REAL SALT LAKE EXTENDS CONTRACT OF FORWARD FABIAN ESPÍNDOLA
Argentine Forward Inks Deal to Stay with MLS Cup Champs through 2013 Season;
South American Trio of Espíndola, Morales and Olave all Undergo Successful Knee Operations
SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, December 2, 2009) – Real Salt Lake announced today that FW Fabian Espíndola will continue to wear Claret-and-Cobalt for the next four years, as the club and Argentine striker agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the reigning MLS Cup champions through the end of the 2013 Major League Soccer season. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal will not be announced. Today’s extension follows similar four-year pacts inked with MF Javier Morales, DF Jamison Olave, and DF Chris Wingert over the course of the last 14 months as the squad continues its attempts to lock down the talented core members of its roster.
“We are excited to reach a long-term agreement with Fabian and are looking forward to seeing him in a Real Salt Lake uniform for the foreseeable future,” said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey. “Fabian’s talent and determination have been clearly evident over the last three seasons, and we are thrilled that he’ll be a cornerstone of our attack as he enters the prime years of his career.”
Espíndola has spent portions of the last three MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake, making 46 regular season appearances, including 33 starts, since joining the Utah side in August of 2007 alongside fellow Argentine Javier Morales. The 24-year old attacker has posted 10 goals and five assists in MLS play, including a career high five goals during his lone full season with RSL in 2008. Outside the MLS ranks, Espíndola has played with a myriad of clubs in South America, including Boca Juniors (2005) and Talleres de Córdoba (2006) in his native Argentina, Sociedad Deportivo Aucas (2006) and Sociedad Deportivo Quito (2007) of Ecuador, and Venezuelan club Deportivo Anzoátegui (2009).
Espíndola joined Deportivo Anzoátegui following Real Salt Lake’s 2008 campaign, only to return to the Utah side on his 24th birthday this past May 4. After reacquainting himself with his former squad, Espíndola’s lighting speed, boundless energy, and striking ability would not be denied, as he appeared in 22 games (17 starts) during the 2009 regular season, recording three goals and three assists along the way. Espíndola was also an integral part of RSL’s championship run, starting both wins against the defending champion Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Semifinals while also playing key minutes against the Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy in the Eastern Conference Championship and MLS Cup 2009, respectively.
South American Trio of Espíndola, Morales and Olave all Undergo Successful Knee Operations
Real Salt Lake also announced today that FW Fabian Espíndola, MF Javier Morales, and DF Jamison Olave all underwent successful knee operations performed by team doctor Andrew Cooper, M.D., Tuesday at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center. Morales underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and strained LCL in his left knee suffered after David Beckham’s challenge in the beginning stages of the Utah side’s MLS Cup 2009 victory over Los Angeles on Nov. 22, while Olave (loose cartilage and bone spurs in right knee), and Espíndola (torn meniscus in right knee) had procedures to shore up nagging injuries suffered during the course of the 2009 campaign. All three players are expected to be back at full strength in time for the beginning of RSL’s preseason in early February.
