Orange Legionnaire

Evan Schwartz, 23, will return to his right back position for the second season in a row.

Schwartz brings with him two successful offseason workouts with the Colorado Rapids and the Chicago Fire of MLS. Evan impressed greatly at both with his speed and ability to get forward from his right back position. In fact, Schwartz was almost signed by the Colorado Rapids, but Colorado elected, late in their offseason, to sign their draft pick Eddie Ababio as the Rapids right back depth. Schwartz also was in talks with Toronto F.C. in December and January.

Schwartz has learned quite a lot working with MLS professionals for most of his offseason and is excited to bring that experience back to the Dutch Lions. The young, attacking right back expects to work hard and help the Dutch Lions achieve greater success in their inaugural season in USL-Pro, in hopes of attracting more opportunities next MLS offseason.

In addition to returning, Schwartz recommended the Dutch Lions to his friend and former teammate, the Bahamian international Happy Hall. Hall, who most recently played in the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League with Mau Pau SC, was recently signed by the Dutch Lions. Hall was the Captain of the Bahamian National Team during 2008 World Cup qualification.

Schwartz also is bringing a second IGM Academy alum, Luke McGill, with him on the ride to preseason training in Dayton, OH. All three are arriving in Dayton together from their southern locales this Friday.

Dutch Lions Back Line Looks Much Improved

Just look at the experience of the Dutch Lions expected starting four for this 2011 USL-Pro season~


Mettin Copier LB grew up in the AZ Alkmaar program and has two caps for the Austrian U-21 national team, including a 2-1 away win against Italy where Copier played a crucial part in proceedings.


Joe Tait CB/LB Played before for Hartlepool United in England, won PDL Defender of The Year in 2010 with Baton Rouge. Strong, 6'4 tall defender.


Happy Hall CB grew up in the IMG Academy system, has played in England as well as with Trindad top side Mau Pau SC (same league that includes Joe Public that knocked New England out of the Champions League before). 10 caps with Bahamian national team and also captained the national team in their World Cup 2008 qualifying efforts.


Evan Schwartz RB Spent entire offseason either working out with a MLS team (such as the Colorado Rapids or the Chicago Fire) or flirting with a MLS contract (as with Toronto F.C. and the Colorado Rapids once again). Also a former IMG Academy prospect, who has also spent time playing professionally in Iceland.

Overall, it appears that the Dutch Lions are looking to leave their attack to their Dutch internationals, along with a few Americans; While putting their defense in the hands of an American, an Englishman, a Bahamian, and an Austrian. Probably not a bad idea since the Dutch are known more for their attacking players (and attacking prowress) and not usually for their defensive talents.

Marvin Van der Pluijm, a 22-year-old attacking right winger with NAC Breda of the Dutch Eredivise (Premier League), was announced this weekend to be signed by the Dayton Dutch Lions on various Dutch sporting websites.

Van der Pluijm started his professional career with FC Den Bosch (Dutch First Division- The Second Tier of Dutch Football Below The Eredivise). At FC Den Bosch, Van der Pluijm made 12 appearances (most during his 2009 season) where he impressed scouts from NAC Breda.

In the Summer of 2010, Van der Pluijm made the move to Premier League outfit NAC Breda; At Breda, as at most Dutch Premier League clubs, Van der Pluijm had to bide his time and work his way up on the training ground to get on Breda's first team.

On January 22nd 2011, Van der Pluijm received his Eredivise debut as a substitute in the second half against rivals NEC Nijemen. With his team down 2-1, with whistles raining down from the home NEC fans with just seconds remaining, Van der Pluijm's strike in the 93rd minute (plus 45 seconds) took an advantageous deflection into the back of the rivals net for NAC Breda to steal a 2-2 tie.

Van der Pluijm described his goal to the Dutch press, a goal that gained his Eredivise club a vital point less than two months ago:

"We came back from 1-0 down as the game was under pressure. Then I warmed up and we tied the match at 1-1, I thought: 'Now what can possibly happen?" Then NEC went up 2-1 and I thought: "Now I come in there and I must do something. That happened."

