Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Name Leo Kulinczenko 1974–1976 Chicago Lions SC | Years Team 1964-1973 Chicago Lions SC | |
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Date of birth (1954-10-03) October 3, 1954 (age 61) Place of birth Chicago Illinois, United States | ||
Leo Kulinczenko is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the American Soccer League the National Challenge Cup (US Open Cup) and the CONCACAF Champions Cup (CONCACAF Champions League).
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Youth career
Kulinczenko who is of Ukrainian descent started his playing career in the youth system of the Chicago Lions SC also known as the Ukrainian Lions. They competed in the National Soccer League of Chicago.
Professional career
In 1974 he was moved up from the youth system of the Chicago Lions SC to their 1st team. In 1976 he was invited to the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League training squad for one month but never signed with them. He played for 5 time US Open Cup winners Maccabi Los Angeles in 1977 and 1978 winning the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup). In 1979 he played for the Los Angeles Skyhawks of the American Soccer League. His first game with the Skyhawks was a friendly against the 1980 US Olympic team the game was played in Los Angeles Jackie Robinson Stadium. He also played for the 1984 U.S. Open Cup finalist Chicago Croatian in the 1985 CONCACAF Champions Cup (CONCACAF Champions League) against Honduras champion Club Deportivo Olimpia. He retired after the 1985 season.
Coaching career
He held a full-time position with the highly competitive Chicago Sockers as a staff coach for 16 years. The Chicago Sockers is a nationally recognized youth soccer program it is the only program in Illinois to provide the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for the boys and girls the highest competition platforms in the U.S. In 2007 and 2008 he was director for the twelve to fourteen year-old age group at Chicago Eclipse Select which was part of the Elite Clubs National League.