Alfred Kleinaitis

Our most notable member is Alfred Kleinaitis. His soccer playing career was with the Liths Soccer Club in the 1950's and 60's. With his wife's suggestion he turned to officiating in the 70's and his career skyrocketed. An article in the Chicago Tribune in 1993 chronicals this part of his life, read it here.

He officiated many high school and college game and was inducted in to the National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association Hall of Fame in 1992.

He also officiated at the professional soccer level, refereeing in the North american Soccer League in 1984-85.

He became an international FIFA referee in 1985 through 1990 and officiated in the 1987 Pan-American Games and in several Wolrd Cup Qualifiers. In 1990 he became the first American referee to officiate a game between two European teams in Europe - Ireland vs Soviet Union in Dublin.

After his mandatory retirement from FIFA at age 50, Alfred went on to work with US Soccer in developing and instructiing offiicals.

In 1995 Alfred was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame and in 2003 received US Soccer's Eddie Pearson Award:

The award is presented to an individual from the referee community that displays the following:
   Distinguished contributions to the U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
   Involvement with the program has spanned at least 20 years

Alfred has had an incredible career and the Liths Soccer Club is very proud of his accomplishments.

Click for picture album

Photos courtesy of US Soccer

John Putna

John had a very active career in soccer starting with high school (Quigley South, Chicago) 1972-76. Interestingly, Alfred Kleinaitis officiated his first game as a referee at Quigley in 1973.

His collegiate career was at Indiana University, Bllomington (1976-79). The team was highly ranked and the 1977 team finished 2nd in the country. Here is a team picture and a list of all the players on that fantastic team.

He also played in the Chicago Soccer leagues for the Maroons during his high school and college years.

In 1980-81 he played for the San Diego Soccers in the NASL and in 1981-82 season he went on to play with the Denver Avalanche in the MISL.

After his professional career he came back to Chicago Soccer playing for the Marrons, Liths, Eagles and Adria before settling in permanently with the Liths from 1990 to 2006. The 1987-88 Adria and 1992 Liths teams won championships.

John is now retired in sunny Florida, but soccer remains in his blood and his family. His son Andrew has been playing for Real Salt Lake in the MLS since 2018

Henry Jenig

Henry started his soccer career in 1952 playing for Schwaben A.C. through 1955 then with the Wanderers in 1956. He joined the Liths in 1957 during the indoor season. His skills were so well respected that he was invited to play with the Chicago "All-Stars" in 1960.

During his years with the Liths soccer Club besides playing he also was a member of the board and was president (1965-66). He also was an active coach for the youth and women's teams and managed the old-timers.

In 1984 he received the Meritorious Service Award from the Illnois State Soccer Association (details of the award are not available because the ISSA historical records were destroyed during a flood).

Soccer was a family affair, with his Wife and his 5 sons playing soccer at various times.

Henry passed away on August 29,2023.He sahll be missed.

Bruno Trapikas

Bruno started playing soccer at the age of 10 with the Liths Soccer Club when the first youngsters team was organized. He quickly became enamored with the game and played at all the levels within the club (youngsters, youth, reserves, men's first team and veterans). He managed the reserve team for five years and was on the board for numerous years in various positions including President from 1983 to 1985.

While in school, Trapikas played for Brother Rice HS’s very first squad, and was inducted into that school’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 1990, then at the University of Illinois at Chicago for four years.

His soccer was not limited to just the Liths Club, he was also a member of the National Soccer League (NSL) and was its President from 1981 through 1982. At the state level, Trapikas served the Illinois State Soccer Association as its Vice-President, Secretary, and State Cups Commissioner, during various periods between 1984 and 1995, and was inducted into the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004. Trapikas was Deputy Director of the Midwest Region, United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) from 1991-1996, its Director from 1996-2013, and USASA’s National Hall of Fame Chairman, 2005-2017. From 1996 to 2006, he sat on the National Board of Directors of the US Soccer Federation.

Trapikas was also Vice Chairman of World Cup Chicago from 1987-1994, and received a Special Service Award in 1994 for his work with organizing the 1994 World Cup games in Chicago. In 2007, he was inducted into the USASA Hall of Fame, and, in 2017, he became a life member of the US Soccer Federation, (one of only 21 individuals) so honored today.

And as if that wasn't enough, in 1994 he even started a cable-access program called "Soccer Illinois".

Even in semi-retirement in Michigan, he found time to be active in soccer, coaching at the youth level from 2010-2012, and becoming President of the Jaier Soccer Club for a three-year period. The game is in his blood.