Instead, Schelotto breezes through life in middle America, enjoying coffee, siestas and his family in peace.

"When I come here in 2007, I thought I'd play one year and go back," said Schelotto, who set a Crew record with 19 assists and won the Major League Soccer MVP award while leading the Crew to the MLS Cup last season.

"Now it's the third year. I love it here. The people, the life, the city. I want to stay here with my family."

Those are soothing words to general manager Mark McCullers. The Crew picked up Schelotto's option for 2008 and signed him to a new contract for this season that pays a club-record $775,000.

Is he worth it?

"Absolutely," McCullers said. "No question. He has certainly earned his paycheck so far this year."

A designated-player contract -- which doesn't count against the Crew's salary cap -- and a 19th season on his 36-year-old legs have not slowed Schelotto. Although the Crew has struggled to a 1-2-6 start, Schelotto has been consistently superb.

With the Crew's other scorers in a slump, Schelotto has scored five of the team's 12 goals, taking it upon himself to put the ball into the net rather than helping others do so.

"Maybe now I am playing a little more ahead because (coach Robert Warzycha) asked for me and Alejandro (Moreno) to stay in the box," Schelotto said. "But for me, it's the same, goals or assists -- I like to score, but I'd trade a goal for winning the next game."

The Crew will play host to the San Jose Earthquakes (1-6-2) tonight. No doubt Schelotto will command the attention of the 'Quakes, who are 0-4 on the road.

Because of Schelotto's success last season, he is commanding more attention from Crew opponents.

"They are marking him tighter and trying to keep their attention on him, but he is such a good pro that he finds a way to score goals," Warzycha said.

Moreno said the arrival of Argentine defender Gino Padula was a boost for Schelotto, providing him a partner for incessant discussions of Argentine soccer and politics.

Schelotto said he would like to go into coaching after he retires, perhaps at the end of this season or the next. He is not keen on returning to Argentina, where violence and crime are a part of the chaotic nature of the sport.

"In Columbus his family is safe and it's easy to get used to the lack of traffic, the lack of stress," Moreno said. "The media and the fans are not hounding him. Why not consider it a place for him to stay?"

Schelotto's English continues to improve under the tutelage of Mary O'Rourke, mother of Crew defender Danny O'Rourke and a retired Spanish teacher at Worthington Kilbourne High School.

His command of a new language has helped him morph from Argentine mercenary to valued leader. Schelotto's wore the captain's armband when captain Frankie Hejduk missed six games because of injury and national-team duty.

"You start wondering whether you can take him off the field at end of a game," McCullers said. "The one time we kept him on, that's the game we won.

"He's giving it up all over the field. That's leadership. Everyone keeps talking about his age, but he's on a mission."

smitchell@dispatch.com