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.

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:

Tait, 2010 PDL Defender of The Year and former Hartlepool United Reservist, joins the Dayton Dutch Lions. Hartlepool, not known for their senior side, are known for their impressive academy from the 1970's up until the present day. Tait also played on HUFC's academy squads.

*On December 22nd 2010, The Orange Legionnaire reported on this website that the Dayton Dutch Lions were interested in signing Joe Tait. Yesterday I received confirmation that this deal is in fact done.

Tait, the 2010 PDL Defender of The Year, came to the Dutch Lions attention as part of a new partnership formed by the Dutch Lions with Tait's PDL club, Baton Rouge.

Tait is quite a steal for the Dutch Lions. The Englishman played for Hartlepool United's reserve team from 2007-2009 (pictured above), playing nearly every game and leading HUFC to a Reserve title during the 2007-2008 season.

Tait, not satisfied with being a reservist, made the move stateside in 2009 where he started in central defense for NAIA powerhouse Lindsey Wilson in both the 2009 & 2010 seasons. Lindsey Wilson is the college of Columbus Crew starting left-back Shawn Francis and at least 10 other MLS'ers

Always looking to improve, Tait also started this past season for the Baton Rouge Capitals of the PDL, where Tait led the Capitals to the PDL playoffs placing third. His performances in 2010, including his dangerous heading ability that led to a hat trick in one game with Baton Rouge, landed Tait the honor of PDL Defender of the Year in 2010.

The 6'4, 175 pound center back, a periennal starter and winner wherever he goes, now sets his sights on strengthening the Dutch Lions defense in 2011. The 20-year-old Tait will definitely fill a need; as the Dutch Lions central defense was questionable at times in 2010, due to injury and not enough focus possibly on that position.



*Dutch Lions right back Evan Schwartz (also a former starter of the Chicago Fire's Super-20's and Icelandic cup winners Breidablik) looks destined to land somewhere in MLS. The former IMG Academy prospect (growing up with the likes of Freddy Adu) is headed to Turkey with Toronto F.C. at the start of February.

In Turkey, Schwartz will receive an opportunity to win a spot as Toronto's right back as the club faces off against Balkan powerhouses, FK Partizan Belgrade on Feb. 2nd and Dinamo Zagreb on Feb. 10th. Schwartz seems poised to impress, but if Toronto FC does not make an offer, it appears that the Colorado Rapids or the Chicago Fire will swoop in for the right back.

Schwartz, just ended a successful three-day training session with the Colorado Rapids, who have reportedly invited the right back to join their pre-season camp in Phoenix in February, if Schwartz and TFC cannot agree to terms.

Likewise, the Chicago Fire (who Schwartz played for in the Super-20's) have kept tabs on the right back and are also likely interested in bringing Schwartz to their camp in Florida.



Bas Ent (on the top of a Dutch Lions goal celebration above in 2010) has had his contract talks with Toronto F.C. cool down a bit. The two sides have yet to come to an agreement, although with a week before the trip to sunny Antayla, both sides have yet to rule out Bas taking the trip or an agreement being reached before then.

However, with the two sides coming close to an agreement multiple times over a four month period (the signing of Ent by TFC was reported by his Dutch club in October), Ent may already be looking at other options.

Reportedly Ent is not only gaining interest from Toronto F.C.; But, also has a Greek First Division club, a Cyprus First Division club, and a couple of Asian clubs looking at the pacy winger.

According to sources close to the Dutch Lions, former Dutch Lion right back Evan Schwartz has been invited by TFC boss Aron Winter to a preseason camp in Antalya, Turkey.

In that preseason camp, Schwartz and his new TFC teammates, will play three preseason friendlies against top European competition. Toronto F.C. will start out the camp against Partizan Belgrade on Feb. 2nd, their second match will be against a team to be named on Feb. 6th, and TFC will finish up competition against Dinamo Zagreb on Feb. 10th.

It is still up in the air whether Dutch Lion winger Bas Ent will be joining Schwartz in Antayla; as negotiations are ongoing between Ent's representatives and Toronto F.C.

For Schwartz, and possibly Ent, Toronto F.C. could be just one of many eyes on them in the beautiful Antayla; as more than 20 clubs from the first divisions of the German, Dutch, Austrian and Russian leagues trained in Antalya in 2010, with more expected in February 2011.

Who would blame them (take a look below).


