COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has signed former goalkeeper Jon Busch to a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the Black & Gold. Busch will be recognized at the beginning of halftime at Saturday’s Crew SC match when the Black & Gold take on the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET).
Busch, 41, played for Crew SC from 2002-2006 and won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as the 2004 Supporters’ Shield. A winner of the 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, Busch made a total of 309 regular-season appearances (308 starts) in MLS from 2002-2015 and earned one cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
All-time, Busch retires among the top MLS goalkeepers in League history, finishing top five in several significant goalkeeper statistical categories. Busch finishes fourth in regular-season appearances (309); fourth in minutes (27,725); third in shots faced (1,577); fourth in saves (1,151); fifth in wins (113); and fourth in shutouts (83).
“I am deeply honored to have this opportunity to retire as a Crew SC player,” said Jon Busch. “I have played for three fantastic clubs, but Columbus has always been our home. So, it is only fitting that my career ends where it began.”
“We are excited to honor Jon after an incredibly successful career that began in MLS with the Black & Gold,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “Not only was Jon a key member of the club during his time here, but Jon will also be remembered as one of the top goalkeepers in League history and we’re proud to recognize him at Saturday’s match. We want to congratulate him on a stellar career and wish him the best in the next chapter of his life.”
After being selected with the 23
rd
overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, Busch joined Crew SC, making his debut with the club in a home contest against the New England Revolution on March 20. Busch went on to make 14 regular-season appearances (13 starts) for the Black & Gold that season, while also playing every minute of Crew SC’s run to the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. For his efforts, Busch earned Crew SC’s Defender of the Year award. In 2004, Busch made a career-high 132 regular-season stops and held a 1.07 goals against average as the club won its first Supporters’ Shield.
In all, Busch made 84 regular-season appearances (83 starts) for Crew SC from 2002-2006, which is third on the Black & Gold’s list of most regular-season appearances by a goalkeeper, behind only William Hesmer (130) and Steve Clark (100). Busch’s 83 regular-season starts also put him in third place in Crew SC’s list of most regular-season starts, behind only Hesmer (130) and Clark (100). Additionally, Busch is in second place in the Black & Gold’s list of most saves (367) and shutouts (25), behind only Hesmer (412 saves and 41 shutouts).
Following his time with the Black & Gold, Busch played for the Chicago Fire from 2007-2009 and for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2009-2014, before returning to Chicago for the 2015 season. In 2008, he won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award while with the Chicago Fire. Following his second stint with the Fire, Busch joined North American Soccer League side Indy Eleven in 2016, remaining with the club through the 2017 season.
Prior to joining MLS, Busch attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he played from 1994-1996. During his time there, Busch was pivotal in helping the 49ers reach their first National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s College Cup in 1996. Additionally, Busch was elected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America First Team All-America in 1996. Busch then played with Worcester Wildfire, Carolina Dynamo, Hampton Roads Mariners and the Hershey Wildcats from 1997-2001 before being drafted by Crew SC in 2002.
At the international level, Busch earned one cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team, starting in a 3-0 win over Colombia on March 9, 2005 in a friendly contest at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, California.
Up next for Crew SC is a home contest against the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, May 12 (7:30 p.m. ET).
TRANSACTION
Columbus Crew SC signs former goalkeeper Jon Busch to a one-day contract on May 10, 2018, to retire as a member of the Black & Gold.
