About Us
Carlos Rocha and Gilbert Barranco are lifelong soccer fans and friends. Each had the dream of living a life surrounding soccer. Together, they turned that passion into SoccerPRO, a leading provider of soccer gear, including shoes, balls, clothing and equipment. SoccerPRO serves players at every level—recreational, competitive, and professional.
From the Soccer Fields to the Stores:
It all started in 2002 when Carlos purchased a small inventory of shoes, shirts, and other soccer accessories. “My eight-year-old daughter was in AYSO, so I went to the fields where she played and sold the gear out of the trunk of my car,” he says. Before he knew it, people started calling his mobile to fill custom orders. He quickly realized that he had an opportunity to fulfill his dream.
Three months later, he moved into his first brick and mortar store in San Carlos, California. Gilbert, a soccer coach and retail chain manager, was a SoccerPRO customer when he and Carlos became lifelong soccer partners.
In 2004 they expanded into the current 2,400-square-foot flagship SoccerPRO store in Redwood City, California. A few years later, they opened a second shop in Belmont, California. Since then, they’ve become a Bay Area establishment, serving everyone from kids preparing for their first soccer game to players turning pro.
Today, SoccerPRO has taken the next leap in its evolution—bringing their burgeoning business online. “It’s a new chapter in the life of SoccerPRO,” says Gilbert. With their expansion into the global marketplace, he and Carlos can now realize their vision of outfitting worldwide players with the best soccer gear.
Soccer Central:
SoccerPRO prides itself on carrying top-quality, popular gear for the passionate soccer fan—oftentimes products that no one else in the area offers.
That high standard has turned the flagship store into a destination for local soccer players and fans alike to meet watch a match and talk soccer. On game days, you’ll find them gathered around the SoccerPRO television cheering on their favorite teams. They might ask Carlos and Gilbert for advice about trainers, local clubs, or nearby soccer happenings.
Giving Back:
SoccerPRO’s commitment to the community also extends outside the store, with in-kind and financial donations to multiple organizations from AYSO to church leagues and competitive clubs.
“We grew up with soccer in our blood,” Gilbert says, who, as a kid, remembers sleeping in his soccer uniform and watching matches from under the bed so his parents wouldn’t catch him staying up past bedtime. “Being an expert, as a parent and coach, drives me to be in this business. Carlos and I know what players are going through. We can give advice about all aspects of the game, techniques, and training.”
That customer focus now stretches beyond SoccerPRO’s brick-and-mortar experience. “Whether it’s in person or online, we give everything we have in terms of service,” says Carlos. “Through our web store, we’re excited to help even more people and contribute to the growth of soccer worldwide.”