English, Italian, and Spanish leagues play through the Winter. While most Contintental, European leagues spend their January and Febuary's in places such as Antayla (above) and wait until the middle of February or beginning of March to resume league play. Antayla has been a hot Winter destination for Contintental European clubs, as well as European tourists. Now it appears to be a Toronto F.C. destination as well, at a costly $22,000 to $25,000 per player. Another sign (after Winter, Mariner, deKlerk) that in 2011 TFC are spending the real money.

With this being a European club destination during winter breaks.. This camp is not only a great opportunity for Schwartz to gain a place with Toronto F.C., but great exposure for the right back to catch some eyes in Europe.

Further, these games will be an excellent education for all involved from TFC, as both Partizan Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb are storied European, Balkan clubs. In fact, Partizan Belgrade (known nowadays as FK Partizan) were in this year's Champions League where they finished bottom behind Shaktar Donestk, Arsenal, and Braga of Portugal in Group H play.

Stay tuned for more news on Evan Schwartz and Bas Ent's negotiations with Toronto F.C.; I have heard that Schwartz is definitely going (currently training with the Colorado Rapids for three days) and Ent is still negotiating with TFC and may go as well.


Antayla's Ataturk Stadium

What was reported here on The Orange Legionnaire on January 3rd (as far as Ent headed to Toronto F.C. to train and officially sign, Schwartz to train with TFC, and the Dutch Lions to pursue a partnership with TFC) was all but confirmed in a Dayton Daily News article that interviewed Mossel and Ent on January 7th. The following are notables from the article written by Dayton Daily News soccer beat writer David DiCenzo.

On the Bas Ent Toronto signing:

Bas Ent’s bags are literally packed. The 23-year-old Dutch winger is in the Netherlands at the moment waiting to hear from Toronto FC. Ent was offered a three-year deal by the MLS club, though he has yet to officially sign a contract.

“It’s not all settled,” says Ent, who played over the winter with Dutch side, Katwijk. “I’m just waiting for that moment to sign with TFC.”

On compensation for Ent, looking most likely to come in the form of a partnership:

If Ent does sign, the Lions, who have moved up to the USL Pro division for the upcoming 2011 season, will receive compensation. DDL FC co-owner Mike Mossel says that might not necessarily be a financial agreement but perhaps come in the form of a partnership between the clubs. He reiterated that he in no way wants to stand in the way of Ent’s opportunity so assuming TFC still want the speedy winger, an agreement will be reached.

“We would like to sit down with Aron and see what his plans are and if we can fit in there,” says Mossel.

Confirmation on Schwartz joining Ent, for preseason with Toronto F.C.:

If Ent does end up in Toronto, he might see a familiar face. DDL teammate Evan Schwartz could get a shot at making TFC in the upcoming preseason. According to Mossel, the 23-year-old right back from Colorado Springs is expected to participate in the first few days of the MLS pre-season.

Mossel on why Evan Schwartz would be a good addition along with Ent at Toronto F.C.:

“Evan has the speed to recover and he also used it up front overlapping,” says Mossel. “That’s a big asset for a guy in the back. He did that well with Bas on the right side.

“He also has a great mentality. He wants to win. He pushes it 100 per cent and he never complains about injuries or pain. Evan is very ambitious. He wants to play at the highest level.”

Now if you would of just checked out this website, The Orange Legionnaire, you would of known all of this news a week in advance. :-)

A week ago, it was reported on MLS-Rumors and confirmed by myself on here that Toronto F.C. was looking to grow their Dutch Lion contingent by two through adding DDL's Evan Schwartz along with Bas Ent.

Well word travels fast and once one MLS team declares a player strong enough to fit under the new six player (under 24 & do not count against the salary cap format) then other teams want to take a look as well.

And here comes the Colorado Rapids.. I have heard murmurs around Dutch Lion sources that Colorado is also interested in Schwartz.. I didn't put full stock in the murmurs until just the other day when a Rapids fan website contacted me to ask about Schwartz since they have heard similiar rumors.

Well looks like Schwartz is about to have a busy offseason fielding interest from multiple MLS clubs. Stay tuned here for more stories in the offseason on Schwartz, Ent, and other Dutch Lion player transfers.

Earlier in the week MLS-Rumors reported that Evan Schwartz was being looked at by Toronto F.C. (to possibly be signed with Bas Ent) and that D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union were after Sonny Silooy for an Academy and Assistant position.

Although it was possible that either story could be true; it was best not to count those stories as fact, at the time, since only one out of every five or so rumors on MLS-Rumors end up being true. Further, neither story was reported elsewhere.

