Player Details

Name

Bobby Boswell

Height

6' 2"

Weight

185 lbs

Date of Birth

3.15.1983 (41)

Birthplace

Austin, Texas USA

Position

Defender
Career Summary

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2016

D.C. United’s captain surpassed numerous milestones in 2016 en route to his fifth straight season of at least 30 appearances.  Boswell became only the third player in MLS history to start 350 regular season matches on Oct. 16, behind Steve Ralston and Kyle Beckerman.  Earlier in the year, the center back also hit the 350 appearances mark and surpassed 30,000 minutes played on 6/18 against his former team, the Houston Dynamo.  He scored his first goal of the season (and the club’s 1,000th of all-time) in dramatic fashion, heading in the game-tying goal against the Chicago Fire on 9/16.

 

2015

Boswell continued to be the steadiest presence in the Black-and-Red defense following a 2014 season in which he was one of three field players to start all 34 MLS regular season matches. He made his 300th MLS appearance against Sporting Kansas City on May 9, and during the season became fifth all-time among field players in MLS starts and minutes played. Boswell scored the game-tying goal in a 2-1 win at Vancouver on April 25 and in a 4-0 win over Chicago on Oct. 18.

 

2014

Boswell returned to D.C., where he began his MLS career, after six seasons in Houston, and became one of the most important fixtures for one of the league’s top defenses. Boswell was named team captain, earned his second career MLS Best XI selection, second career MLS All-Star selection and was the only D.C. United player to start every regular season match. He was also a MLS Defender of the Year finalist and finished the year with one goal and a career-high three assists. Had an assist in 3-3 draw at Chicago on Sept. 20. Scored in 4-1 win vs. Dallas on Apr. 26. Had an assist in 1-0 win vs. New York on Apr. 12. Had an assist in 2-2 draw vs. Chicago on Mar. 29.

 

2013

MLS Team of the Week (Weeks 1, 10) ... Besides two game suspension in mid-May, played every game of MLS 2013 season ... Received red card and was issued two-game suspension for violent conduct against Dimitry Imbongo in 40th minute of New England match on 5/18 … Earned first assist of the season by starting scoring play to Giles Barnes in 1-0 victory over Galaxy on 5/5 … 13-14 CCL: Scored the closing goal with a header in a 2-0 win vs. W Connection on 9/25 ... Open Cup: Played 90 minutes in 3-0 Open Cup loss at FC Dallas on 6/12 … Played 90 minutes in 2-0 Open Cup win over FC Tucson on 5/29. 2013-14 Champions League: Played 90 minutes, scored headed goal vs. W Connection on 9/25

 

2012

Led Dynamo field players with 2,930 regular season minutes, a career-high...Also set career-highs in games played (33) and games started (33) ... Played full time in 37 consecutive MLS matches (3,380 consecutive minutes, including playoffs) before exiting Houston’s 1-0 win on Sept. 6 in the 74th minute with a stomach virus ... Provided first assist of the season vs. Toronto on 7/28, heading Brad Davis' corner kick to the back post for Calen Carr ... Scored second goal of the year against Montreal on 7/21; a header off a Brad Davis corner kick in the 84th minute ... Scored first goal of the year in 3-3 draw vs. Toronto on 6/20, a blistering header off a Brad Davis corner kick in the 20th minute ... Made 200th MLS appearance vs. D.C. United, his former club, on 5/12 ... Made 150th Dynamo appearance in all competitions in 2-0 loss at Seattle on 3/23, becoming fifth Dynamo player to reach 150 ... Playoffs: Played 90 minutes in all six playoff games ... Open Cup: Started and played 75 minutes in 1-0 third round loss to San Antonio ... Reserves: Did not feature. 2012-13 Champions League: Played 90 minutes in both legs of 3-1 aggregate series quarterfinal loss to Santos Laguna on 3/5 and 3/13 … Started and played 90 minutes in 3-1 win at C.D. FAS

 

