Eclipse Futbol Club

Season 2 Episode 25:  Ali Hanif In this episode, I chat with Ali Hanif, assistant coach for the Illinois State University womens soccer program, who primarily works with the goalkeepers!  How Ali ended in Illinois is an amazing story.  Ali grew up in Manchester walking distance from Old Trafford. Ali got the soccer itch in his early teenage years and slowly fell in love with the game.  He spent time early in his coaching career as part of the Manchester United Academy.  But, Ali was motivated to experience soccer outside England.  He worked with Challenger Sports and spent summers in Kansas training and coaching players.  The more time Ali spent in the U.S., the more he felt called to stay and coach! Ali speaks about the struggle of his cultural traditions and beliefs, and the strain it put on his relationship with his mother.  Eye opening and inspirational! Ali shares his appreciation and respect for other coaches who he has worked with which is so refreshing to hear!  And, as you will hear, he has a gift fo