Crew fans say farewell, reminisce on memories with Zack Steffen

It hurts when you say goodbye to a club icon. Whether it’d be for retirement or joining a club overseas. Columbus Crew SC has said goodbye to many that wore the black and gold. But this time, it gives Crew fans a whole new heartbreak.

After the 2015 MLS Cup run, Columbus went shopping. In 2016, they found a young goalkeeper from Downingtown, Pennsylvania by the name of Zack Steffen who at the time was playing for SC Freiburg II.

Steffen played every match of the 2017 season, registering nine shutouts in 34 games played (all starts). He also helped lift Columbus passed Atlanta United, defeating the Five Stripes in a penalty shootout during the knockout round in the 2017 MLS Cup playoffs.

The following year, Steffen started and played in 29 games during the campaign, while also serving on international duty with the United States Men’s National Team. This time, recording a personal best 10 shutouts.

During the 2018 year, Steffen was named to the MLS All-Star team and the MLS Best XI squad, while achieving the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. He once again lifted the Black & Gold passed D.C. United in a shootout in the 2018 knockout round.

During the offseason, the Crew agreed to transfer the talented young goalkeeper to Manchester City, a world-known English Premier League club that just won the domestic treble for the first time in the men’s history of the club.

As a thank you for everything Steffen did not only for the club, but for the Columbus community, fans were encouraged to share photos and videos of them saying farewell, or photos with Steffen for a ‘Farewell Zack’ video.

We want to thank Sabrina Fisher, Kevin Oblocki, Emily and Carson Kegg, Danielle Gilbert, Jon Crye and The Hive, Julie Stankey and Ryan Schmitt who sent in their memories.

You can see the video below.