Henrik Rydstrom has promised to stick to Columbus Crew's high-octane attacking football after being announced as the club's new head coach ahead of the 2026 season. 

Rydstrom was announced as Wilfried Nancy's successor earlier this week after leaving Swedish side Malmo where he enjoyed two successful years with the club. 

The 49-year-old led Malmo to the Allsvenskan title in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, while also lifting the Swedish Cup in his debut season at the helm. 

He took charge of 84 league matches, winning 49 (D21 L14), seeing his team score 165 times as well as averaging a win percentage of 58.3% in the Swedish top flight. 

"I'm excited to coach the Crew and thank the Haslam, Johnson and Edwards families, Issa, Marc and the entire team for the opportunity to join the club," Rydstrom said.

"After every meeting with Crew leadership, the feeling continued to grow that this club is special and something that you want to be part of.

"As a coach, you love the Crew's playing style and how the players enjoy it, the focus on hard work and the club's passionate supporters.

"Our goal is to continue to build upon the team's impressive success and attacking style while combining the desire to win with challenging ourselves every day to improve and to create joy for the team and supporters."

Rydstrom takes over a Columbus side who finished seventh in the Eastern Conference in 2025 before being knocked out in the first round of the MLS playoffs by FC Cincinnati. 

They scored 60 goals in MLS play last season, a total only bettered by Nashville SC (61), Philadelphia Union (62), Orlando City SC (64), Chicago Fire (73) and Inter Miami (101) among teams who competed in the East. 

"Henrik has proven his leadership ability throughout an established coaching and playing career, and we collectively share a vision for how we can continue to advance and evolve the club’s dynamic style of play," said the Crew's general manager Issa Tall.

"During the head coaching search, we prioritised candidates' personalities and care for their club as a whole, in addition to their coaching accolades.

"Henrik fully embodies these traits as the Crew's head coach, and we're eager to begin the 2026 season together with our long-standing goal of consistently contending for championships in Columbus."

Columbus open their 2026 season away to the Portland Timbers on February 21, with Rydstrom's home debut coming in early March against Chicago.