Having been with the Black & Gold since mid-way through the club's inaugural season, perhaps no current employee in the Crew organization is more familiar with the Hunt Family than Head Coach Robert Warzycha.
Warzycha was there as a player to witness the Hunts' construction and opening of Crew Stadium, America's first Major League Soccer-specific stadium, and played his final match in the Black & Gold's triumphant 1-0 victory over the LA Galaxy in the 2002 U.S. Open Cup Final to hoist the Cup alongside Lamar and Clark Hunt. Warzycha also played a hand in the club's four other trophies, including an assistant coaching role in the club's 2008 MLS Cup win.
With the club's recent change in ownership, Warzycha knows the Hunts' legacy won't soon be forgotten.
"If you're a soccer fan, or even just a football fan, then you know who Lamar Hunt and his family are," Warzycha explained. "He was a great guy who had a great vision. He knew that soccer in America can be very popular and people would love it. That's why he brought the game to the U.S. and did whatever he could to make sure people were aware of the sport.
"With Clark, Dan, Lamar Jr. and the others, they decided to carry on [following Lamar Sr.'s passing in 2006] and we'll remember the Hunts as some of the best owners the League has ever had."
Though new club Chairman Anthony Precourt has been taking in MLS All-Star festivities in Kansas City this week, Warzycha did get a chance to meet his new boss over dinner on Monday night.
Warzycha is confident in the Crew's future success under Precourt's supervision.
"I'm sure with Anthony on-board, he'll be up there with the best owners in MLS," Warzycha said.
"He seems like he knows what he is doing and he wants to have a team that is competing for the highest trophies in the U.S."
