Orange Legionnaire

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.

In the past six months, the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL-Pro league and Toronto F.C. of MLS have become well-acquianted with one another. In fact, it could be said that Toronto F.C. may be enamored with the Dutch style.. And even that this fascination started with meeting the Dutch Lion owners, Dutch Lion Head Coach Sonny Silooy, and watching the Dutch Lions in July and culminated in signing a Head Coach/Technical Director in Aron Winter today who is not much different at all from Dutch Lions former Head Coach Sonny Silooy.

Toronto wanted a coach with experience in Ajax's style, "and they've come to the right man," Winter said today to USA Today after signing on with Toronto F.C..

Winter and Silooy's histories are nearly identical. Both players have over 230 caps for Ajax, both are in their mid-40's, both played for the Netherlands NT team, and both started their coaching careers as a Youth and Assistant coach at Ajax. Therefore, with two former Dutch Lion players likely headed to Toronto F.C. and TFC taking nearly the same Head Coach/Technical Director approach as the Dutch Lions did last year.. It may not be long until TFC are calling themselves Dutch Lions Toronto and painting their jersies "Orange." *sarcasm* (perhaps)

In fact, with the inclusion of Winter in Toronto, I have heard murmors that Silooy might end up declining offers from D.C. United and Philadelphia Union's academies, to join the coaching staff of Winter in Toronto now. As Winter and Silooy not only have much in common, but the two are also best friends.

The connections between Toronto F.C. and Dayton Dutch Lions F.C. over the last six months have been downright numerous... A thousand stories have connected Dutch Lions winger Bas Ent to the Canadian club over the past few months, and now Dutch Lions right back Evan Schwartz looks likely to be headed to the club as well.. So, with the inclusion of Dutch coaches Aron Winter and Bob de Klerk in the top offices of TFC, a very Dutch partnership between the two clubs seems even more likely.

Here's a little TFC-Dutch Lions timeline:

-at the beginning of July 2010, Toronto FC's Nick Dasovic scouted the Dutch Lions in a PDL game against the Toronto Lynx and made friendly contacts with the Dayton Dutch Lions front office.

-at the end of July 2010, TFC put Dutch Lions winger Bas Ent on trial, culmunating in 45 minutes in the TFC's "red" colors, for Ent, in a friendly against the Bolton Wanderers of the EPL. (Ent pictured below in that game)



-In the middle of November 2010, Bas Ent's Dutch third division club, Katwijk, spilled the proverbial beans that Toronto F.C. was in fact going to sign the Dutch left winger, by posting so on their club website. Katwijk posted this, despite the deal being only half completed, as both Ent and TFC were in an extended wait and see stage; since TFC did not have at the time a permanent head coach, GM, or technical director.

At that time, with Preki and Mo Johnston canned, Dasovic and Jim Brennan acted as only interim figureheads for TFC; However, both Brennan and Dasovic- who are still strong actors in Toronto's front office- had likely the most to do with Ent, and possibly had a lot of input in today's Dutch moves by TFC.

-Soon after that, at the end of November 2010, with MLS's rule changes for 2011 announced, Toronto F.C. knew they would have six, new roster spots to fill with players that were under-24. These under-24 players wouldn't count against the salary cap of TFC or any MLS club (both Ent and a lot of other Dutch Lion players were under-24).

-In mid-December, sources started mentioning, that because of this rule change, TFC were looking to sign Evan Schwartz of the Dutch Lions as well to pair with Bas Ent. As Dasovic dialed up his memory bank from that early July, Dutch Lions vs. Toronto Lynx match, and remembered that he fancied Schwartz as well.

Both Ent and Schwartz, were mentioned once again today on MLS-Rumors , as MLS-Rumors stated that both would be signed by TFC on Jan. 17. I can't confirm this and haven't heard it myself.

But, I did hear that both were headed to the club from Jan. 17 to Jan. 22 to train, but nothing was mentioned about signing either then nor could I report it at the time; but with it already out there- I can confirm that both are headed to TFC around that time but no clue whether it's just for glorified training or to be signed)... Nevertheless, both if signed, would likely have good chances at starting spots, despite being signed as under-24 reserves, as under-24 reserves are still considered part of the senior roster and TFC is weak in their positions.

-And finally, today, Toronto F.C. signs Dutch former Ajax player & current Ajax assistant Aron Winter as their Head Coach/Technical Director. A Head Coach that has so much in common with former Dayton Dutch Lions coach Sonny Silooy, it's scary.

