Sonny Silooy


Jan Jacobus "Sonny" Silooy is a Dutch former professional footballer and football manager. His last team as a manager was United Emirates squad Al Shabab under 19. His most successful time as a player was in his period with Ajax. He won seven Eredivisie titles, four KNVB Cups, three Johan Cruyff Shields, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.

Playing career

Club

Silooy was born in Rotterdam. He played as a right or central defender and is one of the legends of Ajax Amsterdam, where he made his debut on 3 May 1981, playing over 250 league games for the Amsterdam club in two separate periods. Silooy also played for Matra Racing, Arminia Bielefeld, De Graafschap and the amateurs of GVV Unitas from Gorinchem. He played in the 1996 UEFA Champions League Final against Juventus, but missed a key penalty in the shootout which Ajax ultimately lost.

International

Silooy, a member of the Dutch squad at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, obtained 25 caps for the Netherlands national football team, including 8 appearances in Euro 88 qualifying, but never played in a major international competition.

Coaching career

Silooy was also coach of the Jong Ajax youth academy and juniors team. In 2010, he was appointed as head coach of new branch Dayton Dutch Lions.
He left Dayton Dutch Lions to become an assistant coach with the Major League Soccer club D.C. United. In 2015 he was appointed as head coach of Al Shabab under 19.

Honours

Player

Ajax