A Sigh of Relief

Schelotto Re-Signs with the Crew

COLUMBUS, OH - The Columbus Crew announced Tuesday that it has re-signed Guillermo Barros Schelotto, keeping one of the most popular, prolific and decorated players in club history in Black & Gold for the 2010 season. Schelotto's fourth season with the Crew will be his 20th in professional soccer, continuing an extraordinary career in which he has been part of a remarkable 18 club championships.

Since joining the Crew in 2007 from storied Argentine club Boca Juniors, Schelotto has been one of the finest attacking players in the league, earning both league and MLS Cup MVP honors, along with two MLS Best XI selections, while accumulating 26 goals and 39 assists in 78 regular-season and playoff games.

"It was a long process, but we're very happy to be able to re-sign Guillermo for this season," said Crew head coach Robert Warzycha. "He's obviously been a very good player for this team and I'm glad we got him signed in time for the start of preseason camp."

Schelotto will not occupy a Designated Player slot in 2010. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.

A native of La Plata, Argentina, the 36-year-old Schelotto was the Crew's 2009 Budweiser Golden Boot winner with 12 goals, a haul that included three multi-goal games and three game-winning goals. He was named MLS Player of the Week on June 15, MLS Player of the Month for June, and was an 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection. Schelotto's exploits helped lead the Crew to a second consecutive MLS Supporters' Shield, with a 13-7-10 record (49 pts.), and into the quarterfinals of the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League tournament.

Schelotto's magical 2008 campaign helped guide the Crew to its finest season ever. He collected seven goals and 19 assists on his way to being named MLS MVP, leading the league in assists by a wide margin, as the Black & Gold won the Supporters' Shield with a 17-7-6 record and franchise-record 57 points. He set a new Crew record for assists in a season, which is also matched the second-most in a season in MLS history. Five of his assists led to game-winners and his extraordinary performances were recognized with four regular-season MLS Player of the Week selections and MLS Player of the Month honors for August. His 19 assists in the 2008 season were the most for an individual in MLS since the 2002 season when Steve Ralston also totaled 19.

Schelotto remained a difference maker in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, as he helped lead the Crew to it's first-ever MLS Cup championship, totaling three assists in the title match, a 3-1 victory over New York, and earning MVP honors for the match. In all, Schelotto totaled six assists in four matches for the Crew during the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, tying him for the MLS record for most assists in a single postseason.

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