LEGENDS: Junior Santos of Emerald Force Soccer Club, brought to you by FIRST WATCH

In the first episode of our new series, LEGENDS of the Local Game, brought to you by First Watch, we sit down with Emerald Force Soccer Club’s director of coaching Adelmo “Junior” Santos.

A former professional soccer player for Esporte Clube Vítoria in Brazil, Junior has coached in Knoxville for more than a decade, first for Blount United, then for FC Alliance, and most recently for Emerald Force. He is a known face around town and on the Sansom fields where youth soccer players from around the region gather every weekend for games.

Junior’s knowledge of the beautiful game (and penchant for stylish bicycle kick goals in adult rec league games) was inherited by his son, Leo, who has played in MLS club Nashville SC’s academy and was the youngest player (at 15) named to One Knoxville’s roster this summer.

Tune in to our conversation. And make sure to show your love for our sponsor: a place synonymous with full stomachs, happy memories, and the place where Brian chose to spend his 33rd birthday breakfast with his kids, decked out in full Everton gear, this past February.

First Watch is your go-to spot, for anything Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch. Every First Watch is open daily from 7:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m. with several locations across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Visit FirstWatch.com to find a restaurant near you!