View source for Ben Olsen

{{Short description|American soccer player, soccer coach, and sports executive (born 1977)}}
{{for|the American football player|Ben Olson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Olsen
| image = Ben Olsen.jpg
| caption = Olsen in 2011
| image_size =
| fullname = Benjamin Robert Olsen<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: United States |publisher=FIFA |page=32 |date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|5|3}}
| birth_place = [[Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Middletown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]] (head coach)
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| collegeyears1 = 1995–1997
| college1 = [[Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer|Virginia Cavaliers]]
| collegecaps1 = 69
| collegegoals1 = 34
| years1 = 1998–2009
| years2 = 2000–2001
| clubs1 = [[D.C. United]]
| clubs2 = → [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] (loan)
| caps1 = 221
| caps2 = 18
| goals1 = 29
| goals2 = 2
| totalcaps = 239
| totalgoals = 31
| nationalyears1 = 1998–2007
| nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1 = 37
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| manageryears1 = 2010
| manageryears2 = 2010–2020
| manageryears3 = 2022–
| managerclubs1 = [[D.C. United]] (assistant)
| managerclubs2 = [[D.C. United]]
| managerclubs3 = [[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{USA}}}}
{{Medal|W|[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]|[[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Soccer]]}}
}}

'''Benjamin Robert Olsen''' (born May 3, 1977) is an American sports executive, [[Association football|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).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linehan |first1=Meg |last2=Maurer |first2=Pablo |last3=Yang |first3=Steph |title=Q&A: Ben Olsen on how and why he became president of the Washington Spirit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2811768/2021/09/07/ben-olsen-washington-spirit-nwsl/ |access-date=September 7, 2021 |publisher=The Athletic |date=September 7, 2021}}</ref> 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, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Middletown]], [[Pennsylvania]], Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/04/ben_olsen_and_philadelphia.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205180651/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/04/ben_olsen_and_philadelphia.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |title=Ben Olsen, Josh Gros and Philadelphia |author=Steven Goff |date=April 8, 2010 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}
</ref> He then played for [[Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer]] and was named [[Soccer America Player of the Year Award#Men's|1997 Soccer America Player of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcunited.com/player/ben-olsen |title=Ben Olsen |publisher=[[D.C. United]] |access-date=October 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330023005/http://www.dcunited.com/player/ben-olsen |archive-date=March 30, 2009 }}</ref>

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' Shield]]s and one [[U.S. Open Cup]] winners medal. His individual honors include two-time [[Major League Soccer All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]], 1998 [[MLS Rookie of the Year Award#Winners|MLS Rookie of the Year]], [[MLS Cup '99]] MVP and 2007 [[MLS Best XI]].<ref name="dcunited-20091124">{{cite web |url=http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/ben-olsen-retires |title=Ben Olsen retires |date=November 24, 2009 |publisher=[[D.C. United]] |access-date=October 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110212931/http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/ben-olsen-retires |archive-date=January 10, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Olsen also earned 37 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] with the [[United States men's national soccer team|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.<ref name="dcunited-20091124" /><ref name="insider-20091120">{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsen_to_retire.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524224532/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsen_to_retire.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |title=Olsen to Retire |author=Steven Goff |date=November 20, 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 13, 2011 }}</ref>

==Youth and college soccer==
Olsen grew up in [[Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Middletown, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="wise-20080510">{{cite news |title=Ankle Injury Leaves United Without Its Heart |author=Mike Wise |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/10/AR2008051002158.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 11, 2008 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> He played his youth soccer for premier team FC Delco, where he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. Olsen attended Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary School and [[Middletown Area School District|Middletown Area High School]], where he was named ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'' magazine's National High School Player of the Year in 1993.