2011

Scored a career-high five goals to tie for the team lead, adding one assist while making 28 appearances and 27 starts at center back ... Contributed goal and assist in first half of 3-1 win vs. VAN on 4/10, equaling his MLS scoring output from the previous two seasons combined ... Notched second goal of season to tie match with late header in 1-1 tie at CHI on 4/23 ... Missed first match of season due to squad rotation on 5/28 vs. FCD ... Appeared as a sub in 1-1 tie vs. KC on 7/16 ... Returned to starting lineup and helped Houston to 3-1 win vs. SEA on 7/30 ... Scored in consecutive games on 8/17 and 8/20 to earn MLS Player of the Week honors from the website Soccer By Ives ... Netted dramatic equalizer with close-range tap-in at 90-minute mark of 1-1 tie at NE on 8/17 ... Headed in corner kick to tie game 2-2 in come-from-behind 3-2 win vs. RSL on 8/20 ... Missed match at KC on 9/10 due to yellow card accumulation ... Scored fifth goal of season early in second half of 3-1 win vs. LA on 10/23 ... Playoffs: Key figure as Dynamo reached MLS Cup final with three consecutive wins, including back-to-back shutouts ... Played 90 minutes and had a game-high 23 clearances in 2-1 win to open playoffs at PHI on 10/30 ... Sturdy figure at the back in 2-0 win at KC on 11/6 ... Started his first MLS Cup final at LA on 11/20 ... Open Cup: Wore captain's armband and played all 120 minutes in 1-0 overtime loss vs. KC on 4/6 as Dynamo were eliminated in qualifying round ... Reserves: Made first reserve appearance and played all 90 minutes in 3-2 loss vs. FCD on 5/29 ... Also went the distance in 3-0 loss at COL on 9/1.

 

2010

Started in 26 of 30 league games at center back, including nine starts as captain ... Named Dynamo Defender of the Year for second time in three seasons and honored for the Dynamo's Save of the Year ... Stepped forward to set up Brian Ching's game-tying goal with a cross in 2-1 loss at NY on 6/2 ... Received two yellow cards and was ejected from 3-0 loss at CLB on 7/24, missing match vs. NY on 7/31 ... Made back-to-back diving stops inside the six-yard box in 4-3 loss at KC on 9/22, plays later named the Dynamo's Save of the Year ... Missed match against former club at DC on 9/25 due to yellow card accumulation ... Returned to starting lineup and helped post shutout in 1-0 win at SJ on 10/16 ... Open Cup: Did not appear ... SuperLiga: Appeared in all four matches, making two starts ... Other: Played second half of comeback 2-1 friendly win vs. Laredo Heat on 6/10 in inaugural Ryan-Sanders Shootout in Corpus Christi ... Played final 21 minutes of 4-0 Dynamo Charities Cup win vs. Aguila on 6/19.

 

2009

Started 29 of 30 games at center back and helped Houston tie for the league's lowest goals-against total … Stalwart in lineup at center back … Missed first MLS game of the season on 7/11 at SEA due to yellow card accumulation … Scored first MLS goal of the season in 1-1 tie at TFC on 7/18, tapping in a rebound to tie the game in the 74th minute … Playoffs: Played all 330 minutes of three playoff games … 08-09 Champions League: Scored first goal of Dynamo's 2009 season with a header from a corner kick in quarterfinal first leg vs. Atlante on 2/24 … Missed second leg due to illness … Open Cup: Wore captain's armband for the first time and marshaled back line to shutout in 2-0 win at Austin on 7/1 … Again served as captain and scored second goal with back-post deflection from free kick in 4-0 quarterfinal win at Charleston on 7/7 … Started and played full 120 minutes in 2-1 overtime semifinal loss at SEA on 7/21 …09-10 Champions League: Appeared in five games, making three starts.

