Meet Coach Melina!

Meet Coach Melina. She is the coach for our 3rd Grade Virtue team and also coaches girls in our free after school programs at Flynn Elementary and Sanchez Elementary in San Francisco's Mission District. We are so happy to have her as one of our amazing coaches and team members!

What is your soccer story? (How did you come to play soccer in your youth (and where), did you play in high school, college, travel. Do you play as an adult?)

I grew up in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where fútbol is the #1 passion: World Cup month is almost a national holiday! I grew up watching soccer - I’m a Boca Juniors fan - and playing with my brother and his friends after school. Since soccer is largely a men only sport in Argentina, I only got to start playing in female teams as an adult, in corporate tournaments. I’ve since played in different recreational leagues and this year I joined GLG as a coach. In every new job that I started and new city that I moved to, soccer helped me find a sense of belonging.

Favorite position in soccer? Right Defense

What is your professional / adult history? (interesting past jobs, or other experiences, Peace Corp, etc)

I studied Business Administration in Mar del Plata and completed my masters degree in Finance at the University of San Andres in Buenos Aires. I started my career in accounting roles, but after an energizing semester abroad in Chicago, I was ready to make a career transition. I joined a latinamerican e-commerce company, where I worked the last 6 years in roles that spanned investor relations, corporate venture capital, M&A, and strategy.

How did you end up in SF and at GLG? 

I moved from Argentina in January of this year to support my husband in his new work assignment. I found the challenge super exciting and soon realized I needed to get involved with the local community. When I came across GLG, I felt immediately connected to the mission of empowering young women through soccer. I found a welcoming, open, positive, and inspiring environment and I’m so proud and grateful to be a part of it!

What is the most important thing you want your players to understand -- the one takeaway from the Fall season? 

I want them to understand that we are not born good or bad at certain things. If we work hard, keep practicing, and persevere, we have the ability to learn any skill.

What is your superpower?

My superpower is that I never give up!