Hellenic United AC | Chicago, IL

The roots of Hellenic United Athletic Club (HUAC) can be traced back to Hellas Soccer Club founded on Chicago's northside in 1979 by Lakis Kehagias, Chris Kehagias, Tom Kontos, Jim Kritikos, Kostas Kostaras, Ted Koulouris, Nikos Kaliabasis, Nick Giannopoulos, Andreas Saradopoulos and Demos Giannopoulos. That club competed in the National Soccer League (N.S.L.) for several decades, both in the Men's Open and Men's Over 30 levels. By the early 2000's, the club fielded only Men's Over 30 and Over 40 sides, as many of the original members and club stalwarts had advanced in age.

In 2004, Yiannis Kosmas and Spiros Arsenis took over as managers of the Hellas S.C. Over 30 side, bringing with them renewed enthusiasm and fresh new ideas. In 2008, Kosmas and Arsenis founded Hellenic United A.C. as a strictly Over 30 Men's side when Hellas S.C.'s steering committee decided to give the "younger generation" a chance to form a new club under a different name.

Kosmas and Arsenis then embarked upon their vision of a Hellenic-based soccer club with teams at various levels. In the spring of 2009, their dream became a reality.

In March of 2009, Hellenic United was able to absorb existing National Soccer League Major Division club Royal F.C., largely through the efforts of founder Alen Malkoc and former Royal F.C. and current Hellenic United A.C. player, Yannie Moraitis. Royal F.C. was a grass roots National Soccer League club that had earned its stripes the hard way - winning promotion from the second division to the first division, and then to the major division, in successive years. The merger of Hellenic United A.C. and Royal F.C. under the Hellenic United banner lead to the appearance of a Hellenic club in the N.S.L. Major Division for the first time in over a decade. As part of the merger, Royal F.C.'s founder/player/coach Alen Malkoc was appointed to the newly formed Hellenic United A.C. executive committee. In the process, Malkoc also brought with him numerous talented players, including many from Royal F.C.

A short time later, Kosmas and Arsenis were able to reach agreement with Over 30 Men's tournament side Asteras Chicago on a merger under the Hellenic United A.C. name. Asteras was the reigning two-time Hellenic Soccer Tournament Over 30 (2007, 2008) and 2009 Hellenic Indoor Soccer League (HISL) champion. As a result, Hellenic United A.C. was able to sign several former Asteras Chicago Over 30 players, making an already formidable side even stronger. As part and parcel of this agreement, Asteras' coach/manager Andy Sotiropoulos was named coach of the newly formed Hellenic United A.C. Men's Open side and also appointed to the Hellenic United A.C. executive committee.

At approximately the same time, Kosmas and Arsenis were also able to reach agreement on a merger with National Soccer League Second Division side GR-04. GR-04's Ken Sourounis and Tom Panas were then named to the newly formed Hellenic United A.C. executive committee as a result. Hellenic United A.C. now found itself with teams simultaneously competing in the National Soccer League's Major, Second, and Over 30 divisions, a first in Chicago Greek soccer history.