Olsen was motivated to play [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at the [[University of Virginia]] because the team had just won four [[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|NCAA Division I Championships]] and was coached by [[Bruce Arena]], who had previously coached Olsen when he was 14 to 15 years old. While at UVA the [[Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer|Cavaliers]] achieved two [[Final Four]]s and won two [[ACC Men's Soccer Tournament]] titles with Olsen being honored as the ACC Tournament MVP in 1997. In that same year the Cavaliers advanced to the NCAA final after Olsen scored two goals to lift the Cavaliers 3–1 over the [[Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer|St. Louis Billikens]] in the semifinal round.<ref>{{cite news |title=Swift Strikers in Soccer Final |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/14/sports/swift-strikers-in-soccer-final.html?src=pm |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 14, 1997 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> In his three-year career he tallied 34 goals, 41 assists and 109 total points. During his junior year he was named the [[Soccer America Player of the Year Award#Men's|1997 Soccer America Player of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2011/02/01/qa-with-ben-olsen/ |title=Q&A with Ben Olsen |author=Jeremy Klitzman |date=February 1, 2011 |publisher=The Cavalier Daily |access-date=October 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225041151/http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2011/02/01/qa-with-ben-olsen/ |archive-date=February 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==
Olsen entered the league as a [[Project-40]] player, and was allocated to [[D.C. United]] on December 27, 1997, shortly after finishing his junior season at UVA. In 1998 Olsen excelled as a right midfielder with United. During his inaugural season he earned a starting spot and scored 4 goals and made 8 assists. These accomplishments earned him the  1998 [[MLS Rookie of the Year Award]] and supported the team as it won the 1998 [[CONCACAF Champions League|CONCACAF Champions Cup]] and 1998 [[Copa Interamericana|InterAmerican Cup]].

During Olsen's second season with United he scored 5 goals and made 11 assists over 26 games, which contributed to United earning the 1999 [[Supporters' Shield]] on the way to winning [[MLS Cup '99]]. It was United's third [[MLS Cup]] victory in the first four years of the league. Olsen, the game's MVP, was especially happy to win the championship game after losing [[MLS Cup '98]] to the [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]].
{{blockquote|This is real special to me to get this monkey off my back. It's nice to get the goal. I didn't think that I played that particularly well. Believe me. I'm not the MVP of this game.|Ben Olsen|Sports Illustrated<ref name="lewis_lockerroom">{{cite news |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/1999/mls_cup/news/1999/11/21/lewis_lockerroom/index.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000824072220/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/1999/mls_cup/news/1999/11/21/lewis_lockerroom/index.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 24, 2000 |title= United celebrates victory with cigars |author= Michael Lewis |date= 19 December 1999 |work= CNN / Sports Illustrated |access-date= 3 June 2011}}</ref>}}

Olsen's third season began well, but a collision with [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]] goalkeeper [[Zach Thornton]] caused an ankle injury that kept Ben out of much of the second half of the season, limiting him to 13 starts and only 1 goal and 3 assists on the year. After he recovered from the ankle injury in late 2000, Olsen was loaned by United to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] of the English [[Football League Championship|First Division]], where he immediately impressed and soon became a fan favorite.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsens_retirement.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715224235/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsens_retirement.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 15, 2012 | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Olsen's Retirement}}</ref> As a transfer became increasingly likely, Olsen severely fractured his ankle during a December game. During his 18-month absence Olsen required four surgeries and continuous rehabilitation. He finally returned in July 2002 and was able to finish the season with 7 starts and 10 games played.

In 2003 Olsen completed a full season with United for the first time in four years. He started 26 games for the team, while scoring 4 goals and making 7 assists. Although his speed was limited due to his injuries and surgeries, Olsen was able to adapt to a new  position as a center midfielder. It was here that Olsen spent his time in 2004 as well, starting 25 games for United, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists. He scored 2 goals and 4 assists in 2005.

D.C. United needed Olsen back at wide midfielder for the [[Major League Soccer 2007 season|2007 season]], and he responded well. He served as Captain when [[Jaime Moreno (footballer, born 1974)|Jaime Moreno]] was away on national team duty, scored his first career [[Perfect Hat-Trick|hat trick]] in a 4–2 win over [[New York Red Bulls]] on June 10, and enjoyed his best season in MLS.<ref name="Hat Trick">{{cite web |title= Olsen's Hat Trick Leads D.C. United Past Red Bulls |url= http://www.socceramerica.com/article/22231/olsen-hat-trick-leads-dc-past-nyrb.html |access-date=October 15, 2011}}</ref> He ended the year with seven goals and seven assists and was named to the MLS Best XI team. Olsen had surgery on both of his ankles in [[Baltimore]] on November 5, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/11/surgery_for_olsen.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205212249/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/11/surgery_for_olsen.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |title=Surgery for Olsen |author=Steven Goff |date=November 5, 2007 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=United's Olsen Has Surgery on Left Ankle Again |author=Paul Tenorio |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070702303.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:D.C. United vs. Real Madrid.jpg|thumb|right|Olsen (center) defending a corner kick during an [[Exhibition game|international friendly]] against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in 2009 at [[FedExField]]]]