That goal, Van der Pluijm's best moment as a young professional, can be seen below (goal sequence starts at 8:05):


Despite scoring on his debut, Van der Pluijm surprisingly never received a second appearance with NAC Breda in the next two months. Nac Breda's loss, Dutch Lions gain; As now the youngster looks to bring his pace to Dayton when the Dayton Dutch Lions face off against USL Pro opponents this season. That season starts quickly for Van der Pluim; as the Dutch youngster is scheduled to be in town on March 26th to prepare for the DDL F.C. season. A season that begins just a few weeks later on April 16th, when the Charleston Battery come to town for the home opener at Miami Valley South Stadium.

From this video of Van der Pluijm's time with FC Den Bosch, it looks like Marvin will be the Dutch Lions replacement for Bas Ent this season:


The Dutch Lions have recently made an official announcement on some other signings as well. A few of those players were speculated months ago to have been signed such as Mettin Copier (Austrian U-23 Player) and Joe Tait (Former Hartlepool United player), as well as some new names such as Bahamian international Happy Hall and American Kolby LaCrone. Tomorrow, I'll have up a look at the Dutch Lions 2011 lineup so far, with players officially announced and others known to be joining, try to get a look at what the formation looks like so far.

After parting ways with the Dayton Dutch Lions in August 2010, Sonny Silooy has landed back in America with a new job as a trainer in the United States. The 47-year-old former Ajax player will now be in charge of the youth academy for DC United.

Silooy today officially signed a contract for two seasons with D.C. United, historically one of the most successful clubs in MLS. Silooy will not work as a head coach (which is the job of former D.C. player Ben Olsen), but as a youth academy coach. Silooy's contract begins next month.

Silooy explains the job details to Dutch soccer website Voetbal International:

"The intention is to have more structure in the D.C. Academy. They
want in the future to have more and more youth players passed up to the
first team. While I have signed for two years, in December
(2011) we will evaluate and look whether we can continue on the
same path. "

Silooy worked last year as manager and youth academy director at the Dayton Dutch Lions. Silooy left the Dutch Lions when the front office and Silooy couldn't agree on a similiar path for the future of the youth academy. However, both sides remain good friends and the Dutch Lions were looking to possibly bring Silooy back on staff, before this opportunity presented itself for the Ajax legend.

The move is another positive story for those related with the Dutch Lions, as the Dutch Lions may want to change their slogan from "Gateway to Professional Soccer" to "Gateway to MLS" as players Ent and Schwartz have been flirting with MLS contracts, and now the former Dutch Lions manager has landed one.

The Dutch Lions have signed 27 year old winger Lucien Seymour from 4th division Dutch club RVVH, according to FOKSPORT.nl. The signing of Seymour was likely a recommendation of Cor van Hoeven, the new Dutch Lions technical director, who coached recently at RVVH.



The Dutch Lions have also signed Dick van Eijmeren. Van Eijmeren is a 21 year old Dutch defender who is reported to be signed with the Dutch Lions according to FOKSPORT.nl. Van Eijmeren was in the NAC Breda system as a reserve player from 2008 to 2010, but was unable to break through the NAC Breda (Dutch Erstedivise) squad's first team.

Most recently, van Eijmeren has been plying his trade with VV Capelle who he has helped promote to the Dutch third division.



Van Eijmeren will be following VV Capelle teammate Jesper Leerdam to the Dayton Dutch Lions in 2011. The 23 year old Leerdam was a goalkeeper for Capelle who helped that club to the Topklasse and has made seven starts this season.

Schwartz is just to the left of Corey Gibbs in the above picture, and in between the two players on the right picture.

Former Dutch Lions right back Evan Schwartz has joined the Chicago Fire in Ave Maria, Florida near Naples for the Fire's preseason training camp. Schwartz had a few options with the Colorado Rapids and Toronto F.C. as well, but eventually elected to go with the Chicago Fire after he was invited to their preseason training camp.

