Leo Kulinczenko


Leo Kulinczenko is a retired American/Ukrainian association football player who played professionally in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the US Open Cup. He played in the American Soccer League, National Soccer League (Chicago) and the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League.

Youth career

Kulinczenko who is of Ukrainian descent started his playing career in the youth system of the Ukrainian Lions.

Professional career

In 1974 he began his career with the first team of the Ukrainian Lions. In 1976 he was invited to the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League training squad but then was released after three months. He played for five-time US Open Cup Champions Maccabee Los Angeles in 1977 and 1978 winning the US 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. In 1980 he returned to play with the Ukrainian Lions until 1983. In 1984 he played for US Open Cup finalist Chicago Croatian in the 1985 CONCACAF Champions' Cup 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. 1998–2000 he coached the boys varsity team at Saint Viator High School. 2001 he was assistant men's coach at North Central College.

International career

CONCACAF Champions Cup