Tony started his coaching career at the young age of 18 where he worked with his old junior high school team in Skokie IL.  He then moved on to coach travel soccer in Lake Forest IL for Lake Forest Soccer Association (travel).  After 4 years with LFSA he decided to move on to a more powerful club in Highland Park IL (Chicago Wind).  Here he began to find a strong passion in coaching young children.  Tony was asked to start a micro soccer program that catered to 3 - 8 year old boys and girls.  After 2 years of working hard, it became a success!!!  Since then Tony has started his own soccer Academy with a childhood friend George Solomos.  The two of them have worked together to develop Little Legends Soccer Academy in Glenview IL and have expanded to the nearby suburbs of Northbrook, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Lake Forest, Highland Park and Wilmette.

License

• USSF Senior A License

Coaching Experience

• McCracken Junior High
• Lake Forest Soccer Association
• Lake Forest United
• Chicago Wind (Coach and Micro Program Director)
• Chicago Magic (USA Development Academy and Girls Director)
• Roosevelt University
• FC1 Academy and Glenview Soccer Club Executive Director

Tony's favorite player:

• Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)

Tony's favorite team:

• Arsenal F.C.

George Solomos currently lives in Glenview, Illinois. Soccer has always been a passion of his ever since he was born. He knows every aspect of the game and specializes in goalkeeping. He has been playing soccer all over the country and has many great accomplishments. He went to Glenbrook South High School where he was the co-captain of his team and starter as a goalkeeper. George attended the University of Arizona and graduated with a business management degree. After college he went on to play Semi-Professional (Major Division) soccer in various areas of Chicago.

License

• USSF License

Coaching Experience

• Glenview SC
• Chicago Magic
• Goalkeeper Clinics
• Youth Training Micro Program

George's favorite player:

• Eden Hazard

George's favorite team:

• Chelsea F.C.

Adam Youhanna who resides in Glenview has been placed into the soccer world naturally by his three older brothers. Growing up playing the game, Adam specialized in the forward and midfield positions. He played four years at the varsity level at Niles North High School and was nominated as a co-captain in his junior and senior year. He was the All-Sectional Honorable mentioned as a sophomore. Subsequent to graduation, he played at Oakton Community College for one year but was sidelined with injuries which led his career to be prematurely ended. Adam graduated from Loyola University in Chicago with a Bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Sociology. He has played soccer for various soccer clubs in the National Soccer League.

License

• USSF License
• IHSA Licensed Coach

Coaching Experience

• Lake Forest United
• Youth Micro Clinics
• Chicago Magic

Adam's favorite Soccer Player:

• Fernando Torres

Adam's favorite Soccer Team:

• F.C. Barcelona

Michelle Thorstad joined Little Legends summer of 2012 as a trainer for all ages, but soon found a home within the Born to Kick program. She has spent the last two years developing the parent involved class, which focuses on increasing social participation and introducing soccer skills that help gross motor development. Michelle has over 10 years of experience working with children. Currently, she has a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a behavior therapist at a private clinic primarily working with children diagnosed with autism.

Michelle's soccer experience came from competitively playing across the nation for Eclipse Select and later, FC United. She continued on to play at the Division I level at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN where she was awarded to the All-Newcomer Team her freshman year. Prior to Little Legends, Michelle assistant coached her senior year of high school for Trevian Soccer Club U-11 girls. 

Coaching Experience:

• Trevian Soccer Club

Michelle's favorite soccer player:

• Thierry Henry

Michelle's favorite team:

• Arsenal F.C.

Danielle Robinson currently lives in Gurnee Illinois. She started out doing other sports and activities as most kids do when they are young. But once she started soccer she instantly fell in love with everything about the game. From a young age her skills were advanced and as she got older so did her game. She then moved to a more powerful soccer club and with that club she played at the elite level all around the country. In 2006 they were nationally ranked at number one in the country. That same year Danielle was selected to be a member of the Illinois Olympic Development Soccer Program. In order to understand all aspects of the game she got her referee license.

In fall 2011 she took her love for the game and working with kids to the next level and started working with Little Legends Soccer Academy. She loves teaching the next generation of soccer players and helping them to reach their future potential. 

