American sports executive, soccer coach, and former player
For the American football player, see Ben Olson.
Ben Olsen
Olsen in 2011
Personal information
Full name
Benjamin Robert Olsen[1]
Date of birth
(1977-05-03) May 3, 1977 (age 47)
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
Representing United States
Winner
CONCACAF Gold Cup
2005
Men's Soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
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).[2] 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.
Born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia.[3] He then played for Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer and was named 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year.[4]
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.[5]
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.[5][6]
^"2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. March 21, 2014. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2019.
^Linehan, Meg; Maurer, Pablo; Yang, Steph (September 7, 2021). "Q&A: Ben Olsen on how and why he became president of the Washington Spirit". The Athletic. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
^Steven Goff (April 8, 2010). "Ben Olsen, Josh Gros and Philadelphia". Soccer Insider. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
^"Ben Olsen". D.C. United. Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ ab"Ben Olsen retires". D.C. United. November 24, 2009. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^Steven Goff (November 20, 2009). "Olsen to Retire". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
ovation of the day and a tifo that read "BenOlsen" and "Heart Of A Lion". After playing just 15 minutes Olsen responded to the media by stating, "It wasn't...
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Bundy was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. BenOlsen was hired as the manager for the 2023 season. The former MLS and USMNT...
Troy Lesesne Steve Birnbaum Guidehouse The Fruitist Houston Dynamo FC BenOlsen Héctor Herrera MD Anderson — Inter Miami CF Gerardo Martino Lionel Messi...
Beasley, Maurice Edu, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, BenOlsen, Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley, Nick Rimando...
succeeded by FIFA Football 2002. It features Paul Scholes on the UK cover and BenOlsen on the North American cover. The game's Spanish cover features Gaizka...
and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Then interim coach, BenOlsen made McCarty a priority signing due to the similarities between Dax and...
Troy Lesesne United States 40 D.C. United January 10, 2024 144 days N/A BenOlsen United States 47 Houston Dynamo FC November 8, 2022 1 year, 207 days...
the United States national team, including Claudio Reyna, Jeff Agoos, BenOlsen, John Harkes and Tony Meola. Arena also coached Richie Williams who later...
Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2022. "BenOlsen named new Houston Dynamo head coach". Major League Soccer. November 8...
winning the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. 2024 is the second season under head coach BenOlsen and the third season under GM Pat Onstad and technical director Asher...
Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures Hatchling Sammy Voice role 2010 You Again BenOlsen 2013 The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone Billy Stone...
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Harmon - Drums, tabla Ian Simon (Earnest Blount) - Electronics, laptop BenOlsen - video/photography Peralta and Strangeloop (another Brainfeeder artist)...
Phillips Kyle Bornheimer as Tim Sean Wing as Charlie Mason Billy Unger as BenOlsen Christine Lakin as Taylor Reginald VelJohnson as Mason Dunlevy Cloris...
playoffs. United won 2–0 with first-half goals from Jaime Moreno and BenOlsen for their third MLS Cup victory in four years. Galaxy defender Robin Fraser...
the NRHP in Sanpete County, Utah Lars and Christina Olsen House, Orem, Utah, NRHP-listed BenOlsen House, Vader, Washington, listed on the NRHP in Lewis...
from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016. Couch, Ben (December 15, 2016). "MLS announces expansion process and timeline". MLSsoccer...
Duhaney Defender Tampa Bay Mutiny 87 1996 MLS Inaugural Draft UNLV 1998 BenOlsen Midfielder D.C. United N/A Project-40 Virginia 1999 Jay Heaps Defender...
Palencia Chris Zoricich Nawaf Al-Temyat Ibrahim Al-Shahrani Jovan Kirovski BenOlsen Joe-Max Moore Paul Bravo Per statistical convention in football, matches...
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