Dutch Lions former striker den Ouden, scored his final goals with the Dayton club this Summer, announces retirement in testimonial match that took place on Tuesday, November 30th.

12/1/2010: Former Dutch Lions Striker Den Ouden Says Goodbye To Football In Testimonial Match, Dutch Lions Moens and Tammer On Hand

This Tuesday, on a frigid cold afternoon at Woudestein Stadium in Rotterdam, former Dayton Dutch Lion striker Geert den Ouden said goodbye to professional football. The 34-year-old den Ouden had a very nice strike rate for the Dutch Lions in the PDL with 8 goals in 10 matches during the 2010 season, and the club missed him up top during their playoff run last season.

Den Ouden had to part ways with the Dayton club early, before the end of the 2010 season, due to family issues back in Holland. But, den Ouden did make a splash in Dayton, his departure came during a hot streak for the Dutch veteran- as den Ouden scored 3 of his 8 Dutch Lion goals in his last two games.

The veteran striker was visibly moved in his last Dutch Lions game; as den Ouden was close to tears when Sonny Silooy substituted him for a final round of applause, from the Dayton fans, back in June 2010 (video below). The striker hinted towards retirement during his Dutch Lions season but officially called an end to his career today, playing in two games in which family, friends, and former colleagues came onto the pitch.

In the last of two testimonial games, den Ouden scored the final goal in a 4-2 victory. Many big names of the football world took part in the game. Feyenoord coach Mario Been was in charge of former professionals Oscar Moens, Kees Luijckx, René van Dieren, Tommie van der Leegte and Henk van Stee. Also, Dutch Lions owner Erik Tammer, Bart Latuheru, Sander Keller, Damiën Hertog and Daniël Rijaard took part in the game.

Over his career, den Ouden scored 116 goals in 326 professional outings for clubs such as the Dayton Dutch Lions, Excelsior, Djurgårdens IF, ADO Den Haag, Willem II, De Graafschap and FC Valletta. The match at Excelsior's Woudestein stadium, took place where it all began for den Ouden in 1998 with Eredivise (Premier club)Excelsior, where den Ouden had his most caps (128) and most goals (45).

den Ouden's last professional goal in his last game with the Dutch Lions (go to 1:18 to start the den Ouden's goal sequence), den Ouden scored in the 55th minute helping the Dutch Lions to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire:


den Ouden also had the game winning assist in the 89th minute setting up Dutch Lions winger George Davis IV, before being substituted in the 90th minute to a round of applause (all of that can be seen above later on in the footage as well).
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