Tim Bezbatchenko
Tim Bezbatchenko, ’04, was named Columbus Crew Soccer Club president and general manager on January 4, 2019, after serving as Toronto FC’s senior vice president of soccer operations and general manager from 2013-2018. Prior to that, Bezbatchenko spent three years at Major League Soccer (MLS) as senior director of player relations and competition from 2010-2013.
Since joining Crew SC, Bezbatchenko has overseen several club milestones, including the groundbreaking of Crew SC’s future downtown stadium in Columbus as well as the announcement of Crew SC’s new future training facility (the OhioHealth Performance Center) and the announcement of a future multi-year jersey sponsorship agreement with Nationwide Insurance. On the sporting side, Bezbatchenko has helped revamp the Black & Gold roster, making several signings, including Argentine midfielder Lucas Zelarayan, whose transfer transaction represents the Crew’s largest acquisition transfer fee in club history.
A native of Westerville, Ohio, Bezbatchenko was pivotal in helping Toronto FC sign key players, such as 2015 Golden Boot winner and Landon Donovan MLS most valuable player Sebastian Giovinco, England international Jermain Defoe, and American internationals Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. In addition to its 2017 domestic treble, notably, Toronto FC had four of its best seasons while he was with the club (2014-2017), winning MLS Cup in 2017 after having reached MLS Cup the year prior, winning three consecutive Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018), and reaching the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League Finals. On the player development side, he helped Toronto FC establish its United Soccer League club, TFC II, in 2015.
At MLS, Bezbatchenko was responsible for negotiating and drafting player contracts as well as finalizing loan and transfer agreements for the import and export of players to and from MLS. Prior to joining MLS, he served as an attorney for Shearman & Sterling LLP, in New York City, where he worked in their mergers and acquisitions group.
Bezbatchenko graduated with honors from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in economics and minor in leadership studies in 2004. During his time at Richmond, he captained the Spider Men’s Soccer Team, qualifying for the NCAA Division 1 Tournament in 2002. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2008.
Bezbatchenko lives with his wife, Annie, ’04, and their two children, Jack and Sarah.