 

2008

Offseason acquisition from DC who was the Dynamo's most consistent performer in 2008 at center back … Named Dynamo Defender of the Year, Fans' Choice Award winner, and Iron Man of the Year … Team leader with 43 starts and 43 games played out of 48 total games … Scored first Dynamo goal and first goal since 5/27/06 with 82nd-minute header on 5/17 at CHI, the decisive goal in 2-1 win … Made 100th career MLS start on 8/31 vs. CHI … Missed only MLS game of the season on 10/4 at Colorado due to yellow card accumulation … Earned first assist of the season vs. LA on 10/18 …Playoffs: Played all 180 minutes of series vs. NY … Champions' Cup: Played every minute of first three games but was suspended for semifinal second leg at Deportivo Saprissa on 4/9 … SuperLiga: Played every minute of the tournament … Scored goal with header in his first game back at RFK Stadium on 7/19 at DC … Scored game-winning goal in the 2-1 semifinal win vs. Pachuca on 7/29, tapping in a corner kick at the back post … Champions League: Started and played 90 minutes in four of six games.

 

2007

Saw time in 23 games with D.C. United … Notched two assists, one a game-winner, in DC's 2-1 win over RSL on 9/12 … An instrumental part of a defense that gave up the third-fewest goals in MLS (34).

 

2006

Named MLS Defender of the Year, MLS All-Star, and MLS Best XI … Continued to build off his tremendous rookie season, establishing himself as a permanent and critical member of the D.C. United backline … Anchored one of the best defenses in the league, as DC allowed only 38 goals in 2006, the second fewest total in MLS … Started each of the 30 games he saw time in and also chipped in a goal and an assist.

 

2005

Earned a developmental contract with D.C. United as an undrafted free agent during pre-season … Quickly became a starter once the season started, making 26 starts and being upgraded to a senior roster spot … Scored three goals, including two game-winners, and added one assist … His first career goal was the decisive tally in a 4-3 win vs. CHI on 6/15.

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

2011-2004: Team co-captain for Florida International as Golden Panthers won third consecutive Atlantic Soccer Conference title … First team all-South region and all-ASC … Tallied three goals, including two game-winners, and two assists … Finished college career with 12 goals and seven assists in 72 appearances … 2003: First team all-conference and defensive MVP of the FIU Invitational … Mainstay on backline that posted a 1.06 goals against average, but still managed to score eight goals, placing him among the conference leaders … 2002: Appeared in 16 games, making 14 starts … Scored game-winning goal vs. Florida Atlantic … 2001: Made immediate impact as a freshman by appearing in 16 games … Scored first collegiate goal on 9/23.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

United States international (3 caps) … 2007: Started and played 89 minutes in 3-1 win over Denmark on 1/20 … Named to the U.S. roster for the prestigious Copa America and played the full 90 minutes in the final group game, a 1-0 loss to Colombia on 7/5 … 2006: Made international debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Guatemala on 2/19.

YOUTH

Blackwatch Soccer, coached by Steve Wegerle, and Clearwater Chargers, coached by Peter Mannino.

PERSONAL

A three-time D.C. United Humanitarian of the Year honoree, Boswell is very active in the Houston community … Born in Austin … Appeared on the Nickelodeon show "Guts" when he was 11 years old … He was named Virginia representative for Cosmopolitan magazine's Bachelor of the Year in 2006 … Boswell parlayed that experience and his contest entry video into his own website, BobbyBoswell.com … His favorite movie is "Dumb and Dumber," and his favorite athlete is Michael Jordan because he always came through in the clutch … Has three older brothers … Was a triple major in business management, international business and psychology … Went on Armed Forces Entertainment trip to Hawaii, Kwajalein, and Guam in December 2009 with teammate Mike Chabala and former D.C. United teammates Marc Burch and Devon McTavish.

HONORS

2006 MLS Defender of the Year, All-Star, Best XI Starting center back for 2011, 2012 MLS Cup finalist squads Three-time Dynamo Defender of the Year (2012, 2010, 2008) Career-high five goals in 2011 Through 2012, has started the most regular season games by an MLS defender since 2005, (222 starts) U.S. international (3 caps) Acquired Selected by D.C. United in the second round (20th overall) of the Stage 1 Re-Entry Draft, Dec. 12, 2013.

ACQUIRED

Selected in Stage One of the 2013 Re-Entry Draft on December 12, 2013.