Portrait of Ben Olsen

Birthday profile

Ben Olsen

Ben Olsen, American soccer player and coach

Born
May 3, 1977
Age in 2026
49
Zodiac sign
Taurus
Birth year
1977

About Ben Olsen

Benjamin Robert Olsen (born May 3, 1977) is an American soccer executive, coach and former player who is the head coach of Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer (MLS). He is best known for his long-term association with D.C. United, first as a player then as a coach. Olsen was formerly the president of Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia. He then played for Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer and was named 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year. Olsen spent the vast majority of his professional career in the United States with D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and also had a loan spell with English side Nottingham Forest. He joined United straight out of college, and over the course of 12 seasons, Olsen made 221 appearances, scoring 29 goals and making 49 assists. During that time he won two MLS Cup titles, two MLS Supporters' Shields and one U.S. Open Cup. His individual honors include two-time MLS All-Star, 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, MLS Cup '99 MVP and 2007 MLS Best XI. Olsen also earned 37 caps with the United States men's national team, winning the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and representing the United States at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Olsen announced his retirement from professional competition in 2009. Olsen is best known for his long-term association with D.C. While at UVA the Cavaliers achieved two Final Fours and won two ACC Men's Soccer Tournament titles with Olsen being honored as the ACC Tournament MVP in 1997. Olsen is best known for his long-term association with D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS), first as a player then as a coach.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

The world when Ben Olsen was born

Ben Olsen was born in 1977. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Culture in 1977

  • #1 song"You Light Up My Life" – Debby Boone
  • Top movieStar Wars
  • Top TV showHappy Days
  • Best-selling bookThe Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien

Headlines and milestones

  • Major sports momentPelé retires after final match with the New York Cosmos
  • Top headlineStar Wars premieres and changes cinema forever
  • Technology milestoneApple II computer released
  • Defining fadStar Wars mania
  • Notable inventionAtari 2600 video game console
  • World population4.23 billion

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderJimmy Carter
  • Sports championNew York Yankees (World Series)
  • Also wonPortland Trail Blazers (NBA)
  • U.S. population220.2M

1977 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Ben Olsen's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure19772026
Gas$0.62$3.45/gal
Average home$49,300$435,000
Average income$16,009$67,500
Minimum wage$2.30$7.25/hr (federal)
Movie ticket$2.23$11.95
Postage stamp$0.13$0.73
Population220.2M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, Olympedia, Major League Soccer. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

Read the source biography on Wikipedia. Wikipedia text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.