It’s official. Sigi Schmid will not return as the Columbus Crew head coach in 2009. The Crew confirmed that Schmid had rejected their latest offer and the MLS coach of the year is looking for a new job.
Columbus Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers issued the following statement on Sigi Schmid’s status as Crew head coach:
“Sigi Schmid has formally declined our last contract offer and will not be returning as head coach of the Columbus Crew. Sigi was the ideal person to turn around our competitive program and create a championship mentality within our club. As a result, we are well positioned moving forward and toward continued success. We respect his desire to seek the next challenge and wish him nothing but the best.”
Schmid met with officials from the expansion Seattle Sounders FC last week and is widely expected to be named Sounders coach in the next couple of weeks. He will be a great addition to the Seattle franchise.