NEW YORK — D.C. United manager Ben Olsen doesn’t need any more challenges – turningaround a team that finished with the worst record in the league in 2010 is anunenviable task on its own. But now, at the age of 33, Olsen also takes hisseat in the record books as the youngest head coach in MLS history.
Of the 10youngest full-time head coaches in the 15-year history of MLS, only threeregistered winning records in their first full season in charge. All three were36 years old: Dave Dir (1996), Frank Yallop (2001) and Steve Morrow (2007).
Of thosethree, Yallop put in the best rookie performance as a manager, finishing afairy-tale season by taking the San Jose Earthquakes to their first-ever MLStitle. United went 6-20-4 last season, making a possible repeat of Yallop’ssuccess a tall order for Olsen.
10 Youngest Full-Time Managersin MLS History:
33 YRS OLD: Ben Olsen (D.C. United) — 2011 first full season
34 YRS OLD: Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake) — 6-13-7 in 2007
36 YRS OLD: Dominic Kinnear (San Jose Earthquakes) — 9-10-11 in 2004
36 YRS OLD: Dave Dir (Dallas Burn) — 17-15-0 in 1996
36 YRS OLD: Steve Morrow (FC Dallas) — 13-12-5 in 2007
36 YRS OLD: Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes) — 13-7-6 in 2001
37 YRS OLD: Curt Onalfo (Kansas City Wizards) — 11-12-7 in 2007
37 YRS OLD: Brian Quinn (San Jose Clash) — 7-10-0 in 1997
38 YRS OLD: Mike Jeffries (Dallas Burn) — 10-11-5 in 2001
38 YRS OLD: Walter Zenga (New England Revolution) — 10-20-0 in 1999
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