Today we’d like to introduce you to Ele Margelos.
Hi Ele , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Ele Margelos, I am 33 years old. I was born in Bulgaria and was adopted at 3 1/2 years old and have lived in Maryland ever since. I was given a soccer ball at 4 years old and never let go of the ball since. It was in my blood. It was going to be my identity and it is. It is my safe space, my therapy, and my extrovert self. It is a world where I feel most confident. Throughout growing up I played on various teams. After college I stepped away a little from the game. Didn’t have the collegiate career I was really hoping for. I needed surgery on my shins ( anterior compartment syndrome)
First surgery didn’t really work which was during the summer going into my Junior year. I was still having pain, couldn’t run for more than 5 minutes due to drop foot along with severe tightness. I had another surgery after college to release all the compartments which helped a lot, but at that point I was out of college and didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. Fast forward to a few years later (2018), I accepted a job as the Women’s Soccer Head Coach for Washington Adventist University. I learned a lot from being in that position, both on and off the pitch. However, twice a week I saw this men’s team train after us and I mean TRAIN. They trained like a pro team, but I was nervous to ask the coach about the team. I finally got the courage to chat with the coach and he said, “ Jump in and train with us.” I was taken back because a lot of times as women we get shut down if we want to train with men. This was a well organized, professional training that I kept seeing and it made me get my itch back. He gave me a chance and brought back the fun I was searching for. “If you know the game, you know the game.” I was enjoying training, learning, and being a kid again. I got that love of the game back. That coach that let me train with his team is my mentor till this day. I will forever be grateful. I am always learning from him, not just in football, but in life. I made a decision to take a risk and change my whole lifestyle to become a pro player. I trained everyday, I changed my diet, was doing recovery everyday, and I stayed disciplined and consistent for about 2 years. I was pushed to limits I never would have imagined , EVER. I never knew it was within me. I never put my mind, body, and soul to a goal like this. I was playing the best football of my life. I was so close to getting trials and getting my foot in the door. I was having conversations with Pro coaches and everything. I was so close……..
COVID-19 hit.
I never got the chance to go and tryout or have trials. I tried and I tried, just wasn’t t in my path of life. This took me at least two years to really get past it and accept it.
I am now 33 years old. I had to really challenge my mind and go on a detour. At that time I had eyes on ONE THING ONLY which was being a professional soccer player. 2024 is when I decided to take sharing my knowledge of the game both on and off seriously to as many people as I can. Both youth and adult.
I have my own private training business (Ele Soccer Training) that has a wide range of footballers. I have ballHERS ( girls) that range from 7-35 and ballers ( boys) that range from 10-30. It is my duty now to teach and facilitate not just the game, but how to navigate your mind on and off the pitch. I am enjoying every step of the way thus far and there is more to come. Stay tuned!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth, no. Everyone will have struggles. The wave of life is like our heartbeat. The struggles or the “failures” that I had were lessons. The doubt or failure brought more motivation. I try not to get addicted too much to the wins that the failures or struggles get a chokehold of me.
Being a woman/woman coach/ private training coach is very difficult in this field. You get a lot of coaches and players look the other way because you are a woman, but they don’t know your caliber. A lot of times I wanted to work or partner with some clubs or coaches and just don’t even give you the time of day. I was taught don’t worry about the dead and you only need the 1 yes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ele Soccer Training ?
Ele Soccer Training is here to ELEvate your level and make sure you excel in every aspect of the game. My job is to challenge you starting with your brain.
Firm believer of thinking the game not just playing the game. Advocate of making sure you are technically sound.
I offer individual, group, and team trainings in the DMV. I would love if this could get big enough to travel all around the world.
I want to represent the women coaches/ especially the women that have their own private training business. Where I am from it is very rare to see. Soon I want to see more women running individual trainings not just for women, but for men too!
You can find me on Instagram at ele1on1.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Can’t pick one, but here are a few. Washington Freedom running a session for us, Mia Hamm coming out 3 times to coach us, winning State Cup, Winning 4a States at Quince Orchard Hs.
Pricing:
- $100 individual Training
- $720 for 6 session
- $880 for 8 sessions
- $1,000 for 10 sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elesoccer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ele1on1/profilecard/?igsh=MTZtNDF3cWpkbnc3YQ==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ele1on1?si=tG1fvuReweBAlfTp
