COLUMBUS, Ohio --
The MLS Cup-champion Columbus Crew has announced its preliminary itinerary for the 2009 MLS preseason, which includes trips to Florida, England and Texas. Players will report back to Columbus by Saturday, Jan. 24 and the Crew's first preseason training camp under new head coach Robert Warzycha will officially kick off the following day with player physicals. Training will commence on Monday, Jan. 26, indoors at the SuperKick/TeamZone facility in Lewis Center (409 Orangepointe Drive).
After a week in Columbus, the team will then continue preparations for defense of its MLS Cup Championship in Bradenton, Fla. from Feb. 2-17. The squad then returns to Columbus for training from Feb. 20-24 before heading to England for a week-long series of training and matches. The club's training in England will be based at Everton's training facilities in Liverpool and matches against the Everton and Liverpool reserves are scheduled. Warzycha played for Everton from 1991-94.
The Black & Gold then returns to central Ohio for a brief stay before departing for Austin, Texas, and the final leg of its preseason from March 10-15, culminating in an exhibition match against Austin Aztex FC of the USL First Division on March 14.
Further preseason details - including additional exhibition match dates and times - will be released in the near future.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it is currently the reigning MLS Cup Champion and it has also won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004 and 2008. It will open its 14th season and defense of its MLS Cup championship on Saturday, March 21, at the Houston Dynamo and will open its 11th season in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 28, against Toronto FC.
2009 Preliminary Crew Preseason Schedule
Sunday, Jan. 25: Player physicals
Monday, Jan. 26 - Wednesday, Feb. 4: Training in Columbus
Friday, Feb. 6 - Wednesday, Feb. 18: Training and games in Bradenton, Florida
Friday, Feb. 20 - Tuesday, Feb. 24: Training in Columbus
Thursday, Feb. 26 - Friday, March 6: Training and games in England
• Sunday, March 1: Exhibition match vs. Everton Reserves
• Thursday, March 5: Exhibition match vs. Liverpool Reserves
Saturday, March 7 - Monday, March 9: Training in Columbus
Tuesday, March 10 - Sunday, March 15: Training and games in Austin, Texas
• Saturday, March 14: Exhibition match at Austin Aztex FC (USL-1), 8:30 p.m. ET
Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 20: Training in Columbus
Saturday, March 21: Regular-season opener at Houston
