D.C. United has signed manager Ben Olsen to a new three-year contract, the club announced on Thursday.
Olsen is the second-most tenured manager in MLS behind Sporting Kansas City's Peter Vermes, and has been with the Black-and-Red in some capacity for the past 21 years.
"This is a very important step for us," said owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan. "Ben is a special part of our club's rich history and a major part of our future. He delivered one of his best performances as our on-field leader this past season, establishing a strong culture and winning foundation. We cannot wait to see what we can achieve together in the coming seasons."
Entering his 10th season in MLS, Olsen has compiled a regular season record of 98-118-68, but went 11-2-4 down the stretch in 2018 to lead DCU to the postseason for the fifth time in his tenure. The club also won the 2013 U.S. Open Cup under his leadership.
"I am proud and humbled to have been associated with this club for the last 21 years. I am thrilled that ownership has shown faith in the path my staff and I are taking with this extension. Our aim is to continue to put a team on the field that our fans and community will identify with and be proud of. The major goal, however, remains the same since the day I took the job and that's to bring trophies back to D.C."
As a player, Olsen's career with DCU spanned 12 years, sandwiched around a brief stint on loan with English side Nottingham Forest. During his professional career, Olsen won two MLS Cups, three Supporters Shields, and Open Cup title.
At international level, Olsen made 37 appearances with the U.S., scoring six goals. He was part of the U.S. squad at the 2006 World Cup.