Ben Olsen
Benjamin Robert Olsen (born May 3, 1977) is an American sports executive, soccer coach, and former professional player who was formerly the president of Washington Spirit, a professional women's soccer club in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). He is currently the head coach of Houston Dynamo FC in Major League Soccer. Olsen is best known for his long-term association with D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS), first as a player then as a coach.
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Olsen in 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Benjamin Robert Olsen | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | May 3, 1977 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Middletown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | |||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Houston Dynamo (head coach) | |||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Virginia Cavaliers | 69 | (34) | |||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 1998–2009 | D.C. United | 221 | (29) | |||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 18 | (2) | |||||||||||
| Total | 239 | (31) | ||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||
| 1998–2007 | United States | 37 | (6) | |||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | D.C. United (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2020 | D.C. United | |||||||||||||
| 2022– | Houston Dynamo | |||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||
Born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia. He then played for Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer and was named 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year.
Olsen spent the vast majority of his professional career in the United States with D.C. United in Major League Soccer, which he joined straight out of college. Over the course of 12 seasons with United, Olsen made 221 appearances, scoring 29 goals and making 49 assists. During that time he won two MLS Cup titles, two MLS Supporters' Shields and one U.S. Open Cup winners medal. His individual honors include two-time MLS All-Star, 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, MLS Cup '99 MVP and 2007 MLS Best XI.
Olsen also earned 37 caps with the United States men's national team, winning the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and representing the United States at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Olsen announced his retirement from professional competition on November 24, 2009.