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Staff

Joe Raduka

Owner and Director of Player Development

Coaching Experience

  • Founded Cleveland United Soccer Club in 1987
  • Assistant Coach Cleveland Crunch – Major Indoor Soccer League MISL (1989-1990)
  • Assistant Coach Cleveland Crunch – National Professional Soccer League NPSL (1998-1999)
  • Head Coach Ohio North Olympic Development (1998-2000)
  • Canton United Soccer Club (2008-present)

 Notes

  • Played Professionally for Red Star-Belgrade / Yugoslavian First Division (1968-1978)
  • Played Professionally for Oakland Stompers / North American Soccer League NASL (1978-1979)
  • Played Professionally for Edmonton Drillers / North American Soccer League NASL (1979-1981)
  • Played Professionally for Namur (Belgium) on loan for 1979-1980 season
  • Played Professionally for the Golden Bay Earthquakes / Major Indoor Soccer League MISL (1982-1983)
  • Played Professionally for the Edmonton Eagles / Canadian Professional Soccer League CPSL (1983)
  • Played Professionally for the Cleveland Force / Major Indoor Soccer League MISL (1983-1987)
  • Captain of the Yugoslavian National Team (1971)
  • NSCAA National Youth Coach of the Year (1998)
  • Ohio North Youth Coach of the Year (1998)
  • LEYPSL Youth Coach of the Year (1998)
  • Coached the 1983 Cleveland United Boy’s Team to the Nike Cup Championship(1998)
  • Coached the 1983 Cleveland United Boy’s Team at the 1998 Youth World Cup in Paris, France
  • Coached the 1983 Cleveland United Boy’s team to the 1999 Region 2 Regional Championship – First boy’s team to achieve this title in Ohio North’s history

Blake New

Head Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • NSCAA Diploma
  • USSF National "C" License
  • Oberlin College Men’s Soccer Head Coach (1999-present)
  • Oberlin College Women’s Soccer Head Coach (1996-1999)

Notes:

  • Played Professionally for the Cleveland Crunch (MISL)
  • Played Professionally for the Canton Invaders (NPSL)
  • Played Professionally for the Cleveland Caps (USISL)
  • Played Collegiately at Cleveland State University (1996-1999)
  • Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from CSU
  • Resides in Oberlin with his wife, Jessa, and their daughters, Madalyn and Maia

Kiko Lopez

Head Coach
Coaching Experience:

  • Director of Coaching for Kiko’s Dribbling Soccer School 1974-Present
  • Cleveland United Soccer Club 1994-Present
  • Cleveland Kickers Soccer Club 2010-2012
  • Avon Lake HS Girls Soccer Head Coach 2006-2011
  • Avon Lake HS Girls Soccer Assistant Coach 2002-2005
  • Cleveland Whitecaps 2004
  • St. Edward HS 1995-2000
  • Berea Girls HS 1994
  • Inter Soccer Club 1981-1993
  • Emerald Soccer Club 1977-1981
  • Cleveland Latinos F.C. Adults Soccer 1982-1985
  • San Salvador Technical Industrial HS Boys Soccer 1974-1975
  • USSF “C” License
  • Member of the International Coaches Association
  • Member of the Center of Ethical Youth Coaching

Notes:

  • Coach of the Year - SWC Conference 2010
  • Coach of the Year - Lorain County 2010
  • Coach of the Year – All Greater Cleveland 2010
  • Played professional First Division
  • In El Salvador: C.D. Universidad 1970-1972, C.D. FAS 1976-1977, Once Lobos FC 1977
  • Played 1st Division for Panamerican Bulls FC 1978-1985
  • Kiko resides in Avon Lake with his wife Delci and they have 3 daughters named Cheril, Tani and Mariela and their granddaughter Sofia. 

Iman Bearde

Head Coach
Coaching Experience:

  • USSF National "C" Coaching License
  • NSCAA Advanced National License
  • NSCAA Director of Coaching Certificate
  • Cal-South Pro+ Olympic Development Program Scout

Playing Experience:

  • USASA West Regional team 2006
  • NCAA Lettered two seasons at D1 Portland State 2007-2009
  • WPSL Northern California team select 2007-2009
  • NCAA Pac 12 Lettered two seasons at D1 UCLA 2009-2011
  • WPSL Ajax America team select 2009-2011
  • WPSL Westcoast Wildcatz team select 2012-2014

Daniel Knight

Head Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • Welsh FA C License
  • Cleveland United SC (2015-present)
  • Great Britain Soccer Camps (2012-2015)

Notes:

  • Oldham Athletic Youth and Reserve Teams (2005-2008**Captain 2007-2008)
  • Wales Youth National Team - 26 Caps (2005-2008)
  • Notre Dame Coilege Men's Soccer (2008-2012**Captain 2009-2012)

Dan Blagojevic

Assistant Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • USSF National “D” License
  • Cleveland United Soccer Club (2007-present)
  • Coached for various Youth Premier Clubs in Northern Ohio (2002-2007)
  • Head Coach North Ridgeville High School Boy’s Soccer (199?-2007)
  • JV Coach for Midpark High School Boy’s Soccer

Notes:

