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

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).

6/27/2010: Den Ouden Leaves On Personal Matters, Untimely Considering den Ouden's Recent Success

Den Ouden leaves the Dutch Lions with 8 goals in 10 games, an emotional exit for the 33 year old target striker.

Before this week, the Dutch Lions attack was a bit stagnant; as striker Geert den Ouden could only seem to find the net through PK's in the previous two weeks. While the midfield could not connect with the lengthy, talented striker.

However, in this week leading up to Geert den Ouden's exit for family matters, the lengthy 33 year old striker seemed to come alive for the Dutch Lions and the connection with midfield service was regained. What this led to in Geert's final week with the club was some thrilling link up play between Geert den Ouden and his wingers; as den Ouden played some excellent pass and move soccer with both wingers, the Dutch Bas Ent and the American George Davis IV, in both the Cincinnati Kings and Chicago Fire games from this previous week.

What Geert den Ouden left the Dutch Lions with in his final two regular season games was three goals from the run of play and a heads up assist that led to the game winner against the Chicago Fire. The game winner was the difference between keeping the Dutch Lions alive for a Great Lakes Division title this year and putting off trophy talk for next year.

Therefore, the timing of den Ouden's departure is cruel for both den Ouden, his teammates, and Dutch Lion fans. As the Dutch Lions appear to be once again clicking in the attack, and their vital chess piece must go. What goes with him is 8 goals in 10 games, which is good enough for third place currently on the PDL scoring charts out of 70 PDL teams! To put this more into perspective, eight goals puts den Ouden in third place on the scoring charts out of over 250 PDL strikers. Not so shabby, and not so easy to replace.

When showing den Ouden's hustle goals in the Cincinnati Kings game to FC Twente Advisor Rene Hake, Hake said, "Those are typical Geert goals." And, Geert was back to his typical self, and quite possibly nearing his Excelsior and ADO Den Haag type days of form with the Dutch Lions. So, it will be a tough task for the Dutch Lions to replace den Ouden (who could be back possibly in time for the PDL playoffs if the Dutch Lions are to make it that far). However, an emotional exit in the 90th minute from den Ouden, who appeared very emotional leaving the game, leaves a return this season likely up in the air.

The Dutch Lions will therefore have to look to resurging Ivar van Dinteren, or the Americans Steven McCarthy and Jeff Popella to fill the void. Or the Dutch Lions could place Hans van de Haar back at forward (who usually has played a defensive distrubutor role with the Lions this year before being injured); that's if van de Haar can come back from an injury that he suffered against the Rochester Rhinos in U.S. Open Cup. Van de Haar has been a striker at multiple Eredivise clubs.

However, no matter what player fills the striking shoes it will be very difficult for the Dutch Lions to replace den Ouden and his 8 goals in 10 games.

Head Coach Sonny Silooy had the following to say:
“We shall miss him. Geert is a good person. But private matters come first. We are human beings.”

We wish you luck den Ouden. Hopefully, whatever the family matter, it works itself out and you can lead the Dutch Lions to glory in the playoffs and in upcoming seasons.

den Ouden's departure in the news:
Parting Gift From Dutch Lions Striker Leads To Victory from Dayton Daily News writer David DiCenzo

3/12/2010: In The Spotlight- Geert Den Ouden

Now that we have thoroughly discussed the seven American players in detail, The Orange Legionnaire will, every few days, take a look at each of the Dutch players who will wear the orange colors for Dayton this Spring. We will start this off with..



Geert Cornelius den Ouden
From Delft, Netherlands (a town of 96,000 between Rotterdam and the Hague in the province of South Holland)- Played for ADO Den Haag, Rotterdam, and many other top flight teams in Holland
Position: Forward

Geert den Ouden is a 33 year old forward with great experience in the Holland top flights, as well as the Swedish and Maltesian top flights. Den Ouden has 108 total goals in 317 total appearances, good for a very strong strike rate of less than one goal every three games, with most of these goals mainly coming in the Dutch top flight. Den Ouden played for four top flight clubs in Holland and found most of his success there. Here is what Den Ouden had to say about his stateside transition to DDL F.C.:

"At this moment I'm already seriously preparing myself for Dayton Dutch Lions FC. I play my games and I train full time with my youth club V.V. Smitshoek. And when I'm not on the soccer field, you can find me in the gym. I feel fighting fit, so I will be ready to play the Premier Development League for the complete 100% when I arrive in Dayton. Besides being motivated, I'm not the kind of person who likes to sit back and relax. I like daily exercise and training, that keeps me going. Lucky for me that's one of the important aspects a pro soccer player needs to be able to perform."

Here is Geert in action scoring against Feyenoord (go to minute 3:50):


So, how many goals do you see den Ouden scoring for DDL F.C. in 2010?