Tim Bezbatchenko returns to Columbus as Haslam Sports Group’s president of global soccer to oversee the Crew and build the city’s 2028 NWSL expansion team, bringing proven MLS trophy-winning credentials and global experience to steady a Club amid coaching turnover and to shape long-term women’s and men’s programs.
Tim Bezbatchenko named Haslam Sports Group president of global soccer
Tim Bezbatchenko has been appointed president of global soccer for Haslam Sports Group, charged with all sporting decisions for MLS side Columbus Crew and the forthcoming Columbus NWSL expansion team slated to begin play in early 2028. He will report to Dee and Jimmy Haslam and work alongside Mary Shepro, the organization’s president of business operations.
Return to Columbus with a clear mandate
Bezbatchenko returns to the city where he previously served as president and general manager, ingredients that helped deliver MLS Cups in 2020 and 2023. His new role expands beyond club-level duties: he will spearhead recruitment of the NWSL club’s first general manager and head coach, build an operating staff and roster, and oversee HSG’s future domestic and global soccer investments.
Immediate context: coaching change and on-field struggles
The appointment follows abrupt coaching upheaval at the Crew. Henrik Rydström was dismissed earlier this month, leaving Columbus in the lower tier of the Eastern Conference. Stabilizing the team’s sporting direction is now a priority while Bezbatchenko and existing general manager Issa Tall—who previously collaborated with him—re-establish a coherent technical pathway for the men’s side.
Why this hire matters for Columbus and the NWSL expansion
Bringing back an executive who has already delivered trophies signals the Haslams’ appetite for immediate competitiveness. Bezbatchenko’s dual remit—short-term repair of the Crew and long-term construction of an NWSL franchise—creates operational efficiencies and a unified approach across both clubs. For Columbus, that could mean aligned scouting, shared infrastructure, and a clearer player-development pipeline between men’s and women’s programs.
Experience and networks to accelerate roster building
Bezbatchenko’s résumé includes MLS front-office leadership, a stint at Toronto FC during its successful 2017 campaign, league office work in player relations, and recent global exposure with Black Knight Football, a consortium connected to AFC Bournemouth. Those connections and institutional know-how should accelerate the NWSL build and expand Columbus’s recruitment reach.
Potential challenges and what to watch next
Consolidating control across two elite-level teams is complex. The immediate test will be stabilizing the Crew’s on-field trajectory and identifying a head coach who fits the club’s identity.
For the NWSL project, timely hires for GM and coach will shape the roster strategy and community engagement ahead of 2028.
Watch for how responsibilities are split between Bezbatchenko and Issa Tall, and how Mary Shepro integrates commercial goals with sporting priorities.
Why this is strategically sensible
Centralized sporting leadership can reduce mixed messages and duplication when launching a new franchise. With the NWSL expanding, early, experienced leadership gives Columbus a head start on scouting, academy links and market positioning. Bezbatchenko’s prior success in Columbus provides credibility; his added global experience offers fresh frames for recruitment and analytics.
Outlook
Expect a period of decisive hires and structural changes over the coming 12–18 months. The short-term imperative is consistency for the Crew; the long game is establishing a competitive NWSL club that benefits from shared resources and a coherent club-wide philosophy.
Charlotte FC takes on the New England Revolution in Eastern Conference play
If Bezbatchenko reproduces the blend of tactical recruitment and institutional alignment that produced MLS trophies before, Columbus could be in position to contend on both fronts.
Espn
