United midfielder won two MLS Cup titles
One year after completing an arduous comeback from serious ankle injuries, Ben Olsen is set to announce his retirement on Tuesday, ending a storied career in which he became one of the faces of D.C. United and the heart and soul of its midfield.
Now 32 years old, Olsen left the University of Virginia a year early to sign with United in 1998. Over the next 11 seasons, the Middletown, Pa., native made 221 regular season appearances (200 starts) for United, putting him second all-time in team history. He also played for the U.S. national team 37 times, including as a member of the 2006 World Cup squad.
Olsen captured MLS Cup titles with D.C. in 1999 and 2004, but his best season came in 2007, in which he had seven goals and seven assists and was named to the MLS Best XI. He registered his only career hat trick that year, a three-goal masterpiece capped by a stunning volley in a 4-1 win over New York. However, he struggled to recover from ankle surgeries that offseason and played only one game in 2008.
In 2009, Olsen played 20 of 30 regular season matches (18 starts), registering one goal and one assist.
Olsen’s future is unclear, but he has been linked to becoming a member of the United coaching staff.
