With New Contract Inked, DC United's Ben Olsen Looks For Right Recipe

With New Contract Inked, DC United's Ben Olsen Looks For Right Recipe

With a contract extension in hand, Ben Olsen must work on finding the right tactics to help D.C. reach their full potential.

Jan 18, 2019 by Wesley Davidson
With New Contract Inked, DC United's Ben Olsen Looks For Right Recipe

With a contract extension in hand, Ben Olsen must work on finding the right tactics to help D.C. reach their full potential.

“Don't think. Just run.”

“I was never the guy to talk tactics with the coach or the team. The game was simple to me: run, fight, pass and move.”

“I don’t want to talk about formations too much. I think it’s still a pretty simple game out there.”

D.C. manager Ben Olsen has never shied away from sharing his approach to the game and how tactics aren’t always highest on the priority list. The 41-year-old’s guiding philosophy is rooted in work ethic, grit, and focus, and he has also garnered a reputation for being an astute motivator. However, a number of Olsen critics have keyed in on his previous statements and point to what they perceive as tactical ineptitude in important matches, which has ultimately kept previous squads from achieving better results.

An anonymous player echoed this sentiment in ESPN’s MLS Confidential, saying, "[Olsen is] a pretty good motivational, but I need someone to give me the tactics and Xs and Os.”

The former midfielder’s passion is unquestioned, and he has guided D.C. to immense highs and equally notable lows. Both time and experience have aided the 2014 Coach of the Year in the sort of identity he tries to instill into a roster from season to season. 2019 provides the opportunity to take the team to a new level with an increased focus on tactics, particularly in light of a newly-signed contract extension keeping him at the club until 2021 and high-caliber players throughout the roster.

Forging An Identity

Olsen’s transition from suiting up to calling the shots came in the blink of an eye. An illustrious career in the Capital City came to an end in October 2009, and just 10 months later he found himself in the interim coaching role following the firing of Curt Onalfo. His journey at the helm began on Nov. 29 of the same year when D.C. made him the youngest coach in MLS history.

The early years in his new role were a mixed bag of sorts in terms of results, but the traditional 4-4-2 quickly solidified as Olsen’s formation of choice.

2016, arguably the most important year in Olsen’s progression as a manager, brought a different tactical identity that has, for the most part, stuck following measured success in its early stages. Numerous tweaks or variations have been made along the way, but the switch to a 4-1-4-1 gave his players a new a sense of what to expect on a weekly basis and the team has mostly lined up in this fashion ever since.

2018 Brings New Possibilities

Olsen was given a gift beyond his wildest dreams midway through the 2018 season that opened up the doors on his typical no-frills approach. That gift was English star Wayne Rooney.

“What I’m most impressed with is how his arrival has really elevated the whole group,” Olsen told The Coaches' Voice. “His influence on the dressing room, and his ability to constantly make the right play has pushed the team forward.”

In addition to being a beacon for inexperienced teammates and his world-class scoring ability, Rooney has granted Olsen more tactical flexibility than he’s ever had at his disposal. Like many of the greats who have come before him, Rooney, in acknowledging the toll of father time, began altering his playing style to prolong his career and maintain a high level of performance.

Rooney’s transformation really took off under manager Sam Allardyce following his return to Everton, and his arrival, paired with the opening of Audi Field, has reignited a D.C. fan base hungry for success. Rather than remaining close to goal, Rooney began dropping into a deeper playmaking role that helps bring others into ventures forward through strong hold-up play and the ability to play the right ball.

As Alex Stewart brilliantly illustrated in a piece for Tifo Football, Rooney has helped revolutionize the United attack in a multitude of ways. His penchant for dropping into a "false nine" role in transitions, instinctive runs and ability to change the mode of attack truly make the 33-year-old a nightmare for opposing defenders. Supporters across the league watched in disbelief while Rooney helped D.C. clinch a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference despite an abysmal start to the season.

Breakout midfielder Russell Canouse has given his manager another thing to think about in fielding his starting XI, a great problem for any manager to have. The 4-1-4-1 largely featured in the opening stages of last season, but Canouse’s emergence meant that Olsen could confidently tinker with lineups. A switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation paired Canouse alongside Júnior Moreno in front of the back line and it worked to perfection en route to a playoff birth.

With the addition of a world-class striker who has altered his game to great effect and a reliable defensive midfielder, Olsen showed signs of an increased emphasis on tactical variation and the results followed suit. Rooney, Luciano Acosta, Canouse and company will have a preseason under their belts, and Olsen must continue to focus on finding the right formation and playing style to help this squad fully meet its potential in 2019.


Wesley Davidson is a graduate of the University of Alabama (BA) and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (MA). He currently works in youth soccer in Austin, Texas, and can be found on Twitter.