United added depth behind defensive midfielder Ozzie Alonso on Friday when it announced the signing of veteran free-agent Lawrence Olum, a 34-year-old Kenyan international with ties both to Minnesota soccer and coach Adrian Heath.
Olum played with the Minnesota Thunder when it was in the USL. He then joined both USL teams Austin Aztex and Orlando City, where he played for Heath.
He has played for MLS' Sporting Kansas City and Portland since 2011, playing alongside current Loon defender Ike Opara as teammates in Kansas City. He played six postseason games with the Timbers in the 2017 and 2018 postseasons.
Olum, by the way, scored the first goal ever against the Loons in their MLS debut in Portland in March 2017. In the Associated Press/Oregonian photo above, that's him watching in the background as the ball goes into the goal,
United Sporting Director Manny Lagos said in a team statement announcing the signing that Olum "adds a lot of depth and veteran leadership in the middle of the field and called his reunion with Heath "a nice story."
Here are some of his highlights with Portland and Kansas City.
