Team Chicago's New Era

To achieve this, Team Chicago will focus on developing players from the youngest of ages through our high school players and provide them with a technical based curriculum, as well as allow them to experiment with using these techniques in structured, small sided games, and futsal. 

Team Chicago’s main aim will be to ignite and instill the love of the game and provide the very best appropriate competition for ALL OUR PLAYERS.  We will work with our players to help them achieve their athletic goals no matter what that is, including playing at the highest levels in high school, college and the beyond. Albert Martin will continue as our Director of College Placement.  

Matt Suggitt will lead this new era for Team Chicago and be fully responsible for the development of every player through our sequential philosophy .  Marcelo Galvao has decided to leave Team Chicago for personal reasons. 

Matt Suggitt joined Team Chicago in 2020 and coaches our 2007 Elite Girls and 2007 and 2008 Elite Boys teams.  Matt is an extremely experienced coach and soccer professional with an extensive background and cares about every single player he coaches and guides.  Matt's bio is below.  

Matt Suggitt has built an international soccer reputation over the last 15 years that took root from his childhood dream. At the early age of 7, Matt was scouted by and subsequently joined the prestigious Leeds United Academy. There he found his first love - football. Matt’s character and soccer talent quickly developed at Leeds by being part of a world class Premier League academy system.

After leaving Leeds United Academy, Matt started to forge his soccer career at York City FC. While studying his FA Level 1 and 2 license coursework at York College he discovered his second love – coaching. Coach Matt was a natural coach and mentor and became one of the youngest coaches in UK history to achieve a UEFA B license. This led to him coaching all over the world including: Mexico City, Spain, New York City, Chicago, and London. 

While living in Chicago, Matt coached at Lake Forest College and Illinois ODP, and was the DOC of a high school aged club in Cary, IL.  While living in London, Matt worked as the Technical Director of Coerver West London. In late 2018, Matt and his family moved back to Chicago and he has continued to establish his reputation amongst high level athletes in Chicagoland.

These diverse and unique experiences created greater understanding of how culture influences each areas style of play. Matt’s keen insights and growth mindset have helped to develop best practices and ideas from around the world and gently integrating them into the US culture. Matt’s passion for the beautiful game is infectious and he is determined to keep igniting the flames in young players across the country. 

Matt lives with his wife, Jenny and daughter, Archer in Wheaton, IL.

Education

• UEFA A License Prep Course
• UEFA B Coaching License 
• UEFA Youth Mods 1, 2 and 3                                                 
• USSF National B License
• Coerver Youth Diploma 1 & 2
• FA Level 1 Futsal
• FA Level 2, FA Level 1
•  Coaching AwardFA Talent ID

Coaching Experience:

• Coerver Coaching Technical Director/Director of operations (UK)\
• Lake Forest College Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (IL)
• Director of Coaching FC Fusion (IL)
• Brighton & Hove Albion pre academy Coach (UK)
• Coerver IL Center of Excellence (IL)
• Illinois Youth Soccer ODP, Regional Coach (IL)
• UK Elite, Head Coach (New York)
• Bolton Wanderers International Academy, Coach (Spain)
• Leeds United Football Club, College Coach (UK)
•  West Ham International Academy (Mexico)

Playing History:

• Leeds United Academy
• York City Centre of Excellence
• York College Football Academy
• Tadcaster Albion 1sTeam
• Vikings Metro league (State Champions)