Bezbatchenko rolling with his hometown Crew
Over five years, GM helped Reds transform from also-ran into MLS Cup winner in 2017
General manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who helped build Toronto FC into a championship side, is leaving the MLS club.
The 37-year-old Bezbatchenko, who is from the Columbus suburb of Westerville in Ohio, is taking an executive position with Columbus Crew SC, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
It’s believed Bezbatchenko will oversee both the soccer and business side for Columbus.
Former New York Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis is in the running to be Bezbatchenko’s replacement.
Toronto FC had no official comment on Bezbatchenko’s future but scheduled a news conference for Thursday with team president Bill Manning making a “major announcement.” In an email to The Canadian Press, Columbus said “more details on senior leadership positions with Crew SC will be provided here in early January.”
Bezbatchenko, who was also TFC’s senior vice-president of soccer operations, joined Toronto in September 2013.
Under Bezbatchenko, Toronto posted a 72-65-48 regularseason record and reached two MLS Cup finals, finally hoisting the Cup in 2017 after winning the Supporters’ Shield with a then-record 69 points. Toronto also won the Canadian Championship in 2016, ’17 and ’18 and reached the final of the CONCACAF Champions League this past season.
News of Bezbatchenko’s departure comes less than two weeks before players report to training camp. His successor will likely have to hit the ground running.
While Toronto has already signed veteran defender-midfielder Nick DeLeon and centre back Laurent Ciman, designated players Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore are all entering the final year of their contracts.
Big games await. TFC is set to kick off round-of-16 play in the CONCACAF Champions League on Feb. 19 in Panama against Club Atletico Independiente. The MLS season opener is March 2 in Philadelphia.
The franchise hopes to waste little time reassuring fans that the fall from MLS champions in 2017 to 19th place in 2018 is just a blip.
Bezbatchenko joins a Columbus franchise under new ownership. MLS announced last month that it had an agreement in principle with the Haslam and Edwards families to become MLS owners and take over operating rights.
The Haslam family owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
The announcement follows news of a public-private partnership to construct a new downtown soccer stadium for the Columbus team.