OUR VALUES
We strive to provide the best possible soccer experience and training environment for our players. Soccer will be used to instill the qualities of ambition, leadership, teamwork, respect, service to others and the pursuit of excellence. Our players will learn to handle success and failure in competition and to exhibit good sportsmanship in victory and defeat and will understand that athletic competition is preparing them for the highest level of the game and in life.
AMBITION – is the strong drive for success and improvement in everything we do. We will set goals and then set about achieving them. Commitment, discipline, and motivation are important values as well, but ambition is what inspires us to succeed.
EXCELLENCE – is the gradual result of the continuous effort to learn and improve each day. We will work hard to be outstanding or extremely good at everything we do as a player, coach, team, and club.
LEADERSHIP – is the guiding, motivating or inspiring of others to improve the performance or the achievement of a common goal. Leadership is being consistent, leading by example, performing under pressure and by doing the right things, the right way every day. These values are hallmarks of great leaders, team captains, and individuals.
TEAMWORK – is the commitment to a common goal or mission. Teams can achieve what individuals cannot. We want our coaches and players to understand that by working enthusiastically and hard toward team goals and team success, they will also reach new heights as an individual.
RESPECT – is the ability to see and appreciate the value in ourselves and others. It means showing encouragement to your teammate and applauding their effort even when things are not going well. To be truly successful in soccer – and in life – you must treat all the people around you with courtesy, respect, and empathy.
SERVICE – of others is looking for a need and filling it to make positive change on your team, in your club, family or in the community. Leaders know a team, club or group is more important than themselves and they set a good example and lead by doing needed service to the group or team.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to positively impact the development of youth in our community by providing soccer and life-enriching opportunities to young players of all ages and playing abilities, to create a lifelong passion for the sport of soccer, and to help raise the level of soccer in our city, our state and our nation. We strive to play an active role in the leadership, development and personal growth of our players and staff by being an active member of our community through service, partnerships and programs. Our ultimate goal as a club is to encourage, inspire and empower each player and coach to be able to reach the highest level possible within the game and in life, while helping create leaders and individuals that will inspire others to do the same.
To provide every player the opportunity to learn and play soccer in a supportive and rewarding environment that emphasizes fun, enjoyment and skill learning at a level that fits his or her interest and ability, and to create a challenging environment for talented players who aspire to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.
WHY CHOOSE LEGION FC CHICAGO?
To be recognized for delivering quality soccer programs and developing players capable of playing at the highest levels of the youth, collegiate and professional soccer, we focus our day-to-day energy and efforts on continuous improvement in core competencies that we believe are essential to becoming a successful club.
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A Full-Service Club – By being a “full-service” club our players have access to quality programming at all levels of play within a “one club” environment. By striving for excellence in every program we offer and focusing our attention, effort and commitment to continuous improvement in each one, our aim is to provide a community-based club that players can stay in and succeed with for life.
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Player Development – Our objective is to provide each player with a long-term balanced approach to soccer development, personal growth and enjoyment regardless of their level of play.
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Education and Curriculum – A modern player-centered curriculum for our players that promotes their long-term success and progression in the sport.
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Coaching Development – We provide in-house continuing education and development for coaches of all levels. Better coaching provides the club with more skillful and creative players long-term.
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Continuous Improvement – We strive for continuous improvement in all areas of player, coach and club development and operations to optimize the benefits, opportunities, and enjoyment we provide to our membership.
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Training Environment – Players enjoy and thrive in a fast-paced, challenging and developmentally appropriate training environment. Through continuous improvement of our coaching staff, our curriculum, and our turf management programs, we further improve the training environment and quality in a way that enhances the development and enjoyment of our players.
