Ben Olsen Out as DC United Coach, Will Remain With Team in Other Role

DC United fire coach Ben Olsen after rough start to 2020 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

D.C. United and coach Ben Olsen have mutually agreed to part ways, Washington Post soccer insider Steven Goff reported

The decision marks an end to the club's longest-tenured coach, as Olsen started at the end of the 2010 MLS season after making the transition as a player. Goff pointed out that the end of Olsen's reign in D.C. marks the second-longest coaching span in the city's history of professional sports, behind only three-time Super Bowl-winning coach Joe Gibbs, who spent 12 straight years in Washington before returning for a short stint in the mid-2000s. 

Goff reported that Olsen is set to remain with D.C. United in another capacity, continuing his remarkable time spent the club. Bolstering D.C. United's midfield in 1998, Olsen retired in 2009 before becoming the interim manager the following year. At 43 years old, Olsen has spent more than half his life with D.C. United. 

Olsen was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2014 after an incredible improvement from a three-win 2013 season. Still, he has failed to lead D.C. United to a playoff win since 2015 and has been on an ever-growing short leash with chief executive Jason Levien following a poor run of form. 

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United are in the basement of MLS having garnered just 11 points from their first 16 games played, winning just twice, after crashing out of the MLS is Back Tournament earlier in the summer after drawing two of their three group stage games.

This past week, United were dismantled 4-0 and 4-1 by Atlanta and NYFC, respectively.

Despite an injury-ravaged team in a season full of challenges, headlined by USMNT winger Paul Arriola's torn ACL in February, Olsen could never get his team back on track. The most disappointing aspect of Olsen's tenure with United has to be the underwhelming results with England star Wayne Rooney. 

The team never won a playoff game with Rooney, who has since criticized the league for exploiting its players. The dynamic duo with Rooney and exciting forward Luciano Acosta - who moved on to play in Mexico's Liga MX - utlimately failed to deliver for Olsen. His replacement signings, record-transfer Edison Flores and ex-Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel, haven't been at their best under Olsen's makeshift tactics. 

Still, Olsen's ability to instill an energetic, hard-working outfit often got the best out of one of the league's shrewdest ownership groups. While someone else will be brought in to manage the on-the-field product, Olsen will look to provide a helping hand to the front office and keep his incredible run with the club going. 

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