Unstable Coaching Tenures Post-Ben Olsen: The Short Stints of D.C. United’s Last Three Head Coaches

August 13th - Washington, D.C.

D.C. United’s coaching situation has entered a new phase of uncertainty. René Weiler, appointed 28 days ago as the club’s head coach, has yet to arrive and coach his first match. Kevin Flanagan has been serving as interim coach for the past 34 days, overseeing five matches, all of which ended in losses. An introductory press conference for Weiler was originally scheduled for Friday, August 6, but was postponed to a later date. In a statement released today, D.C. United stated that Weiler is in the final stages of securing his U.S. visa and work permit, and the Communications team will provide an update as soon as the process is complete.

Rene Weiler

Since late 2020, D.C. United has undergone three rebuilds — under Losada, Rooney, and Lesesne — none of which lasted more than 18 months, excluding the interim spells of Chad Ashton and Kevin Flanagan.

The post-2020 era began with promise under Hernán Losada. Appointed in January 2021, the Argentine-Italian tactician introduced an aggressive, high-tempo style that produced the highest points-per-game (PPG) return of this period at 1.37. However, internal tensions and inconsistent results cut his tenure short after just 457 days and 41 matches.

Hernan Losada

Wayne Rooney, a club legend from his playing days, followed in July 2022. Expectations soared, but his managerial spell proved underwhelming. Across 53 matches, he averaged 1.04 PPG, the lowest of any permanent head coach in this era, and departed after 15 months.

Wayne Rooney

Most recently in January 2024, Troy Lesesne took charge with a mandate to stabilize the squad. His return — 1.18 PPG over 60 matches — was a modest improvement over Rooney but still short of Losada’s mark, insufficient to push United back into playoff spots after 5 consecutive seasons of missing them. The last time they had a post-season appearance they were eliminated by Columbus Crew in the First Round at Audi Field in penalty kicks. Only Chicago Fire FC has a longer post-season drought, having missed the playoffs for the past seven years.

Troy Lesesne

Weiler’s challenge is demanding: reverse a trend of short-term appointments, restore the team’s competitive edge, and bridge the gap between Losada’s peak PPG and the stability once enjoyed under long-serving managers like Ben Olsen, who previously led the club for a remarkable 3,601 days with 362 wins at 1.33 PPG.

Key Metrics (Since Late 2020)

• Highest PPG: Hernán Losada – 1.37

• Lowest PPG: Wayne Rooney – 1.04

• Average Tenure Length: ~15 months

• Post-Losada Average PPG: ~1.11

  

Under this era, D.C. United’s ephemeral rotations have produced flashes of promise but little lasting progress. As Weiler waits to officially begin his tenure, the question lingers: Will he be the one who brings D.C. United get back to winning trophies? Or will the cycle continue, leaving the Black-and-Red fans hoping for stability that remains just out of reach?