Al Zerhusen
Encyclopedia
Al Zerhusen is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
who played extensively for the U.S. national team
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
When Zerhusen was five, his family moved from New York to Germany
where he learned to play soccer. He moved back to the U.S. in 1950 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio
. However, he was soon after drafted into the Army. After a period stationed in Germany, Zerhusen was transferred back to a base in Cincinnati. In 1956, he played for the Armed Forces soccer team in Cincinnati. At the time soccer was not a truly professional sport in the U.S. so when Zerhusen left the Army, he remained an amateur with the Cincinnati Kolping Soccer Club. In 1956, he was selected for the U.S. team
which competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics
. The Olympic tournament in 1956 was single game elimination and the U.S. lost 9-1 to Yugoslavia in the first game, Zerhusen scoring for the U.S. However, in preparation for the games, the U.S. had played several exhibition matches and Zerhusen scored seventeen goals in nine games leading up to the Olympics.
While many sources show Zerhusen’s national team career beginning in 1956, none of the U.S. games played during this year are counted by USSF or FIFA
as full internationals. It wasn’t until the April 7, 1957 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Mexico
in a 1958 World Cup Qualifier that Zerhusen earned his first official cap with the U.S. national team
. After losing all four qualifying games, two to Mexico and two to Canada, the next U.S. game was an 8-1 loss to England
in 1959. However, that year saw greater success for the U.S. at the Pan American games. In the 1959 Pan American Games
, the U.S. took the bronze behind ten goals by Zerhusen, including four goals in the game against Haiti. A month later the U.S. began qualifications for the 1960 Summer Olympics
, but was quickly eliminated with a loss and a tie to Mexico.
In 1960, Zerhusen scored his only goal in a full international when he tied Mexico
3-3 in a 1962 FIFA World Cup
qualifier. However, Mexico won the game in Mexico and the U.S. had yet again failed to qualify for a major tournament. Zerhusen continued to play for the U.S. into 1965, earning a total of nine caps, but never again scoring.
By this time, Zerhusen had established himself as one of the top amateur midfielders in the U.S. He was the captain of the Los Angeles Kickers
for ten years. In both 1958 and 1964, the Kickers won the U.S. Open Cup
. The Kickers also made it to the 1960 Open Cup finals, but fell to the Ukrainian Nationals that year. In 1961, Zerhusen was with the Los Angeles Scots who also fell to the Ukrainian Nationals in the title series. The Scots lost 7-4 on aggregate, with Zerhusen scoring all four of the Scots’ goals. Over his years with the Kickers and the Scots, Zerhusen was the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League’s leading scorer 13 times.
In 1978, Zerhusen was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
He is still active as the Director of the Los Angeles Soccer Club. He also coaches several of the club's teams.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played extensively for the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
When Zerhusen was five, his family moved from New York to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he learned to play soccer. He moved back to the U.S. in 1950 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. However, he was soon after drafted into the Army. After a period stationed in Germany, Zerhusen was transferred back to a base in Cincinnati. In 1956, he played for the Armed Forces soccer team in Cincinnati. At the time soccer was not a truly professional sport in the U.S. so when Zerhusen left the Army, he remained an amateur with the Cincinnati Kolping Soccer Club. In 1956, he was selected for the U.S. team
United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 297 competitors, 251 men and 46 women, took part in 139 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Bobby Morrow — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
which competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. The Olympic tournament in 1956 was single game elimination and the U.S. lost 9-1 to Yugoslavia in the first game, Zerhusen scoring for the U.S. However, in preparation for the games, the U.S. had played several exhibition matches and Zerhusen scored seventeen goals in nine games leading up to the Olympics.
While many sources show Zerhusen’s national team career beginning in 1956, none of the U.S. games played during this year are counted by USSF or FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
as full internationals. It wasn’t until the April 7, 1957 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in a 1958 World Cup Qualifier that Zerhusen earned his first official cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. After losing all four qualifying games, two to Mexico and two to Canada, the next U.S. game was an 8-1 loss to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1959. However, that year saw greater success for the U.S. at the Pan American games. In the 1959 Pan American Games
Football at the 1959 Pan American Games
The third edition of the football tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Chicago, Illinois, from August 21 to September 5, 1959. Seven teams did compete in a round-robin competition, with Argentina defending the title once again.-Matches:...
, the U.S. took the bronze behind ten goals by Zerhusen, including four goals in the game against Haiti. A month later the U.S. began qualifications for the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, but was quickly eliminated with a loss and a tie to Mexico.
In 1960, Zerhusen scored his only goal in a full international when he tied Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
3-3 in a 1962 FIFA World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
qualifier. However, Mexico won the game in Mexico and the U.S. had yet again failed to qualify for a major tournament. Zerhusen continued to play for the U.S. into 1965, earning a total of nine caps, but never again scoring.
By this time, Zerhusen had established himself as one of the top amateur midfielders in the U.S. He was the captain of the Los Angeles Kickers
Los Angeles Kickers
The Los Angeles Kickers are an amateur American soccer team established in 1951 which has won two U.S. Open Cups.In 1951, Albert Ebert and Fritz Ermit founded the Los Angeles Kickers as a predominantly German immigrant team. Within a few seasons, it shed its German identity and became a powerhouse...
for ten years. In both 1958 and 1964, the Kickers won the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
. The Kickers also made it to the 1960 Open Cup finals, but fell to the Ukrainian Nationals that year. In 1961, Zerhusen was with the Los Angeles Scots who also fell to the Ukrainian Nationals in the title series. The Scots lost 7-4 on aggregate, with Zerhusen scoring all four of the Scots’ goals. Over his years with the Kickers and the Scots, Zerhusen was the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League’s leading scorer 13 times.
In 1978, Zerhusen was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
He is still active as the Director of the Los Angeles Soccer Club. He also coaches several of the club's teams.