The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that FC Baltimore (Baltimore, MD) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will compete in the Northeast Region’s Mid-Atlantic Conference.
“It’s exciting news that the NPSL is coming to Baltimore,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “FC Baltimore is bringing a tremendous organization to the city and I know soccer supporters in the region will be thrilled by this news.”
The leadership of FC Baltimore includes Project Manager Joe Shargorodsky, Director of Soccer Operations Alex Lubyansky, Director of Community Relations/Goalkeeping Coach William Vanzela, Head Coach Brandon Quaranta, Chief Financial Officer Paul Zlotolow, and Director of Digital Media and Branding Gary Pyatigorsky.
Shargorodsky and Lubyansky, brothers born in Ukraine who grew up in Michigan, have always had a passion for soccer. Both played at youth clubs and in high school, and Lubyansky went on to play for the University of Michigan and then for Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine. Furthermore, Lubyansky was the 2005 NPSL National Championship MVP in a thrilling double-overtime shutout performance for Detroit Arsenal. Thirteen years later, the brothers seek another NPSL title, this time as co-owners of FC Baltimore.
Born in Brazil and instilled with a supernatural passion for soccer, Vanzela has played and coached at the highest levels of the game. He is the current starting goalkeeper for the Baltimore Blast, Baltimore’s championship-winning professional indoor soccer team. He is also the goalkeeping coach at Johns Hopkins University.
Quaranta has led teams to three US Soccer Youth Soccer National Championships (2010, 2014, 2015). During the same time, he has been an incredible high school soccer coach in one of the most competitive states in the nation. Most impressively, he led McDonogh School to a state championship with an undefeated run in 2015. This success has led him to be a two-time recipient of the NSCAA Maryland State Coach of the Year award.
Born in Argentina and having grown up in Philadelphia, Zlotolow has had a lifelong love for soccer. A promising soccer career, including playing at the college varsity level and briefly in the pros, was cut short by a leg injury. Since that time, he has managed and grown several companies with a tremendous track record of success. He will be overseeing the finances as well as much of the operations of FC Baltimore.
Pyatigorsky’s passion and competition in sports transfers over in everything he does in life. He is the CEO and CFO of Netembark LLC, a full service digital marketing agency and brings over 17 years of digital marketing experience. Before Netembark, he spent four years managing the Branding and Field Marketing Department for Philip Morris. He has been featured in numerous publications, including Business Week, Business Insider, and Forbes. As a Director of Digital Media and Branding for FC Baltimore, Pyatigorsky will identify new and creative digital marketing growth strategies and evaluate trends, tools, and technologies within the digital marketing landscape.
“We expect to field a highly competitive team while providing a fun game day experience for our fans,” Lubyansky added. “We bring a tremendous competitive spirit and desire to contribute to the development of high-level soccer in this country. I know firsthand what it takes to win in the NPSL, and the team will build upon this championship-winning experience to bring the trophy to Baltimore.”
More information about the club can be found at www.fcbaltimore1729.com or by following the club on Instagram (@fcbaltimore1729), Facebook (@fcbaltimore1729), and Twitter (@fcbaltimore1729).