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Value-based Fee Structure – We leverage buying power to provide the best value for our members without sacrificing quality. Money does not buy development!
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A Family-friendly Environment – Players, parents, and staff will make memories and forge friendships that will last a lifetime.
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Communication & Transparency – We value our relationship with our members and utilize all available media and means to keep them informed and to be open, honest and fair in our dealings with them.
METHODOLOGY
Legion FC Chicago’s players are trained as well as developed in every aspect of the game and they are able to see and experience the latest innovations from Spain, Germany, England, Holland, Brazil and other countries with football traditions. These trends are adapted in a way that makes them suitable with the way soccer is played here in the USA, but only in a way that makes them effective.
All the players here at Legion receive the best training based on modern methods, developed by the methodologists of the club.
The main focus is technical development. The methods are designed in a way that allows the young players to develop to their fullest potential. We at Legion highly encourage players to fall in love with the game so that they are hungry to train even outside training as at times team training might not be enough for players that aspire to reach their fullest possible potential.
We constantly push players to be extremely focused in training and games and hold discipline to a high importance.
At the core of our development model within the club is technical excellence. Our coaching staff will use the training principles below to develop a complete player. Find out more about our great programs here.
TRAIN WITH THE BALL
The first key training principle to be explained is pretty simple. Core to our development model within the club is technical excellence. Young players will only improve this aspect of their game if they are allowed to use the ball. Therefore every training exercise (apart from the warm-up & cool down) requires the players to manipulate the ball in various ways.
INTEGRATED TRAINING
Technical, tactical, athletic & cognitive development are combined and present in all training exercises. Depending on the objective of the session the coach can make adjustments to create a Dominant Principle.
DOMINANT PRINCIPLE
A training exercise can be structured to enhance the demands on a specific element. For example a passing drill in one session can focus solely on technical development through the coaches communication & coaching points. In the next session, the coach can add defenders into the exercise which adds a decision making element, shifting the focus solely from technical to include tactical development.
SPECIFICITY
All training practices & sessions should be specific to the club’s style of play. Whether this is a 7 v 7 game or a functional practice, aspects of the style of play and behaviour of the players should mirror that of a ‘real game’. This is vital for the development of young players as they must be allowed to perform the same actions that are demanded of them in games.
REPETITION
In order to create good habits the players must repeat certain skills & techniques (for this it is also vital that the coaching points are correct). The repetition doesn’t take the form of just repeating the same training drills all the time, instead a variety of exercises can be used to develop the one skill.
HOW WE IMPLEMENT THIS METHODOLOGY
The annual curriculum is broken down into sessions so that each session has a set of goals in all or some of the key areas.
While the curriculum is defined and supervised by the Technical Director, the coach has the central role to perform the exercises conducive of the defined goals.
TEAM TRAINING SESSIONS METHODOLOGY
Players engaged in our team training sessions will be taught under a curriculum based on the same principles of the methodology applied to technification players. However, more focus will be placed on:
Tactic: understanding and executing the game systems, i.e. what position plays each player in the field; transitions, how the team moves up from defence to attack and vice versa;
Strategy, previously agreed coordinated team actions
Technique is taught having in mind competitive/match situations
Physical activities are mostly carried out with the ball so that the time is optimised.
OUR COACHES
We are highly motivated to change the culture of soccer here in the U.S. and in our local communities. We strive to provide next level training and competition. We want to develop our players to become the best soccer players they can become as well as people of great character. Legion FC Chicago’s staff are highly qualified with many years of experience in local youth soccer. Our staff can help provide support and resources to enhance your experience within our club.

