Last-place D.C. United have fired coach Curt Onalfo and replaced him with assistant coach and former U.S. national team player Ben Olsen.
United have only won three games this season as they have struggled through the worst stretch in the teams history. United failed to make the playoffs the last two seasons, and this year’s record is the worst in MLS. They’ve been hit hard by injuries and bad signings, and their lone bright spot is 17-year-old rookie midfielder Andy Najar.
“This decision is not about placing blame, but about looking forward,” team president Kevin Payne said. “Recent performances have convinced us that we need to make a change at the top for the team to improve the remainder of this season, for 2011 and beyond. We’ve asked Ben to focus on three objectives for the balance of this season. Prepare to win the next game, demand of our players the same commitment to the shirt that he displayed, and determine which players demonstrate that they want to play for United next season.”
Onalfo was in charge for less than a season at D.C. United. Was he given enough time to turn things around or was a change needed now?