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NAME: Robert Warzycha POSITION: Head Coach EXPERIENCE: First season |
In the midst of that tenure, Warzycha distinguished himself during a 16-game stint as interim head coach from July 12, 2005 through the end of that season. Warzycha took over a 4-10-2 team and went 7-6-3 the rest of the way, including an impressive 4-4-2 mark on the road.
Following that season he accepted the club's offer to remain on staff as Sigi Schmid's top assistant, becoming the first Crew assistant ever to sign a multi-year contract, and he played an instrumental role the process that resulted in the club's 2008 Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup championship season.
Warzycha's retirement following the 2002 season capped a highly decorated, 16-year playing career.
A native of Siemkowice, Poland, Warzycha (pronounced var-ZEE-hah) joined the Crew during its inaugural 1996 season and he remains the club's all-time career assists leader, with 61, while ranking fifth in games played (160) and fourth in points (99). He added 19 goals in regular-season play and finished with two goals and nine assists in 17 career playoff games.
One of the more successful international signings in MLS history, Warzycha was a two-time MLS All-Star and the Crew's team MVP in 2000. He is perhaps best remembered for his set-piece proficiency. He spent the 2002 U.S. Open Cup championship season as a player/assistant coach, before moving to the sidelines full-time in 2003.
Prior to joining the Crew, Warzycha made 47 appearances with the Polish National Team from 1988-95 and enjoyed a three-year stint with Everton of the English Premier League (199194), among many career highlights that also included time the Polish and Hungarian top flights.
Warzycha was born on Aug. 20, 1963. He and his wife, Eliza, now naturalized U.S. citizens, have three children, sons Konrad and Bartosz, both of whom play collegiate soccer (at Ohio State and Marshall, respectively), and daughter Olivia.