Coaching Experience

• Chicago Magic

Danielle’s favorite Soccer Player:

• Cristiano Ronaldo

Danielle’s favorite Soccer Team:

• Real Madrid C.F.

Pedro Laureano who currently lives in Tinley Park, started playing soccer at a young age. He grew up playing soccer for various clubs in the Chicago area. At the age of 12 he played for Zaragoza, the team that helped him get to the club he always wanted to play for, Chicago Magic. There, Pedro excelled in his technique from various great coaches. Pedro played for Tinley Park High School helping them break the school record for the most wins and making it to sectionals for the second time in the school history.

After spending most of the past years playing soccer, Little Legends gave Pedro an unexpected opportunity to run his own location in Frankfort, Illinois. He accepted this challenge and passed with flying colors! This position immediately led him to focus on teaching young children the numerous techniques he learned.

“Here is where I grew my passion of coaching kids and

helping them get their soccer fundamentals to another level.”

- Coach Pedro

Pedro’s favorite Player:

• Cristiano Ronaldo

Pedro’s favorite Team:

• Real Madrid C.F.

Jenica Gomez loving mother of a five year old boy grew up playing sports such as volleyball, softball, and soccer. She attended North-Grand High School conquering all positions on the field from striker all the way to sweeper. Jenica was also MVP of the team along with being captain of the varsity team all 4 years! She was inspired to strive in the sport by her favorite player Carles Puyol who played for F.C Barcelona. He is known as one of the best center defenders of all time. After graduating she continued to help out the high school by coaching the junior varsity soccer and volleyball team for two years. 

Outside of the field, Jenica enjoys to bake and spend time with her son Isiah. Jenica started coaching Little Legends in the spring of 2013 as an assistant and has strived to become a Lead Trainer in all age groups. All in all, Jenica displays much passion for the game and wishes to share that with the children.

Coaching Experience

• North- Grand High School 

Jenica’s favorite player:

• Lionel Messi

Jenica’s favorite team:

• F.C. Barcelona  

Martin Zavala began playing soccer at the age of five in La Soledad, Michoacan. He has attended three different soccer schools including the best soccer school, Atlas located in Mexico, the second school he attended was Chivas also located in Mexico and his third school being Chicago fire. Martin has played many positions on the field but played Goalie in High School and was nominated as the best goal keeper in the conference in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. After graduating Martin returned to assist Prosser Career Academy as an assistant coach from 2006-2007. Martin, one of the pioneer coaches in Little Legends Soccer Academy has been an important staff member for the last 5 years and counting.

Coaching Experience:

• Prosser Career Academy
• Goalkeeper Training

Martin’s favorite player:

• Samuel Eto’o​

Martin’s favorite team:

• F.C. Barcelona

Christian, who currently lives in Glenview. started playing soccer ever since he was six years old. He played for his high school team and participated in the Nike Elite Training program in his home country; Lebanon. He kept on developing his skills even further with the Manchester City School of Football. He started off as a goalkeeper then realized that he has a passion for playmaking and setting up amazing plays so he decided to become an attacking midfielder at which he excelled.

Christian was forced to stop playing soccer because of a couple of injuries. So he decided to pursue his passion for the game through coaching. He coached at RSC soccer club in Lebanon and then moved to the United States.

In his free time, Christian likes going on long drives and performing soccer drills to stay fit.

Coaching experience:

• RSC soccer club; Lebanon

Favorite Team: 

• FC Barcelona

 Favorite Player:

• Ronaldinho 

Jeanna Bai who currently lives in Northbrook Illinois started playing soccer at a young age and has loved the game ever since. She played throughout high school as a sweeper at Glenbrook North.  Jeanna started coaching with Little Legends in the fall of 2013.  She loves being able to share her passion of soccer and is grateful to teach children from a young age.  

Not only does she coach soccer but she is the Marketing Director for Little Legends.

(Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @little.legends)

In her free time coach Jeanna loves to run races and spend time with her friends & family.  She is also a big foodie and enjoys sweets.