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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Re-signs Defender Jamison Olave

November 24, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (Monday, November 24, 2008) - Real Salt Lake today announced that the club has agreed to a contract with Jamison Olave that will keep the Colombian defender a member of the Utah side through the 2012 Major League Soccer season. Real Salt Lake and Olave came to the agreement after RSL purchased the player's rights from Deportivo Cali of the Colombian Copa Mustang (First Division). Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not made available.

Olave becomes the second South American product to sign a long-term pact with RSL in the last two months, the 27-year-old defender following on the heels of MF Javier Morales. The Argentine playmaker inked a similar, four-season deal of his own during the stretch run of his club MVP season on Sept. 23.

"We are excited to have re-signed Jamison. He was a key player in turning Real Salt Lake around this season and we are happy he has decided to make a long term commitment to us," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "Retaining his physical presence in the center of our defense solidifies a key position as we look to build on the success of 2008 and have an even better 2009 season."

Despite being omitted from consideration for the League's Newcomer of the Year and Defender of the Year awards, the imposing Olave served as a critical component in the team's reversal of fortune in 2008. In addition to a penchant for scoring clutch goals, such as his header vs. Toronto on July 29 and the first-ever RSL goal at Rio Tinto Stadium on October 9, the Colombian center back's signature physical style and impressive closing speed made him an instant fan favorite during his debut season in Utah. After opening the season on the bench, Olave would acclimate quickly to MLS by starting 23 of RSL's final 26 contests, adding the two previously mentioned goals in 2,006 minutes of play. In addition, Olave also started for Real Salt Lake in all three of its contests during the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, playing a total of 246 minutes in RSL's first-ever postseason run that ended in the Western Conference Final.

Prior to joining RSL on loan last February, Olave spent his first seven professional campaigns playing in his native Colombia for First Division teams Deportivo Cali (2001, 2005-07), Chico FC (2004) and Atletico Huela (2002) and Second Division squad CD Patriotas FC (2003).

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