[[Ankle problems]] again sidelined Olsen for the beginning of the 2008 MLS season, and there was speculation that his career was in jeopardy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/05/breaking_news_olsens_prognosis.html |title=Olsen's Career in Jeopardy |author=Steven Goff |date=May 2, 2008 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=June 11, 2008 }}</ref>  Despite said problems, Ben Olsen was able to make one MLS appearance against the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] on June 28, 2008. The crowd greeted him with the loudest ovation of the day and a tifo that read "Ben Olsen" and "Heart Of A Lion".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/29/AR2008062901685.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=For United's Olsen, A Celebrated Return | first=Steve | last=Yanda | date=June 30, 2008 | access-date=April 26, 2010}}</ref> After playing just 15 minutes Olsen responded to the media by stating, "It wasn't great; I was like a wounded animal out there." On July 7, 2008, Olsen underwent another ankle surgery.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/07/olsen_undergoes_another_surger.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226180250/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/07/olsen_undergoes_another_surger.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Olsen Undergoes Another Surgery |author=Paul Tenorio |date=July 7, 2008 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref>

Olsen was able to continue his career during the [[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009 season]] in a defensive midfield role, scoring the tying goal in stoppage time of a 1–1 tie with the [[New England Revolution]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcunited.com/article/olsens-late-goal-gives-dc-tie-revs |title=Olsen's late goal gives DC tie with Revs |date=April 17, 2009 |publisher=D.C. United |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421150557/http://www.dcunited.com/article/olsens-late-goal-gives-dc-tie-revs |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> On May 2, 2009, Olsen injured himself during a game against [[FC Dallas]], which led him to be substituted out during the second half. After skipping two matches he played against [[Chivas USA]] at the [[Home Depot Center]] on May 16, 2009. Six minutes into that match he aggravated his hamstring.<ref name="goff-20090519">{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/olsens_thoughts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226172351/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/olsens_thoughts.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Olsen's Thoughts |author=Steven Goff |date=May 19, 2009 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|It was okay throughout the week. The difference between practice and the game, the speed of play and the demands, I thought I could handle it. Sometimes I want to play too badly.|Ben Olsen|Soccer Insider<ref name="goff-20090519" />}}

On July 17, 2012, United announced that Olsen would be inducted into the [[D.C. United Hall of Tradition]] before a match against the [[New England Revolution]] scheduled for September 15.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ben Olsen tabbed for D.C. United Hall of Tradition, presented by GEICO, induction|url=http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2012/07/ben-olsen-tabbed-for-dc-united-hall-of-tradition-presented-by-geico-induction|publisher=D.C. United|access-date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719063359/http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2012/07/ben-olsen-tabbed-for-dc-united-hall-of-tradition-presented-by-geico-induction|archive-date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Retirement===
United announced Olsen's retirement from professional competition on October 24, 2009. Only three days earlier Olsen stated in an online chat hosted by [[The Washington Post]] that he was committed to playing another year.<ref name="goff-20091021">{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/10/dcu_and_usa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908061555/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/10/dcu_and_usa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |title=DCU Ownership, Olsen, USA Friendlies |author=Steven Goff |date=October 21, 2009 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref> At the time of his retirement Olsen ranked second in games played, minutes played, game-winning goals, third in assists and shots on goal for United.<ref name="dcunited-20091124" />

His retirement prompted numerous expressions of appreciation. On the same day he announced his retirement the [[Washington Wizards]] saluted Olsen at the end of the third quarter. In his honor the Wizards announced $14 tickets to a game against the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], which reflected Olsen's jersey number for United.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsens_retirement.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715224235/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/11/olsens_retirement.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |title=Olsen's Retirement |author=Steven Goff |date=November 24, 2009 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|Ben Olsen has been called the heart and soul of D.C. United and, over the years, that is exactly what we've come to expect from him. Since he joined our team as the League's first Project-40 player until his last game in the 2009 season, Ben gave all that he had for his team and his teammates. You can't replace a player like Ben, you simply hope that other players can step up and shoulder the mantle that he carried for so long. He's simply one of the greatest players in D.C. United history.|[[Kevin Payne (soccer)|Kevin Payne]], [[D.C. United]] President and CEO|DCUnited.com<ref name="dcunited-20091124" />}}

==International career==
[[File:BenOlsen 20060410.jpg|thumb|right|Olsen during practice at [[SAS Soccer Park]] before a match against [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]]]]

Olsen at one time seemed like the right midfielder of the future for the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. national team]], as he received his first cap soon after his Rookie of the Year season, on November 6, 1998, against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], and he was a significant player for the team in the 1999 season. He scored his first international goal during his first international start, which was against [[Chile national football team|Chile]] on February 21, 1999. As the youngest player on the team. He received a cross from [[Brian McBride]] during the 58th minute. He then hit a side volley past goalie [[Marcelo Ramirez]] into the left corner of the goal.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Team Takes Another Measured Baby Step |author=Charlie Nobles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/22/sports/soccer-american-team-takes-another-measured-baby-step.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 22, 1999 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> In 1999, he earned the U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award. However, the injuries that kept him out of club play also seriously damaged his aspirations for the national team.

Despite those injuries he was able to compete in the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Summer Olympics]] for the United States, which placed fourth overall in the competition. Olsen's third career international goal earned the United States a tie with Tunisia during an international friendly in preparation for [[CONCACAF#World Cup Qualifiers|World Cup qualifying]]. He scored in injury time when [[John O'Brien (soccer)|John O'Brien]] passed him the ball after a corner kick.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olsen Salvages Tie In Injury Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/13/sports/plus-soccer-united-states-men-olsen-salvages-tiein-injury-time.html?src=pm |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 13, 2000 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref>

After moving to a controlling midfield position, Olsen was one of the selections on [[Bruce Arena]]'s [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] roster, having scored goals in the U.S. team's early 2006 win over [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]] and in an April tie with Jamaica. Olsen earned 35 caps in all, scoring 6 goals for the United States. Olsen made his lone World Cup appearance against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] in a 2–1 loss, replacing an injured [[Claudio Reyna]].

==Coaching career==
[[File:Dcunited-oslen-tifo.jpg|thumb|right|Supporters display a [[tifo]] supporting Olsen during a match against [[FC Dallas]]]]

On January 5, 2010, United announced that Olsen would continue to work for United as an assistant coach under head coach [[Curt Onalfo]]. On August 5, following a league-worst 3–12–3 start to the season, head coach Curt Onlafo was fired. Subsequently, Olsen was named interim head coach and completed the season with a 3–8–1 record. Although United officials interviewed at least seven candidates, including [[Hertha Berlin]] manager [[Lucien Favre]], the club appointed Olsen to the head coaching position.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/11/ben_olsen_emerges_as_the_top_c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226183134/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/11/ben_olsen_emerges_as_the_top_c.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Ben Olsen emerges as the top candidate for D.C. United's head coaching position |author=Steve Goff |date=November 28, 2010 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref> United made a public announcement on November 29, 2010, and held a press conference in the same room Olsen had announced his retirement one year and one month earlier. Olsen signed a three-year guaranteed contract that made him United's seventh head coach in club history and youngest full-time head coach in the league's 15-year history. This occurred despite the fact that United President and CEO [[Kevin Payne (soccer)|Kevin Payne]] had continuously ruled him out during the months leading up to the decision.<ref name="goff-20101130">{{cite news |title=Ben Olsen named coach of D.C. United not long after being considered out of the running |author=Steven Goff |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112905595.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref>
{{blockquote|I don't think he's ready. ... It's been a great learning experience for Ben and I am sure he will learn a great deal over the next couple of years. I fully expect Ben will be our head coach someday.|[[Kevin Payne (soccer)|Kevin Payne]]|The Washington Post<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/10/ben_olsen_will_not_be_consider.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723051918/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/10/ben_olsen_will_not_be_consider.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title=Ben Olsen will not be considered for D.C. United's head coaching job, club president Payne says |author=Steven Goff |date=25 October 2010 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=16 October 2011 }}</ref>}}

[[File:Ben Olsen's Chili Bowl.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ben's Chili Bowl]] sign converted for the promotional event]]
In a promotion for the upcoming [[2011 D.C. United season|2011 season]], United gave away free [[half-smoke]]s in conjunction with [[Ben's Chili Bowl]], which was renamed "Ben Olsen's Chili Bowl" for one hour on March 17, 2011 .<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/ben-olsens-chili-bowl/2011/03/17/ABAAd6k_blog.html |title=Ben Olsen's Chili Bowl |author=Dan Steinberg |date=March 17, 2011 |series=D.C. Sports Bog |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 18, 2011 }}</ref>

In a largely disappointing [[2013 D.C. United season|2013 season]] where United was last in the Eastern Division, Olsen led the team to the [[2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final]] against [[Real Salt Lake]]. The team won on a first half stoppage time goal by [[Lewis Neal]].

