His full name is Benjamin Robert Ben Olsen, was born in May 3,
1977. Olsen is an American former football player and current coach of D. C. United.
Olsen started playing at elite club to move to University of Virginia and
become in 1997 top soccer American player of the year.
After that he joined D.C. United in the MLS and spent most
of his career in this team, making over 12 seasons 221 appearances and scoring
29 goals and making 49 assists. In addition to that during this period of his
staying with the team he got two MLS Cup titles, two MLS Supporters shields and
one medal of U.S. open Cup winners.
As individual honors, he got for two times MLS Rookie of the
year, MLS best XI, and MLS Cup 99 MVP.
Ben Olsen capped 37 with United States men’s national team,
and also won in 2005 CONCAF Gold Cup and him participating in 2006 world cup. Finally
the retirement of Olsen from playing career was announced on November 24, 2009.
Coaching career:
After retiring from playing the administration of United
announced that Olsen will continue as a coach assistant under the leading of head
coach Curt Onalfo on January 5, 2010. After a while on August 5, of the same
year Onalfo was fired according to the worst results of the team, and Olsen was
named the head coach to the end of the season, where he finished it with a
3-8-1 record. Although there were seven candidates of coaches for the team,
United announced on November 29, 2010 that Olsen is the head coach of the team
with a contract of three years. And although
that president of the team was not convincing of Olsen to manage the team,
Olsen could to stay with the team.
So in the season of 2011, United gave away free half-smokes
in conjunction with Ben’s Chili Bowl for one hour on March 17, 2011.
So in the season of 2013 he led the team to the final of
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against Real Salt Lake but they lost although
they advanced in the first half by a goal.
Personal life of Ben Olsen:
He is married form Megan Schoen, who is a teacher at Takoma
Park Middle School.