Washington D.C. — D.C. United‘s wait for a new manager is over. The club announced on Monday morning that Argentinian Hernán Losada is taking over the reins.
Last season, D.C. United parted ways with head coach Ben Olsen. Olsen was with the organization as both a player and a coach. He spent his entire career — except for a brief season on loan with Nottingham Forest — with D.C. United, making over 200 appearances. He then coached the team for a decade.
Now, it’s a new chapter in the organization’s history. Losada is now the youngest active head coach in MLS, being only 38-years-old. A former midfielder, Losada earned his first head coaching stint with Beerschot in Antwerp, Belgium, which competes in the First Division A.
Losada took the managing role in 2019, after serving as an assistant in 2018. In his first year as manager, he helped the club reach promotion to the top tier league in Belgium. He had familiarity with the club, has he featured for the organization three separate times in his 15-year career.
He finished his career with Beerschot with a 2015-18 campaign that produced 28 goals in 70 appearances.
According to D.C. United, more than 25 candidates were interviewed for the role.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join D.C. United and to write a new chapter of success with this storied club,” Losada said, via a club release. “I believe in playing every match to win and in my opinion the best way to do this is to create as many scoring chances as possible every time we step onto the field, through high-energy, vertical attacking soccer. I am looking forward to entertaining our fans and competing.”
🗣 "High-energy, vertical attacking soccer."
Let's do this 😎 pic.twitter.com/Chq2Lw0TvA
— D.C. United (@dcunited) January 18, 2021
A new era for D.C. United with Hernán Losada
Out with the old and in with the new. Many times in professional sports, coaches will be recycled to other teams within leagues. It happens in the NFL, NHL, MLB, NWSL… any professional league.
Hernán Losada’s tabbing as D.C. United manager brings in a new, fresh face to MLS. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the new manager will have a couple countrymen on his roster, including midfielder Yamil Asad, who hails from San Antonio de Padua, Argentina.
Losada will also have the chance to work with U.S. men’s national team standout Paul Arriola, who returned to club and international competition late in 2020 after tearing his ACL. Recently, the club signed Canadian forward Adrien Perez.
According to D.C. United, the club is currently filing for Losada’s P-1 Visa and the coaching staff will be announced later.
“Hernán is a strong leader and strategist and an attack-minded coach,” D.C. United co-chairman and CEO Jason Levien said. “We are confident that our players and community will take quickly to him and will thoroughly enjoy his high-energy, forward-thinking soccer.”
