[D.C. UNITED] Former Ajax Amsterdam star Sonny Silooy, who has been with D.C. United since 2011, has been named the club's Director of Youth Development and will oversee all D.C. United Academy initiatives, including youth teams and youth training opportunities.

Silooy earned 25 caps for the Netherlands and won seven Dutch titles with Ajax Amsterdam in the 1980s and 1990s. He moved to Ohio in 2010 to coach the USL's Dutch Fc Lions. Since joining D.C. United, he assisted with with scouting and video analysis for the first team and worked with all of United's teams in the area of player development, including the Reserve team, U-23 team and Academy teams.

“I am happy that I can now focus more on the academy teams,” said Silooy said in a statement. “We have a philosphy, which is highly regarded by Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer, along with structure and organization to make D.C. United’s Academy system the best on the East Coast and one of the best in the nation. Winning for us is a second priority, developing players to higher levels and preparing them for first team action is the most important thing.”

Silooy is is a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation's Youth Development Committee.