Ben Olsen has had a place in the D.C. United organization for 18 years, either as a hard-charging midfielder, an injury-stricken observer, an assistant coach or, for the past six seasons, the head coach.
He has enjoyed many fine days and raised a few trophies. Thursday’s first-round playoff match against the Montreal Impact at RFK Stadium will mark United’s third consecutive trip to MLS postseason and fourth in five years.
No one will ever feel sorry for him.
But this 2016 campaign, jolted to life after months of vanilla soccer, has left Olsen craving for something more.