-What's upcoming in January 2011 in this saga, likely two Dayton Dutch Lion players confirmed signed to MLS club Toronto F.C., quite possibly former Dayton Dutch Lions Head Coach Sonny Silooy joining Toronto F.C., and maybe the two clubs finally making their ever expanding, friendly acquiantance a partnership.

Partnership upcoming with Dutch Lions Toronto (*err umm* Toronto F.C.)?

Back in November 2010, when Dayton Dutch Lions President & Owner Mike Mossel first heard that Toronto F.C. wanted to hire his club's left winger Bas Ent, President Mossel stated that the Dutch Lions would "have to get something in return. Either an allocation from TFC or a partnership with TFC, but that the club wouldn't stand in Ent's way."

Basically, Mossel was stating that the Dutch Lions wouldn't ask for something too substantial from Toronto to nix a deal (that benefits the Dutch Lions viability here in the U.S. soccer world as well). As Owner/President Mossel was happy that Ent was gaining MLS interest, as an acquistion by MLS of Ent, other Dutch Lion talents, and Dutch Lion coaches is the best marketing tool for the Dayton Dutch Lions club. As the Dutch Lions connections with arguably the second best supported soccer club in North America (with over 22,000 fans at every TFC game) can cement DDL F.C. as a player in North America and not just another second division club.



The Ghost of Ruud Gullit

The question with Toronto FC's big name appointment of Aron Winter is whether a big name can succeed in MLS. And whether a big European name can take MLS serious or understand MLS (with it's non-European set of rules and small salary cap). The fact that Winter is a big Dutch name will make MLS fans think straight away of a second coming of Ruud Gullit. In fact, on bigsoccer forums, I saw Gullit mentioned at least 30 times in 20 or so minutes of browsing this story.

Gullit, who coached at the L.A. Galaxy in 2007-2008 (before American coach Bruce Arena turned them around in the past two seasons), was highly criticized in the book The Beckham Experiment by L.A. Galaxy players for never working on set pieces and for sometimes not even showing up to practice.

The good thing for Winter and Toronto F.C. is that Winter has never been considered the lazy type. Nor is Winter as flashy, ego-centric, or has had a bigger managerial job than Toronto F.C.. As before Gullit went to L.A. he was Head Coach at Chelsea and Newcastle United. So, I could see Gullit thinking "what do I have to achieve at L.A., I'm Ruud Gullit."

So, as long as Winter tries to make a difference and tries to instill that Ajax style by actually coaching at practice.. This should work out well, or at least better, for Toronto F.C.



Further, it depends on the personality of the head coach. Swedish (Euro) coach Hans Backe succeeded this past season at MLS club New York Red Bull... And Backe's success was probably because Backe had an open-mind (to learn the rules), a good assistant familiar with the rules and players (TFC might have Paul Mariner be Aron Winter's assistant for this reason), and didn't have an attitude of "what do you mean I can't spend 15 million pounds on a transfer!"

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.

Dayton Dutch Lions headman Sonny Silooy (in Dutch Lions practice on left, picture by Ron Alvey) was a legendary player at Ajax and also received 25 caps with Holland- always a tough international squad to break into.

The Head Coach of the Dutch Lions, Sonny Silooy, finally arrived in Dayton this past Wednesday and despite exhaustion from delays and the long flight, went straight to work. Silooy is quite the legendary player in Holland and this experience should help the Dayton Dutch Lion players- no matter whether they hail from Dayton or Rotterdam.

Overall, Silooy spent 13 years at Ajax during his playing career, gaining an astonishing 267 caps at the Amsterdam club (Ajax ws one of the top clubs in the World at the time, especially in the mid 90's). Overall, Silooy had 400 caps in the top flights of the Netherlands, Germany, and France while garnering 25 Dutch caps. Silooy looks to also build on his coaching experience with the Dayton Dutch Lions. Silooy started coaching soccer in 2006 with a two year stint as Ajax's youth coach.

For a full article by the Dayton Daily News on Silooy's arrival, click here.

Sonny Silooy told Dutch soccer website Voetbal Primeur recently that he excepts the Dutch Lions to win their region and play for the PDL championship in 2010. He also gave a breakdown of his responsibilities at DDL F.C.:

"In the summer I am responsible for the first team, starting in the PDL, the third level in America. If the competition is over (the competition lasts three months), I am mainly concerned with the training branch. The American youth."

"We want to mainly generate name recognition in the first year and do that mainly with the first team. With players like Hans van de Haar, Oscar Moens and Geert den Ouden we should play for the championship and we'll fit into the national cup competition."

One of the DDL F.C. ownership's many goals is to qualify for the 2011 U.S. Open Cup. If DDL F.C. does qualify they'll get the opportunity to test themselves against MLS clubs such as the Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo.