Our Coaches
Alessandro Pappalardo
Founder and Lead Coach
Alessandro brings nearly three decades of playing experience and over 13 years of coaching experience across Europe, the United States, and Canada. Originally from Italy, he played professionally and semi-professionally with clubs including Pro Vercelli, Giana Erminio, Racing Luxembourg, Mamer FC, and Portland Phoenix, while also coaching within academy systems at high-performance levels.
Now based in Canada, Alessandro has coached with Cal West and Chinooks Soccer Club, and was named Head Coach for Team Alberta’s U17 Girls squad at the Canada Games. His coaching experience also includes NCAA Division III soccer with Bates College in Maine, as well as leading a varsity girls high school program in the United States.
Alessandro holds a UEFA A License and is currently completing his Concacaf A License, alongside multiple certifications in youth development, video analysis, futsal, and technical training. His coaching philosophy is rooted in technical mastery, repetition, cognitive awareness, and high-speed decision-making. Sessions are highly progressive and intense, but always empowering and enjoyable for players.
Known for his honesty, professionalism, and high standards, Alessandro creates environments where players are challenged to grow while feeling supported every step of the way. He believes the game is one of the greatest tools for building resilience, discipline, confidence, and character, both on and off the field.
Above all, Alessandro is passionate about helping young players unlock their full potential and develop a lifelong love for the game.
Licenses:
UEFA A License
Concacaf A License
Canada Soccer Children’s License
Canada Soccer Youth License
Coerver Youth Diploma 1 and 2
Multiple Video Analysis Certifications
Futsal Intro Course Certificate
Certified Learning Facilitator
Victoria Baker
Coach
Victoria was born in South Africa and started playing soccer when she moved to Canada at the age of 9. She played at a high level both in Canada and England. Driven by her deep passion and love for the game, she became a youth coach, eager to share her knowledge and cultivate the same enthusiasm for soccer in young players.
Her coaching journey started at McKenzie United Soccer Club 13 years ago, where she coached within the Academy and Grassroots Programs. Serving as a Technical Lead Coach, she had the privilege of guiding multiple girls' teams spanning the U9 to U14 age groups, fostering both skill development and team cohesion. During this same time, Victoria also served as an Assistant Coach within the Alberta Soccer Provincial girls program, supporting the 2004 and 2006 girls teams. Her contributions played a pivotal role in their development and success within a competitive environment.
Victoria later joined Chinooks Soccer Club as the Grassroots Director, where she designed and executed the grassroots program while also serving as the Technical Lead Coach within the Skills Center and Academy Programs. Alongside these responsibilities, she took on the role of head coach for the U10 and U11 girls teams, contributing significantly to player development during crucial stages of their soccer journey.
She continued her coaching and leadership career with New Frontier Soccer Club as the U10-U12 Phase Lead. In this role, she oversaw every aspect of the program, including player development, coach mentorship, training curriculum, team progression, and overall program standards. She worked closely with coaches, players, and families to help create a positive, challenging, and development-focused environment for young athletes.
While Victoria eventually stepped away from full-time soccer leadership to pursue her passion for early childhood education and entrepreneurship, founding Piccoli Early Learning Centre, she could never fully step away from the game she loves. She currently coaches the U17 Tier 1 Girls team at New Frontier Soccer Club, continuing to mentor and develop players at a highly competitive level.
Victoria is deeply passionate about developing players’ individual skills and technical abilities, believing this is the foundation of all successful team play. She believes that if players are not confident and comfortable on the ball, they cannot effectively execute tactical concepts within the game. Her coaching philosophy places a strong emphasis on technical development, ball mastery, confidence, and decision-making, helping players build the tools needed to succeed both individually and within a team environment.
Licenses:
Community License Certified
Canada Soccer CONCACAF B Diploma
Canada Soccer C Diploma
Certified Learning Facilitator
daan klomp
Coach
Daan has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember, beginning his journey at grassroots level at just 4 years old. Born into the game (his first jersey was an AFC Ajax shirt gifted at birth), soccer has always been a defining part of his life.
His development accelerated at age 10 when he joined the JVOZ academy, a high-performance program that brought together the top players in the region to compete against elite Dutch clubs such as PSV and Feyenoord. Training five times a week in a structured, high-intensity environment, this experience laid the foundation for his technical and tactical growth. At 15, he joined the NAC Breda professional academy and went on to sign his first professional contract with the senior team.
Daan’s playing career included loan experience in the Dutch second division with Top Oss, where he faced early adversity through injury and the challenges of transitioning into senior professional football. These experiences built resilience, discipline, and a deep understanding of the demands of the game. He later made his professional debut for NAC Breda (ironically against his boyhood club, AFC Ajax).
He went on to play for Helmond Sport before a COVID-shortened season disrupted his momentum, leading to a period of uncertainty where he trained independently for nearly a year in pursuit of his next opportunity. In 2021, Daan signed with Cavalry FC in Canada, where he spent four successful seasons, winning the 2023 CPL Shield and the 2024 North Star Cup. During this time, he also earned individual recognition, including back-to-back Defender of the Year and Player of the Year honours. After a short stint in Belgium, he has returned with renewed purpose and ambition.
Daan began coaching in 2022 alongside his playing career, initially leading small-group technical sessions focused on individual development. In 2024, he joined Cavalry FC’s U21 program as an assistant coach, gaining experience in a high-performance environment working with elite athletes.
His coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that great players are built through consistency, discipline, and a strong relationship with the ball. He emphasizes that confidence is earned through competence, developed through repetition, effort, and a willingness to learn from setbacks.
For Daan, soccer is about relationships, shared experiences, and the environments that shape players both on and off the field. He believes young players should work hard, embrace mistakes, and never lose the joy of the game.
At The Player Lab, Daan is passionate about bringing structure, clarity, and real technical development to every player he works with to help them build a strong foundation, grow in confidence, and unlock their full potential.