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*(AP Photo/John Smierciak)*(Press Release)
SANDY -- Real Salt Lake announced today that DF Jamison Olave has received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the United States effective immediately.
With Olave's new status as a United States resident, the third-year member of Real Salt Lake will no longer occupy an International Player slot on the defending MLS Cup champion's roster. With Olave's departure from that list, Real Salt Lake now has one of its five International Player roster spots available, with Argentines Fabian Espíndola, Nelson González, and Javier Morales and Costa Rica native Álvaro Saborío currently holding the other four positions.
"We want to congratulate Jamison on this important step towards making Utah his long-term home," said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. "From a club standpoint, this allows us more flexibility to acquire a player we feel fits into our roster as we push for a second straight MLS Cup and begin play in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League. We would like to extend a special thanks to Donald Mooers of Mooers Immigration, who has been an immense help working on behalf of Jamison and Real Salt Lake during this process."
In his three seasons with Real Salt Lake, the 29-year-old Olave has established himself as one of Major League Soccer's most dominant central defenders, as evidenced by his choice as a "First XI" member of the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Team just last week. Olave's first All-Star nod will be one to remember, as he'll get the chance to join his MLS teammates - including RSL's Javier Morales and Nick Rimando - in taking on legendary English Premiership side Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston next Wednesday, July 28 (6:30 p.m. MT; live on ESPN2 and TeleFutura).
Olave has started all 16 games for RSL this season and has played all but 13 minutes on the campaign, his intimidating presence and gifted physical skills contributing to a defensive effort that resulted in a recently-concluded 566-minute shutout streak for the Claret-and-Cobalt, the third longest such run in MLS history. Olave has also proven to be a handful on the offensive end, his presence in the area on set pieces resulting in three goals this season, all scored in front of his adoring fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. Olave has started 63 of his 64 League appearances since joining RSL prior to the 2008 season, hitting the back of the net on eight occasions while thwarting countless dozens of scoring opportunities for the opposition during his stint on the Wasatch Front.
Prior to the MLS portion of his career, Olave played in his native Colombia, spending time with four clubs in the South American country's First and Second Divisions, most notably with powerhouse Deportivo Cali, for whom he began his career in 2001 and also flourished with from 2005-07. In addition, Olave logged time for First Division sides Atletico Huela (2002) and Chicó FC (2004) and Second Division squad CD Patriotas FC (2003).
- Real Salt Lake -
