D.C. United’s stalwart defender and captain Bobby Boswell is on the verge of making his 350th MLS regular season appearance and joining an elite list of only six players to reach the milestone since 1996. If Boswell plays on Sunday, Sept. 11, against the New York Red Bulls he will become the first to do so since former teammate and current assistant coach Davy Arnaud in 2015.
The 33-year-old sits in sixth place for most games played behind Jeff Cunningham, Brian Carroll (both 365 appearances), Steve Ralston (378 appearances), Brad Davis (389 appearances) and Kyle Beckerman (who will make history as the first MLS player to reach 400 games played with his next appearance).
Boswell was originally signed by D.C. United as a discovery signing in 2005 and established himself as an integral component of the Black-and-Red backline. Over three seasons in the nation’s capital, Boswell made 80 appearances for D.C. United, winning two Supporters’ Shields (2006, 2007) while also being named the 2006 MLS Defender of the Year.
After six seasons in Houston, Boswell made a return to the Black-and-Red after being selected in Stage One of the 2013 Re-Entry Draft. The MLS veteran made a quick transition back to D.C. United and reestablished himself as a leader and consistent figure in the starting eleven, playing in all 34 games in both 2014 and 2015.
The 2006 MLS Defender of the Year continues to show fans and players the quality he is still capable of achieving in MLS. This season, Boswell has played in 24 out of 27 of the Black-and-Red’s regular season fixtures and was selected to the MLS Team of the Week for his outstanding performance in the 2-0 win against New England on April 23. The captain of the Black-and-Red reached another milestone earlier this year, surpassing 30,000 minutes played for his career, a feat only four other people have earned in Major League Soccer. He also played in his 150th match for United back in the spring.
