My story
How it all started
I fell in love with soccer at a young age.
Growing up here in the States, I learned early that competing hard makes you tough, mentally and physically.
In high school, I dreamed of playing in college. But no college coaches came calling.
My school simply had no structure to help soccer players reach the next level.
With no means to pay for tuition, I got a full-time job and paid for part-time college courses.
Then I met Al Grudzinskas, my soccer mentor and coach. He built strong teams and took young players to tournaments all over the country so they could show their talent.
That's how I was discovered and recruited to Southern Connecticut State University by coach Ray Reid.
Setbacks and comebacks
As a college freshman, I was benched the entire year.
Then I tore my ACL toward the end of the season, right before the NCAA tournament.
That summer, I seriously considered quitting the team to focus only on academics.
Instead, my first personalized training system was born. I combined physical therapy with soccer training to overcome the injury and be ready for preseason.
As a junior, I made the starting team, and we won the NCAA National Championship.
My senior year, we did it again.
Benched. Injured. Then back-to-back national champion.
Why I love what I do
Soccer is an expensive sport, with no guarantee you'll get what you pay for.
So I built a program that provides quality training at a reasonable cost, so all families can benefit.
My mission is to give young players who dream of the next level the right guidance: the training, resources, support and knowledge to build real confidence.
The most rewarding part of my career has been guiding young players to accomplish goals beyond their belief. That confidence carries into every part of their lives.
The Gunners family
The Gunners are my family. Every player who wears our crest becomes part of it.
Today, through Global Soccer Institute, I aim to create more of those opportunities, year after year.
Coach Markens Benoit