In 2014, Ben Olsen was named [[MLS Coach of the Year]], helping D.C. United win the MLS Eastern Conference regular season title after finishing in last in 2013.

In 2019, Olsen became the youngest head coach in MLS to reach 100 wins as a manager, achieving the title at 41 years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Olsen becomes youngest coach in MLS history to reach 100 wins |url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2019/03/21/ben-olsen-becomes-youngest-coach-mls-history-reach-100-wins |date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

On October 8, 2020, D.C. United announced that Ben Olsen departed from his role of head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 8, 2020|title=D.C. United Announce the Departure of Head Coach Ben Olsen|url=https://www.dcunited.com/post/2020/10/08/dc-united-announce-departure-head-coach-ben-olsen|access-date=October 9, 2020|website=dcunited.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bogert|first=Tom|date=October 8, 2020|title=Ben Olsen departs as DC United head coach|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/08/ben-olsen-departs-dc-united-head-coach|access-date=October 9, 2020|work=MLSsoccer.com.com}}</ref>

On November 8, 2022, Olsen was named head coach of [[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/ben-olsen-named-new-houston-dynamo-head-coach|title=Ben Olsen named new Houston Dynamo head coach &#124; MLSSoccer.com|work=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Olsen is a licensed minister and presided over the nuptials of his then-teammate, [[Nick Rimando]], in 2005. He is married to Megan Schoen, a teacher at [[Takoma Park Middle School]]. The two wed in [[Negril]], [[Jamaica]] in December 2006. Their wedding was featured in ''Brides'' magazine. Megan gave birth to their daughter, Ruby, on September 30, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/10/olsen_family_expansion.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226172830/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/10/olsen_family_expansion.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Olsen Family Expansion |author=Steven Goff |date=October 1, 2008 |work=Soccer Insider |publisher=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2011 }}</ref>

The couple later featured in a popular TV commercial for [[Dick's Sporting Goods]], in which Olsen enjoys an impromptu soccer skills exhibition with fellow MLS players [[Brian Ching]], [[Duilio Davino]] and [[Christian Gómez]], before he and Megan chase their screen son, "Dawson", out of the store when he has the temerity to ask for a [[David Beckham]] jersey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/08/back-to-even-at-midpoint/?page=2 |title=Back to even |author=John Haydon |date=July 8, 2008 |publisher=The Washington Times}}</ref>

Olsen has rented out the apartment below his [[Northwest, Washington, D.C.]] town house to numerous teammates, including to [[D.C. United]] goalkeeper [[Zach Wells]] during the 2008 season.<ref name="wise-20080510" />

He was featured on the North American cover of ''[[FIFA 2001]]''.

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Olsen » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe6914/ben-olsen/club-matches/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[D.C. United]]||[[1998 D.C. United season|1998]]||rowspan="11"|[[Major League Soccer]]||31||4||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=MLS Cup playoffs|Appearances in the [[MLS Cup playoffs]]}}||0||37||4
|-
|[[1999 D.C. United season|1999]]||28||5||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=MLS Cup playoffs}}||2||34||7
|-
|[[2000 D.C. United season|2000]]||13||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||1
|-
|[[2002 D.C. United season|2002]]||10||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0
|-
|[[2003 D.C. United season|2003]]||26||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||4
|-
|[[2004 D.C. United season|2004]]||25||3||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=MLS Cup playoffs}}||0||29||3
|-
|[[2005 D.C. United season|2005]]||23||2||2{{efn|name=Copa Sudamericana|Appearances in the [[Copa Sudamericana]]}}||0||4{{efn|name=MLS Cup playoffs}}||0||29||2
|-
|[[2006 D.C. United season|2006]]||20||2||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=MLS Cup playoffs}}||0||23||2
|-
|[[2007 D.C. United season|2007]]||24||7||2{{efn|name=Copa Sudamericana}}||1||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in the [[MLS Cup playoffs]] and [[North American SuperLiga]]</ref>||0||32||8
|-
|[[2008 D.C. United season|2008]]||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|[[2009 D.C. United season|2009]]||20||1||2{{efn|Appearances in the [[CONCACAF Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||22||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!221!!29!!6!!1!!29!!2!!256!!32
|-
|[[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]||[[2000–01 Nottingham Forest F.C. season|2000–01]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|20361|2000|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>||[[EFL Championship]]||18||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||2
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total!!239!!31!!6!!1!!29!!2!!274!!3
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
:''Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Olsen goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ben Olsen
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || February 21, 1999 || [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], United States || {{fb|CHI}} || style="text-align:center"|2–1 || style="text-align:center"|2–1 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|2 || July 30, 1999 || [[Guadalajara]], Mexico || {{fb|GER}} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || [[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|3 || March 12, 2000 || [[Birmingham, Alabama]], United States || {{fb|TUN}} || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center"|4 || November 17, 2002 || Washington, D.C., United States || {{fb|SLV}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center"|5 || February 19, 2006 || [[Frisco, Texas]], United States || {{fb|GUA}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|4–0 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center"|6 || April 11, 2006 || [[Cary, North Carolina]] || {{fb|JAM}} || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || Friendly
|}

