Occupation: I’m a professional coach. I have a training company, AV Soccer Academy, and have been doing that for 17 years. I also own an apparel company with my wife called Calcio è Vita Lifestyle, which means “football is life” in Italian. My wife is a graphic designer, and we started that up in June. It’s for people who are fanatics and love the sport — like me — that want to represent that by wearing gear. I’m also a paraprofessional at Fairfield Woods Middle School, where I work with physically and mentally disabled kids, and I’m the head coach at Masuk High School.

Family: My son Matteo is 6 and in first grade at Middle Gate Elementary. My son Maxwell is 3 and will be going to preschool at The Learning Experience next year. My wife, Kimberly, and I have been together for 18 years. We started dating in our senior year of high school at Jonathan Law in Milford. We’ve been married for eight years.

Pets: Unfortunately, our beagle, Rocky, who we had for 15 years, just passed away. We do have two chickens and a rabbit.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Seven years in Sandy Hook. We moved here because a buddy of mine said how great the school systems are and we wanted a lot of property. We found a beautiful house that has two acres of land and have been here ever since.

What do you like to do in your free time? We love to go up to Vermont and to hang out with family. We are always active and doing something.

Do you have a favorite book? Inverting The Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics by Jonathan Wilson, Calcio by John Foot, and Into Thin Air and Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer.

What is your favorite travel destination? Bar Harbor, Maine. Also, I was fortunate enough to go to Italy twice. My wife and I are planning our trip back and will be going to Torino to see a game.

What is the best part about Newtown? The community. Wherever you go everyone is so friendly and accommodating. It’s an amazing place to raise a family.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My mom and dad, Maria and John. They have always been extremely supportive. The person who changed my life is my grandfather, Ergidio Marini. He passed way, but he injected me with the passion for the sport. In 1994, when the World Cup came to this country, I watched it with him, and that was it; I was hooked from that point on.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? If I had to choose someone not alive it would be Winston Churchill. In terms of what he stood for, his leadership, and ability to speak to crowds interests me as a coach. Someone alive, I would choose is Roberto Baggio, who is my favorite player of all time. I’d love to just pass the ball with him — but I don’t know if I’d even be standing if I did that. I’d be in awe.

Who is your favorite musical artist? My favorite band is Red Hot Chili Peppers. When “Under the Bridge” came out, that’s when I got hooked. I’m very eclectic, though. I listen to everything from Tim McGraw all the way to Snoop Dogg.

Do you have a favorite TV show? It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. My wife and I watch it together and get to just laugh.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? My mom and dad would tell me, “Just be yourself; just be Tony.”

What is something you cannot live without? Family, without question. Then soccer.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Being a dad. In my profession, it’s been developing players to become better human beings. Not necessarily winning titles — that is secondary. I want the kids I’m coaching to be important to society. I love hearing what they’ve accomplished.