passion of our supporters. Our objective is to enhance the team’s remarkable success and attacking style while maintaining our drive to win and challenge ourselves daily to improve, creating joy for both the team and our supporters.”

Rydström’s credentials are notable; he led Malmö to back-to-back Allsvenskan titles in 2023 and 2024, achieving the club’s first league-and-cup double since 1989 with a Swedish Cup victory in 2024. Over two full seasons, his teams averaged more than two points per match, highlighting a dominant domestic performance. Rydström’s Allsvenskan record at Malmö stands at an impressive 39 wins, 9 draws, and 12 losses across two seasons, with an overall record in all competitions of 52 wins, 16 draws, and 22 losses.

Prior to his coaching career, Rydström enjoyed a successful 24-year professional playing tenure in Sweden, spending 20 seasons with Kalmar FF, where he captained the team to its only Allsvenskan title in 2008. He began his coaching career at Kalmar, followed by stints with IK Sirius, before returning to Kalmar and ultimately securing the role at Malmö in late 2022.

This hiring comes less than a month after Wilfried Nancy left Columbus to take over at Celtic FC, a move reported initially by the Columbus Dispatch. Under Nancy’s leadership, the Crew clinched the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024, establishing a high standard for Rydström to meet.

Joining Rydström in Columbus are assistant coach Theodor Olsson and first-team analyst Mak Pakhei, while goalkeeper coach Phil Boerger and head of video and data analysis Marc O’Neill will remain with the club.