2011 D.C. United season

D.C. United

2011 season
General manager	Dave Kasper
Head coach	Ben Olsen
Stadium	RFK Stadium
MLS	Conference: 7th Overall: 13th
U.S. Open Cup	Qualification Second round
Atlantic Cup	Runners-up
Carolina Challenge Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: Dwayne De Rosario (13) All: Dwayne De Rosario (13)
Highest home attendance	26,622 vs. LA
Lowest home attendance	11,254 vs. SEA
Average home league attendance	15,181
Home colors Away colors Third colors
← 2010 2012 →

The 2011 D.C. United season was D.C. United's 17th year of existence, their 16th season in Major League Soccer, and their 16th consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer. D.C. United tried to salvage a poor showing last season where they finished at the bottom of the MLS standings. The season covers the period of November 1, 2010, through October 31, 2011.

Ahead of the preseason, then interim-head coach Ben Olsen assumed head coaching duties, under a three-year contract for an undisclosed price.^[1] Olsen became the first head coach in franchise history to both play for and coach the squad. Upon retiring as a player on November 24, 2009, Olsen became an assistant coach under head coach Curt Onalfo. On August 7, 2010, Olsen was named interim head coach after Onalfo was fired. Olsen finished the 2010 season with a 3–8–1 record. Several major offseason acquisitions were made, in both the offense and defense. Notable signings included Charlie Davies on loan, Perry Kitchen, Dax McCarty and Josh Wolff. In the summer, a major trade was made when United traded McCarty to their Atlantic Cup rivals, New York Red Bulls, for Dwayne De Rosario. During the MLS regular season, United regularly hovered in the middle of the league's overall table, frequently swapping positions barely in or outside of a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Ultimately, their playoff run ended in the 33rd week of the campaign, culminating a six-match winless streak, that included five consecutive losses.

Outside of MLS, the team failed to qualify for the third round proper of the U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2002. In the qualification propers, United lost 3–2 to New England Revolution in the MLS qualification semifinals. Before the MLS regular season campaign, United participated in the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup tournament, where the club defended their 2010 title by recording a 2–0–1 record in the pre-season competition.