  • Played for Karadjordje Stars on the Lake Erie Amateur Soccer League
  • Played Collegiately for Cuyahoga Community College
  • North Ridgeville Youth Soccer Player Development Director
  • North Ridgeville Youth Soccer Travel Director
  • Married with two children, Ryan and Danielle

Antal Petrik

Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • Cleveland United SC (2016-present)
  • Notes:

Marko Raduka

Club Executive Director 

Coaching Experience:

  • USSF National “B” License
  • Cleveland United SC (1998-present)
  • Canton United SC (2008-present)
  • Notre Dame College Men’s Assistant (2006-2013)

Notes:

  • Played Semi-professionally for Palm Beach Pumas (PDL)
  • Played Collegiately at Ashland University (2 time All GLIAC Team)
  • Played Collegiately at Duquesne University
  • Former Cleveland United player (81/82 team that won 6 state titles)
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 95/96 White that won USYSA Region II Championship (2012) (2014)
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 95/96 White that won USYSA National League Championship (2013) * 1st time in Ohio North History *
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 95/96 White that won USYSA National Championship (2013) * 1st time in Ohio North History *
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 95/96 White that finished 2nd place in the USYSA National Championship (2014)
  • 2013 OYSAN Competitive Girls Coach of the Year
  • Assistant Coach for Notre Dame College that were NAIA National Finalists (2010)
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 00/01 White that won US Club National Championship (2015)
  • Head Coach for Cleveland United Girls 02/03 White that won US Club National Championship (2016)

Michael Smith

Boy's Program Director

Coaching Experience:

  • Cleveland United Soccer Club since 2014
  • Director HFESI Ball for Vision 2007-Present
  • Cal South Pro + Scout 2012-2013
  • USSF National “C” License 
  • DC Scores Program 1996-2001

Notes:

  • Played for Mount Union College 1992-1993
    • All conference selection for Ohio Athletic Conference 1992
  • Received Division 1 athletic scholarship to Nationally Ranked Howard University 1993-1996
  • Region II Olympic Development Program 1987-1992
  • Greater Akron All-Star Game 1992
  • Traveled to Italy and Yugoslavia to play in the 1990 Verona Cup and friendlies against 1990-1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade and Hajduk Split.

Drago Dumbovic

Girl's Program Director

Coaching Experience:

  • Cleveland United Soccer Club Girl's Program Director (2014-present)
  • Canton United Soccer Club Girl's Program Director (2014-2016)
  • Vardar (North) Soccer Club (MI) Club Director (2004-2012)
  • Head Coach, Saginaw Valley State Univ Women's Soccer  - NCAA DII (2002-2013)
  • Head Coach,  Detroit Rockers - NPSL  (1999-2001)

Notes:

  • 23 Year Professional Career in Croatia and United States
  • GNK Dinamo Zagreb - Yugoslavian First Division (1976-1983)
  • CISL/MISL/NPSL (various teams) Detroit Rockers, Detroit Neon, Hershey Impact, Washington Diplomats, Atlanta Attack, Baltimore Blast, Maryland Bays, Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers, and Pittsburgh Spirit (1983-1999)

David Wilson

Head Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • Cleveland United Soccer Club  since 2012
  •  

Notes:

Vlado Hrelja

Goalkeeper Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • FSJF Goalkeeper “A” License
  • Cleveland United Soccer Club (1989-present)
  • Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach – Case Western Reserve University (2005-present)

Notes:

  • Played Professionally in Italy
  • Worked with the Croatian National Team’s Goalkeeper Trainers (1999)

Don Golas

Head Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • USSF National "D" License
  • NSCAA GK 1 and 2 Diploma
  • Cleveland United Soccer Club 2015-present
  • CFC Club Coach 2010 – 2015 ( Boys and Girls)
  • CKLA ( Cleveland Kickers Lakewood Academy )  2009-2010  Speed/Agility  and Goal Keeper Coach
  • Nike Camp Staff Coach Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Illinois – 2011 Present

Notes:

  • Brunswick HS 1985-1988 - 3 year Letterman
  • 1st Team All-Medina County
  • 1st Team Pioneer Conference
  • Greater Akron Division 2 All–Star Team Selection
  • Club Soccer at The Ohio State University
  • Cleveland West – NorthCoast Soccer League 2007-2015

John Bena

Head Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • Notes:

Chad Poniewasz

Coach

Coaching Experience:

  • USSF "D" License (Maryland State)
  • Cleveland United Soccer Club - 2006/2005s Blue Team (2016-present)
  • FC Barcelona Escola Maryland Camp - Coaching Coordinator (2015)
  • FC Barcelona Escola Maryland Camp - Assistant Coach (2014 and 2015)
  • FC Barcelona Escola Coaching Clinic (2014 and 2015)
  • FC Barcelona Escola International Youth Tournament - Head Coach of the Preformacio/U10s - Barcelona, Spain (2015)
  • Soccer Association of Columbia (Maryland) - Head Travel Coach U10 and U11 (2013-2015)
  • Soccer Association of Columbia (Maryland) - Head Select Coach U9 (2012-2013)
  • Soccer Association of Columbia (Maryland) - Head Rec Coach (2010-2012)
  • Various Coaching courses to include 3Four3's Coaching Summit in Las Vegas and various DC United coaching classes in Washington , DC                                                 Notes:
  • Married to wife Irene, and has three daughters, Anthonette, Ava and Amelia