International soccer legend Ruud Gullit will be coming to Cincinnati and Dayton in May thanks to a partnership with the Dutch Lions FC.
Gullit will attend the home opener for the Cincinnati Dutch Lions (PDL) as they face the River City Rovers on Friday, May 9th. He will participate in pregame, halftime, and postgame activities. The halftime show will consist of a “kick the crossbar contest” that will include local professional athletes. The game will take place at Xavier University’s Corcoran Field, the home field of the Cincinnati Dutch Lions.
The second stop of Gullit’s tour will be at the Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) home match on Saturday, May 10th. He will again be part of pregame, halftime, and postgame activities as the Dutch Lions face off against the LA Galaxy II.
The final stops include free youth soccer clinics in Dayton and Cincinnati on May 11th. Each clinic will be led by the global soccer superstar with assistance from Dutch Lions players and coaches.
“Ruud Gullit coming to Cincinnati and Dayton is something amazing,” Dutch Lions Group BV President Mike Mossel stated. “We will have one of the world’s all-time greats right here in Cincinnati to open our new club. He is also going to do a clinic with local soccer players so kids and parents can meet and learn from him. He is a perfect match with what CDL FC envisions, which is to bring top level soccer to Cincinnati. The PDL team will offer the best local players a chance to become professionals and the youth will benefit from soccer clinics with former star players like Gullit.”
Gullit is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Gullit played for the top teams in Europe, including Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, Sampdoria, and Chelsea. The Amsterdam, Netherlands native has won every major individual honor including the European Footballer of the Year (1987) and the World Player of the Year (1987, 1989). He captained the Dutch National Team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup, all part of 70 appearances at the international level.
His brilliance on the pitch is evidenced by over 450 professional appearances and an incredible 175 career goals.
Gullit made headlines when he dedicated one of his awards to Nelson Mandela in 1987, a man he deeply respected. He would go on to build a personal relationship with the anti-apartheid activist, even interviewing him in 2006 as part of a talk show on Dutch TV.
He became an accomplished manager after his playing career ended, leading the likes of Newcastle United, Chelsea, Feyenoord, LA Galaxy, and Terek Grozny. These assignments put the world’s best players, including David Beckham and Landon Donovan, under his expert tutelage.
Gullit continues to be highly sought after by global networks, seeking his expert commentary and respected opinion.
Please visit www.daytondutchlionsfc.com to sign up for the free clinics or for more information about these exciting events. Additional information will be released at a later date.
