Our mission is to provide meaningful soccer development opportunities for young men and women from the East Side of Chicago, the South Side of Chicago, the South Suburbs, and Northwest Indiana, regardless of socioeconomic background.

 

Gio’s Lions Soccer Club was founded in 2017 in the East Side of Chicago—an officially designated community area of the city—by Savino Leon. The club was originally named Lions S.C. In 2020, the name was changed to honor the memory of Savino’s son, Gio.

On October 23, 2021, while attending his older brother’s soccer game, Gio was playing nearby with a teammate after finishing their own match. As they crossed the street to retrieve a ball, Gio was tragically struck by a vehicle. Surrounded by his family and loved ones, Gio passed away the following day.

In his honor, the club was renamed Gio’s Lions S.C. His spirit, love for the game, and joy continue to inspire everything we do.

We Play for Gio!