D.C. United introduced Curt Onalfo on Tuesday as its sixth head coach -- and the first to have played for the team. United has failed to make the playoffs two straight seasons, so the 40-year-old head coach admitted he has its work cut out. For video of Tuesday's press conference ...

"D.C. United is dear to my heart," said Onalfo, who played for United (1998-99) and later served as a D.C. assistant (2000-02). "It's a big market, it's an important market and I've prepared myself now 10 years as a professional soccer coach for a place like D.C. United. It's a dream job. We have enormous work ahead of us, but make no mistake about it, priority number one is to get this team back to the playoffs and qualified for international tournaments."

Onalfo's staff will include assistant coaches Kris Kelderman and Ben Olsen, while Mark Simpson was retained as goalkeeping coach.

Like Onalfo, Kelderman and Olsen are former Virginia players.

Onalfo Press Conference: