5/5/2010: Hans van de Haar Set To Join DDL F.C. In The Coming Days, Will Boost The Offense of The Lions Considerably

Hans van de Haar brings over experience in 377 professional games in Dutch and German top flights and 92 goals. Should be a force in Dutch Lions attack.

Hans van de Haar has played his last match as a professional football player in the Netherlands. Now the experienced striker will take his turn at professional soccer stateside; as the 35-year-old striker (with experience at ADO Den Haag, FC Utrecht, SV Mainz, etc.) will play the next few months for the Dutch Lions at Miami Valley South Stadium before returning, according to soccernews.nl, to the Netherlands, where he will play out the remainder of his career with amateur club SV Spakenburg. (Sounds like a naughty little place to be, :-).)

Hans van de Haar will not be a long term answer for the Dutch Lions, he has already signed a two year contract starting in August with SV Spakenburg. But, Hans van de Haar can have a major short term impact for the Lions offense. Van de Haar is one of a select few Dutch Lions players who are coming into this season playing at a high level, as Van de Haar almost had AGOVV in the Dutch Premier League, if they would've won this weekend. Van de Haar has 48 matches and 8 goals for AGOVV over the last two seasons and although he has battled injuries, comes into the Lions season fit. Further, Hans van de Haar has played at a high level for the last 16 years, so his experience will be nice up top with Geert den Ouden and the American youngsters such as Steven McCarthy (who has already notched two goals in the last two preseason outings against Global United and Cincinnati.)

Van de Haar's last game as a professional footballer in Holland was not exactly joyful, as his side AGOVV lost in the playoffs for promotion to FC Eindhoven 4-2 over two legs this past weekend. Obviously van de Haar was not happy with his professional ending in Europe, "We have no right to continue. This should of been a dessert, but it's become a small dessert." Hopefully, van de Haar's time at the Dayton Dutch Lions ends with the dessert of a PDL Championship and a cherry on top consisting of a long, fruitful run in the U.S. Open Cup.

4/9/2010: DDL F.C.'s Striker Van de Haar Will Come To Dutch Lions Game Fit

Hans van de Haar (left) is likely the most recognizble Dutch Lion star in Europe, along with Geert den Ouden.

The Dayton Dutch Lions striker Hans van de Haar will miss the first couple of games of the Dutch Lion season as he finishes his contract with AGOVV Apledoorn of the Jupiler League (Holland's Second Division).

However, when van de Haar does come over he should have a major impact as he brings over 93 goals in 300 cap's worth of experience in Holland's top divisions. Further, van de Haar will be game fit as the veteran has been playing regularly as of late for his Holland club. Nevertheless, van de Haar is not satisfied with how the Jupiler League, that he currently competes in, is run. And, this factor could have helped sway Van de Haar's decision on coming to Dayton. Lucky us, as van de Haar could make an impact in MLS as well as with other top flight leagues.

Whether Hans van de Haar stays with the Dutch Lions for many seasons to come will depend upon, according to Hans, on how well the experience in Dayton goes for himself and his family this season.

Lets hope it goes well, with many, many goals.