==Coaching statistics==
{{updated|match played 18 October 2025}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Coaching record by club and tenure
|-
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2" |To
! colspan="8" |Record				
|-	
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[D.C. United]]
|align=left|September 19, 2010
|align=left|October 8, 2020
{{WDL|381|132|96|153|for=493|against=538|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Houston Dynamo FC|Houston Dynamo]]
|align=left|November 8, 2022
|align=left|present
{{WDL|132|49|38|45|for=184|against=169|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|513|181|134|198|for=677|against=707|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honors==

===Player===
'''D.C. United'''
* [[CONCACAF Champions' Cup]]: [[1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1998]]
* [[Copa Interamericana]]: [[1998 Copa Interamericana|1998]]
* [[MLS Cup]]: [[MLS Cup 1999|1999]], [[MLS Cup 2004|2004]]
* [[Supporters' Shield|MLS Supporters' Shield]]: [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]], [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]], [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]
* [[U.S. Open Cup]]: [[2008 U.S. Open Cup|2008]]
* [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|MLS Eastern Conference]]: [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]], [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]], [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]]

'''United States'''
* [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]: [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]

'''Individual'''
* [[MLS Rookie of the Year Award|MLS Rookie of the Year]]: 1998
* [[MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]], [[1998 MLS All-Star Game|1998]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2, 1998 |title=1998 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref> [[1999 Major League Soccer All-Star Game|1999]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* MLS Cup MVP: 1999
* [[MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award]]: [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]]
* [[MLS Best XI]]: 2007

===Coach===
'''D.C. United'''
* U.S. Open Cup: [[2013 U.S. Open Cup|2013]]

'''Houston Dynamo'''
*U.S. Open Cup: [[2023 U.S. Open Cup|2023]]

'''Individual'''
* [[MLS Coach of the Year]]: [[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]]

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Soccer coaches]]
* [[All-time D.C. United roster]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ben Olsen}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090330023005/http://www.dcunited.com/player/ben-olsen D.C. United player profile]
* [https://archive.today/20101204192122/http://www.dcunited.com/technical-staff/ben-olsen D.C. United coaching profile]
* {{MLS player|ben-olsen}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120428221229/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/O/Ben-Olsen.aspx USSF player profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061116211818/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2000/dec08.htm SoccerTimes Interview] while on loan to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtuqX6ZbscU The Blog Show] featuring the "Heart of a Lion" [[tifo]] displayed on June 28, 2008
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2008/05/09/VI2008050900354.html Behind the Column: Ben Olsen] A video interview with Olsen at his home in May 2008
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/03/23/DI2008032301174.html Live Washington Post Q&A] before the 2008 season
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUfzZbrEAHs Ben's Breakdown] on October 16, 2007, discussing winning the [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007 Supporters' Shield]]

{{Houston Dynamo FC squad}}
{{Major League Soccer head coaches}}
{{Navboxes
|title= United States squads
|bg= white
|fg= #002868
|bordercolor= #BF0A30
|list1=
{{United States squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{United States squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States men's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{United States squad 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 2007 Copa América}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|bg    = gold
|fg    = navy
|title = Awards
|list1 =
{{Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year Award}}
{{MLS Cup MVP}}
{{2007 MLS Best XI}}
{{MLS Coach of the Year}}
{{Soccer America Men's Player of the Year navbox}}
{{VaSID Award - Men's Soccer}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list =
{{D.C. United managers}}
{{Houston Dynamo managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Ben}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American soccer coaches]]
[[Category:D.C. United head coaches]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players]]
[[Category:American people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for the United States]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer players]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 Copa América players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's under-23 international soccer players]]
[[Category:D.C. United non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:All-American college men's soccer players]]
[[Category:People from Middletown, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Houston Dynamo FC head coaches]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]