Appears to be a wise choice since the Fire are looking for young, talented players to fill the void of big names, and not just more big names to fill the holes left by the McBride's, Blanco's, Ljunjberg's, and Castillo's. Instead the Fire appear to be looking for less risk adverse talent (basically the opposite of Nery Castillo) as stated below by Fire Manager de los Cobos:

“I am very excited because we are trying to build a different team, if you compare to what we had last season. We have young players, players with different skills, the players are working hard and are trying to understand my concepts.”

A further quote in that Naples News article gleans the Fire are prescribing to a different formula for success than their big DP purchases in past years:

Gibbs is perhaps the best-known addition to the (Fire) that lost veterans Brian McBride and Freddie Ljungberg after last season. Rather than searching for big-name replacements, the club is hoping that players already on the roster can help fill the void those players left behind.

Schwartz, wasn't already on the Chicago Fire roster as of last season; But, Evan is well-known by the Chicago Fire as he played for the Chicago Fire Super 20's before heading over to play in Iceland.

Further, after returning from Iceland, Schwartz played against the Chicago Fire's PDL club twice, as he suited up for the Fire's PDL Great Lakes divisional rival, the Dayton Dutch Lions. This allowed the Fire to keep tabs on their former prospect who impressed in that tough PDL conference.

Now Schwartz's career, which began with the Fire's U-20's, looks to come full circle; as Schwartz has the chance to impress and win a spot on the Fire's senior MLS squad over the next few weeks.

Schwartz will look to impress in Florida during the Fire's two weeks of two-a-days, as well as in a match against Florida's Gulf Coast University this Thursday, and culminating with a doubleheader against the New York Red Bulls on February 23rd.

After Corey Gibbs speaks in the below video, you can also see Evan passing in the background:

According to VoetbalPlus.nl Dutch Lions midfielder Julius Wille wants to return to Dayton for the 2011 USL-Pro season.

Julius Wille is open to a temporary move back to the United States. The midfielder has with AGOVV, an option in his contract where he can transfer back to the Dayton Dutch Lions for their 2011 season. Last year, the midfielder also played for several months for the Dayton club.

Julius Wille was one of the more technical players for the Dutch Lions in 2010 and has been on great form for AGOVV in the Dutch Second Division this season.

Wille has scored in his last two games, he scored the opening goal for AGOVV two days ago (20 seconds in) in a 2-2 tie with FC Den Bosch:


Then in the previous week Wille had a cracker of a goal, (1:13 in), to gain AGOVV a 2-2 tie with Telstar:


With Wille's current form, AGOVV probably won't be keen to let him join the Dutch Lions until after their season. But, if Wille can keep up his current form there should be an interest on the Dutch Lions end to get him back in the Orange uniform, ASAP.

The Bas Ent to Toronto FC eight month odyssey that began in July of 2010 with his first trial (that included 45 impressive minutes with TFC against EPL side Bolton) is now over.

After almost being signed by a Toronto F.C. ran interimly by Nick Dasovic and Earl Cochrane, the new TFC guard of Aron Winter and Paul Mariner decided today that Ent wasn't in their plans on the wing.

As Ent was released today from the Antayla, Turkey camp and will likely return home to the Netherlands.

Ent still has plenty of options as a Greek club, Cypriot club, and a few Asian clubs have contacted the winger about a contract. Further, Ent may go back to his 3rd division Dutch club Katwijk, where he was on a good run of form before leaving Katwijk to try to make Toronto's squad.

But, the option that most Dutch Lion fans would like most is a return of Bas Ent to Dayton. The winger would easily be considered a starter on opening day in April for the Dutch Lions.

Further, with the Dutch Lions now in the American 2nd division, compared to the 4th, Ent will have a chance to make a bigger impression on MLS and international clubs in the future.

In fact, I would not be surprised if the Dutch Lions front office has already contacted the winger.