Sporting Kansas City announced the return of Kenyan international midfielder Lawrence Olum in December 2015. He was previously a member of Sporting KC from 2011-2014, making 83 appearances in all competitions with three goals and three assists. The defensive midfielder played 112 minutes in the club’s 2013 MLS Cup victory over Real Salt Lake and set MLS career-highs in 2014 with 25 appearances and 21 starts. He joined Malaysian side Kedah FA in November 2014 and helped the team win the 2015 Malaysia Premier League. In his 2016 return to Sporting KC, he started 19 of 22 appearances in all competitions while adding two goals and one assist.
Olum has earned four caps for the Kenya Men’s National Team since debuting for the Harambee Stars in May 2014. He most recently played for Kenya in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia in September 2015.
A Kenya native, Olum played collegiately at Missouri Baptist University. He joined the Portland Timbers in 2007 and would also play for the Minnesota Thunder (2009), Austin Aztex (2010) and Orlando City SC (2011) before starting his first stint with Sporting KC in September 2011.
2016: Started 19 of 22 appearances in all competitions, recording two goals and one assist (1699 minutes played). MLS regular season: Started 17 of 19 appearances (1469 minutes played), recording two goals and one assist, while contributing to six shutouts. Made his season debut as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 win over Toronto FC on March 12, his first appearance for the club since October 2014. Earned his first start for the club since October 2014 in a 1-0 win at the New York Red Bulls on April 9. Scored a headed goal off a corner kick in a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on April 17, his first MLS goal since July 2014. Assisted Diego Rubio's goal in a 1-1 draw at Vancouver on April 27. Scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas on June 19. Open Cup: Started two matches (210 minutes played). Started and played 120 minutes in a 2-1 extra time win over Minnesota United FC on June 15. Started and played 90 minutes in a 3-1 fifth round defeat at the Houston Dynamo on June 29. CONCACAF Champions League: Played 20 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 3-1 win over Central FC on Oct. 19. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature.
2014: MLS regular season: Had two goals and one assist in a career-high 25 appearances and 21 starts. Assisted Aurelien Collin's goal in a 4-0 win over Montreal on April 19. Scored his first goal of the season, the game-winner, in a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on June 27. Scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy on July 19. MLS Playoffs: Did not feature. CCL: Started three of four total appearances (272 minutes) in the 2014-15 group stage, playing one half of central defense in a 3-0 win over Real Esteli on Sept. 23. Open Cup: Played 90 minutes and contributed the game-winning assist to Soony Saad in a 2-0 fourth round win over Minnesota United FC on June 18. Played 90 minutes in a 3-1 fifth round loss to Portland on June 24. Friendly: Played 45 minutes in a 4-1 Champions Shield defeat to Manchester City on July 23 at Sporting Park.
2013: MLS: Olum appeared in 20 games with nine starts. Tallied his first career goal and assist in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union on October 26. His goal against Philadelphia came in stoppage-time and proved to be the game-winner. Playoffs: Appeared in two games during the MLS Cup Playoffs. Started and played 90 minutes against New England in first leg of Conference Semifinal series. Came on for injured Oriol Rosell and played 112 minutes in MLS Cup Final vs. Real Salt Lake. CCL: Started two 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches. Open Cup: Appeared in both Open Cup matches (with one start against Des Moines Menace on May 28).
2012: Olum played in 21 games for Sporting Kansas City and garnered 10 starts during the 2012 MLS regular season. Sporting KC has just one loss in seven games (4-1-3) when Olum has played the full 90 minutes. Olum added three more starts in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition, including playing 120 minutes in the finals against the Seattle Sounders FC and limiting the three-year defending champions to just two shots on goal in the match. Olum also started and played 57 minutes in an international friendly against Montpellier Herault SC.
2011: Signed by Sporting Kansas City on September 15 after trial with club.
INTERNATIONAL (4 caps):
Olum joined the Kenya Men’s National Team in November 2012 and made his international competitive debut on May 18, 2014 in the first round of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. 2014: Olum started both matches in Kenya's 2-1 aggregate win over Comoros (May 18, May 30) as the Harambee Stars progressed to the second round of qualifying. Played 90 minutes in the scond leg of Kenya's second round qualifier against Lesotho on Aug. 3. The match ended 0-0 and Kenya was eliminated 1-0 on aggregate. 2015: Started in a 2-1 loss to Zambia in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sept. 6, 2015.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL:
2011: Joined Orlando City S.C. (USL PRO), making 21 appearances in club's inaugural season. Scored opening goal in championship match.
2010: Played for the Austin Aztex (USSF D2), leading them to a second place finish in the USL Conference.
2009: Joined the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1), making 28 appearances and scoring five goals.
2007-2008: Signed with the Portland Timbers (USL-1), making 44 appearances and scoring six goals in two seasons in Pacific Northwest.
College: After moving to the United States as a teenager, played four years at Missouri Baptist University (NAIA).
PERSONAL:
Admired Cameroonian player Roger Milla growing up. Enjoys reggae music, playing volleyball and DJ-ing. Favorite soccer memory is of winning the USL championship in 2011.