Director of Soccer Operations
Zlatan Buyukliev (Zak)
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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UNIVERSITY OF VARNA, BULGARIA (MANAGEMENT)
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
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USSF NATIONAL LICENSE
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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U18 FC ARDA KARDZHALI-BULGARIA
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FC MINYOR CHICAGO
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FC BALKAN CHICAGO
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FC BOTEV CHICAGO
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FC SOFIA CHICAGO
PERSONAL
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Married with two kids
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Love tennis, fishing and travelling
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Favorite soccer team- Inter Milano

Director Of Coaching
Nikolay Ianev (Niki)
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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Bachelor of Science Sport Management & Marketing
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USSF National D License
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USSF National C License
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La Liga Methodology Level 2
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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TS Pro Soccer Academy 2017
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Lil’ Kickers 2017
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Sockers FC Chicago Staff Coach 2017-2020
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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North Park University (2013-2017)
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Sockers FC Chicago (2008-2012)
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Chicago Magic (2012-2013)
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Minyor Chicago (Present)
PERSONAL
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Currently lives with girlfriend ,one kid
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Loves working out, swimming, hanging out with friends, and traveling
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Favorite soccer team- Liverpool

Girl's Director
Jamee Schreiber McBride
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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BS Exercise Science & Fitness
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Clinical Exercise Physiologist
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USSF National C License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Elite SC 2003-2012
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Director of Goalkeeping
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U8-U17 Coach
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IYSA Olympic Development Coach (ODP) 2003-2008
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Barrington High School Girls Soccer Goalkeeper Coach 2004-2006
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FCX Barrington Goalkeeper Coach 2004-2006
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Barrington Area Soccer Association (BASA) Tots/Pre-travel Coach 2004-2006
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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Illinois State University Division I Women’s Soccer Team
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Eclipse Select
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ALITHSA Select
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Prospect High School
PERSONAL
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Married with 2 boys
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Enjoys cooking, gardening, and swimming

Staff Coach
Ivo Krastev
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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University of Ruse, Bulgaria, Law School Master Degree
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USFF National D License
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USFF National C License-Present
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Legion FC 2021-Present
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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Benkovski Youth U18
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FC Balkan Chicago
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FC Minyor Chicago
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FC Levski Chicago
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University of Ruse Soccer Team
PERSONAL
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Love skydiving, road trips, skiing and reading books
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Interested in soccer scouting, soccer education and management
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Favorite team – AC Milan

Technical and Development Director
Nikolay Trifonov (Nik)
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY (Soccer Coaching)
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USSF NATIONAL D LICENSE
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USSF NATIONAL C LICENCE
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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PFC LEVSKI SOFIA (U8, U10 – U12 Boys)
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GREEN WHITE SOCCER CLUB(U12- U14 Girls)
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ELA SOCCER CLUB(U 12Boys- U 14 Girls)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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U8 –U18 PFC LEVSKI SOFIA
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BULGARIAN NATIONAL TEAM(Futsal)
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NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY (UNIVERSITY)
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MINYOR CHICAGO
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LEVSKI CHICAGO
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BULGARIA FC
PERSONAL
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Married with two kids
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Love skiing and spend time with the family
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Favorite soccer team- REAL MADRID

Director Of Goalkeeping
Hristo Hristov (Chris)
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY (Soccer Coaching)
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USSF NATIONAL LICENSE
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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PFC PIRIN BLAGOEVGRAD (Goalkeeper coach U8, U10 – U12 Boys )
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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U8 – U18 PFC PIRIN BLAGOEVGRAD
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BULGARIAN NATIONAL TEAM
LILLE OLYMPIQUE SPORTING CLUB FRANCE
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MINYOR CHICAGO
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LEVSKI CHICAGO-US NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2017
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BULGARIA FC CHICAGO
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FC BALKAN CHICAGO
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FC BOTEV CHICAGO
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FC BODROST CHICAGO
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FC SOFIA CHICAGO
PERSONAL
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Married with two kids
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Love skiing and traveling
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Favorite soccer team- MANCHESTER UNITED

Staff Coach
Luke Piszczek
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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Northeastern Illinois University BA in Physical Education and Minor in Health
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Rolling Meadows High School Girls Freshman Soccer Team
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Vernon Hills High School Boys Freshman Soccer Team
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Legion FC 2021-Present
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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AAC Eagles Chicago
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Legovia Chicago
PERSONAL
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Married with 2 kids, enjoys the outdoors, enjoys coaching and mentoring kids, teenagers and young adults. Loves cooking and history. Favorite soccer teams are Sandecja Nowy Sacz and Borrusia Dortmund.
FAVORITE COACHING QUOTE
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“A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life”
-John Wooden