It wasn’t long ago that Jamison Olave was widely regarded as the best defender in Major League Soccer. The Real Salt Lake center back earned MLS Defender of the Year honors in 2010 and added another MLS Best XI season in 2011. Now back for his second stint with RSL after a brief two-year spell with the New York Red Bulls, a recent resurgence has him back in form and this week he was unveiled as the top center back in MLS, according to the statistical analysis provided by the Audi Player Index.
With an average score of 472, Olave outranked Walker Zimmerman (466) of FC Dallas and D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum (412) for the top spot.
“I take my hat off to the professionalism that he’s had this year,” RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar said. “He’s healthy, he’s fit and he’s hungry to get another championship under his belt.”
This season has been an up and down one for Olave, but he has found a rhythm of late and it’s been a timely resurgence for RSL. He started the first three matches of the year, RSL going 1-0-2 in those appearances. However, a red card in the third match in that stretch against the Portland Timbers opened the door for the combination of Aaron Maund and Justen Glad to flourish. As a result, Olave started just four times in the next 18 matches.
When Cassar instituted a rotation at the center back position during a busy, three-game week, Olave re-established himself. After that series, Maund suffered a foot injury, further opening the door for Olave to shine.
Since returning to the starting lineup on July 31, RSL has gone 4-1-1, including wins over West rivals Colorado and Dallas.
“I think Jamison came back and really committed himself in the offseason and did a really good job to position himself to get meaningful minutes. With Aaron coming off being defender of the year and Justen Glad stepping up, Jamison had to wait a little bit,” Cassar said. “Through that time, he worked incredibly hard. Then when he got his opportunity, he’s really held onto it.”
Olave has 213 career MLS matches, 156 of which have come in an RSL uniform. After coming to MLS in 2008, he anchored the Salt Lake defense for five seasons, winning MLS Cup in 2009 and reaching the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League final. In two seasons with the Red Bulls, he helped New York win the club’s first major trophy in winning the 2013 Supporters’ Shield.
For more on the Audi Index, click here.
