Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy says he feels proud to become the first black coach to win the MLS Cup after the Crew defeated Los Angeles FC 2-1 at Lower.com Field on Saturday night.
The French tactician who is of Senegalese and Cape Verdean descent, began his managerial career with the CF Montreal academy in 2011 before rising to assistant manager of the first team between 2016 and 2021.
The 46-year-old had his first taste as a senior head coach with the same club between 2021 and 2022 before joining Columbus this year, leading them to third place in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, followed by victory in the conference playoff finals against Ohio rivals FC Cincinnati and ultimately MLS Cup glory.
Regardless of this historic feat, Nancy has called for more inclusion and diversity in the sport.
Historic.
Wilfried Nancy is the first Black head coach to win MLS Cup. ???? pic.twitter.com/OFKjgBrx9l
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 10, 2023
“I’m so proud of that because there is a lot of work behind that,” Nancy told the MLS website. “There was a lot of courageousness behind that. But I’m not happy at the same time because it’s not normal. Simple as that.
“I’m proud to represent, yes, the only Black [to win the Cup], but I’m not happy with that. This is something that has to change. And I know that MLS tries to do that. This is not only in MLS, this is everywhere.”
Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup triumph was the third in the third history after previous success in 2008 and 2020.
