Columbus Crew: Best starting XI of 2010s

Despite not winning a trophy, the 2010s provided some memorable Columbus Crew players. This is the definitive best Columbus Crew starting XI of the decade.

The Columbus Crew is a founding MLS franchise with as much history as any club in the league. They are owners of the first soccer-specific stadium and have been home to some legends of the game in the United States, names such as Brian McBride, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Stern John have all suited up in the black and yellow, winning club and individual trophies.

Despite the success and longevity of the Columbus Crew, the decade beginning in 2010 brought a great deal of attention to the club, for all the wrong reasons. Any decade wrap-up of this club has to mention the cloud that was hanging over every proceeding, starting in 2013 when Anthony Precourt took over.

While initial returns were promising, the turd in the punch bowl could be seen early on. Throughout the decade, the battle over Precourt’s proposed move to Austin, Texas and his blatant lack of investment in the club led a once-proud franchise to drastically fall off in terms of trophy accumulation in the new expansion era of MLS.

Columbus went from winning two Supporters’ Shields and one MLS Cup in 2008 and 2009 to only appearing in two finals in the next decade. Until the new ownership took over to finish the 2010s, ridding the club of Precourt, the Columbus Crew was a directionless club held together by the excellent head coach and a mini midfield maestro with a more famous brother.

Nevertheless, despite the dispiriting times in boardrooms, there were still plenty of positive performances on the pitch. And this Best XI from the past decade is an illustration of that.

The players have been considered with two criteria in mind. First is if I need to win the MLS Cup tomorrow, these are the players who would make up the team. Second, since we are playing Berhalter ball (he was the coach from 2013-2018), the team will be set up in his 4-2-3-1 formation.

So, with that in mind, here is the Columbus Crew best starting XI of the decade.

Goalkeeper

Zack Steffen

For this selection, there were really only four possible options as the position has been fairly stable throughout the decade. William Hesmer began the decade and has to receive consideration as he was the primary goalkeeper during the aforementioned trophy-winning years.

Andy Gruenebaum was a spot starter for Hesmer throughout the early part of the decade. He was valuable because Hesmer consistently seemed to be suffering from some sort of ailment and Gruenebaum was a capable reserve option. Steve Clark then came into the fold around the middle of the decade and will largely be remembered for this gaffe in the opening seconds of MLS Cup 2015.

However, to start in a must-win match, the man who has to start is Zack Steffen. While with the Columbus Crew, Steffen made 76 league appearances after coming over from Freiburg in 2016. Not only was Steffen an incredible shot-stopper at the position; he could make plays in distribution that kick-started the Crew attack, which couldn’t be said of any other player at the position for the club. In fact, Steffen became so proficient in this skill, a huge staple of what coach Berhalter needs from the position, that he earned an MLS-record transfer for a goalkeeper of $7 million to another famously possession styled club in Manchester City.

The 2018 season stands out as the best for Steffen as he single-handedly won points for Columbus and was justly rewarded with postseason awards of MLS Best XI and goalkeeper of the year. Steffen, in that 2018 season, even saved two penalties in a first-round playoff match against D.C. United. He was a superstar for the Columbus Crew.