In a season full of fresh faces and new identities, Bobby Boswell is the reliable mainstay fans have grown accustomed to.
The newly-turned 33-year-old (his birthday was Tuesday), is in his sixth season with United, bookending a six-year stint with the Houston Dynamo. The Black-and-Red captain has anchored the back line without interruption since his return to the nation’s capital before the 2014 season. He leads all field players with 6,020 minutes played over the last two seasons, and no other player has started as many games as he has over that same period (67).
So when second-year goalkeeper Travis Worra left his line to defend an on-rushing Teal Bunbury in the 29th minute during United’s most recent match against the New England Revolution, it was Boswell who came to the rescue. After Worra, making his first career start, rushed Bunbury, the New England winger lofted the ball to the back post for strike partner and ex-United forward Charlie Davies. With the goal gaping, Davies tried an overhead kick, which looked to be on target. Boswell threw his six-foot-two frame in the way and blocked what would’ve been the game-winning goal for the Revolution. When asked after the match if Worra’s inexperience put more pressure on the defense, Boswell was resolute in his response: “If you’re at this level, you’re here for a reason.”
The match was Boswell’s 150th as a United player, dating back to his rookie season in 2005 after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Florida International University. With United, he has won two Supporters’ Shields, been named MLS Defender of the Year, and was named to MLS Best XI twice. He has proved time and again, without a doubt, that he is here for a reason.
“Bobby has been one of the steadiest center backs in MLS throughout his career,” Dave Kasper, United general manager and VP of soccer operations, said after re-signing Boswell last October. “He has anchored the locker room and the defense since we brought him back to the nation’s capital last season.”
Boswell, who is now in his twelfth season, is one of the established MLS veterans in a league full of constant newcomers. He is third all-time in minutes played and fifth in starts, and ranks third among active players in postseason minutes played and postseason starts.
“We understand what it takes to be successful in this league,” Boswell, who has reached the postseason in ten of his last eleven seasons and all five of his years in Washington. “Now the key is to put together some good performances."