However, over the past few days I have heard that in fact both rumors are true.

First, the Schwartz to TFC rumor in detail. Toronto F.C. did scout Bas Ent, Evan Schwartz, and their teammates in a Dutch Lions-Toronto Lynx game back in July. At the time, Toronto F.C. could not even afford to pick up one Dutch Lions player, let alone two; as with MLS's salary cap restrictions and the ammount of money TFC had freed up, nearly none at that time last Summer, TFC scouted the Dutch Lions and gave Bas a trial only for possible future consideration or possible future rule changes in MLS.

Why the planning in advance from Toronto? Because Toronto F.C. likely heard that the MLS Reserve League was to return in 2011. With the return of the MLS Reserve League:

MLS rosters will expand from 26 to 30 players to accommodate the reserve division, with six spots designated for players 24 years old and younger. Also, development academy players will be eligible to play on reserve league teams, as will players on tryouts with MLS franchises.

Therefore, each MLS team has to fill their roster with six players 24 years or younger in 2011. Also, these six players will not count against the team's salary cap. Ent is 23, Schwartz is 22.

And the puzzle pieces start to line up... Each MLS team is going to try to stack those under 24 roster spots with the best talent they can find stateside or elsewhere who are under 24. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Niemens shopping spree on talented Dutch Lion players from 2010, as well as talented under-24 players from other USL-PRO and NASL teams.

With TFC showing interest in Schwartz, other MLS teams have started to take a look at him as well. And although both are likely to be eventually signed because of the Reserve League changes, there is a good chance that either Schwartz or Ent (if eventually signed) can find themselves receiving a lot of starting time, as TFC is weak down the whole right side of their roster.

Second, the Sonny Silooy to D.C. or Philly rumor in detail. Both are true, both are in talks with Silooy. Silooy is also considering coming back to the Dutch Lions and also may have a head coaching offer with the Tampa Bay Rowdies or a couple other Second Division teams.

That's according to MLS-Rumors, as they first stated on Friday that Toronto F.C. was not only interested in Ent but the Dutch Lions whole right side from the 2010 season; both Ent and overlapping Dutch Lions right back Evan Schwartz.

According to Rumors:

Our source adds that both players were scouted this past july at a game in Toronto, by Nick Dasovic, interim head coach of Toronto FC.

This is quite possible as Nick Dasovic, in a lesser assistant or technical director position before becoming interim head coach at TFC, did scout Bas Ent in a July game in Toronto against PDL foe the Toronto Lynx. Schwartz did play in that game as well.

Dasovic may have found Schwartz interesting as well, and Toronto F.C. may have decided to bring the American right back to TFC to try to ease the transition for Ent; As Ent and Schwartz did work well together in 2010.

Also right back has been a position in flux for Toronto F.C.

I guess we will see as there's meat to about 1 in 4 stories on MLS-Rumors on a good day. I'll keep checking online in different places, once you see something coming from two or three different places it usually has some meat to it.

MLS-Rumors also stated today that former Dutch Lions Head Coach Sonny Silooy might have job offers from both the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United:

According to my colleague’s sources, long-time Ajax defender and head coach of Dayton Dutch Lions FC, Sonny Silooy, was being courted by the Philadelphia Union for the position of reserve team coach and technical director of the youth academy, but it now looks like DC United is interested in using him in this same role.

MLS-Rumors stated "according to my colleague's sources" for both stories which is about as vague as it gets, nearly saying "some guy I know, know's a guy who said..." When it came to the Ent rumor it was reported various places online, starting with the Dutch league that Ent plays for, which makes it very credible. But, who knows there may be some truth to both of these.

I'll keep scanning online to see if anything more concrete comes up in the next week or so. It would be good news for DDL F.C. as having three guys associated with the club making the jump up to MLS, would land the club a great deal of credibility to go along with Ent's reported signing with TFC.

Video footage of the second practice along with interviews from right back Evan Schwartz and assistant coach Jack Hermans:

The following is the interview with DDL F.C. Right Back Evan Schwartz. In this discussion The Orange Legionnaire talks to Evan about what he hopes to achieve with the Dutch Lions, his past experience with clubs in Iceland and elsewhere in Europe, his youth experience with the IMG Academy and elsewhere, and some get to know you questions as well.

To listen to the podcast click on the player below:



Or visit the Orange Legionnaire Podcast Page by clicking here.