Why Columbus Crew fired Henrik Rydstrom before World Cup break
Columbus Crew fired Henrik Rydstrom and promoted Laurent Courtois to interim coach a week before the World Cup break. Here's why.
The Crew's decision to fire head coach Henrik Rydstrom came with just two games remaining before the eight-week FIFA World Cup break. On May 17, following a 1-1 draw to the Eastern Conference's last-placed Philadelphia Union , the Crew dismissed Rydstrom , assistant coach Theodor Olsson and video analyst Mak Pakhei. In Rydstrom's four months at the helm, the Crew went 3-4-7 in regular-season play, while reaching the U.
S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Assistant coach Laurent Courtois was promoted to interim coach for the quarterfinal matchup against New York City FC and the MLS regular-season matchup against Atlanta United on May 24.
"When we discussed when to [fire Rydstrom], there was no pushback on doing it now," Crew general manager Issa Tall said. "It will give Laurent two official games, instead of waiting for another two months when we play NYCFC in July. And we think, with a change like this, it will have an impact on the locker room.
" Tall also wants to give the 47-year-old Courtois a chance to coach the team beyond the break, so there is no plan to launch a coaching search in the upcoming months. "He's done everything right to get a chance like this," Tall said. "He's deserving of a chance.