Denny Vaninger
Encyclopedia
Dennis “Denny” Vaninger is a former U.S. soccer forward
who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League
and at least two seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He also won the 1971 U.S. Amateur Cup with St. Louis Kutis
. He continues to coach youth soccer in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri
.
and attended St. Mary's High School
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. The team won the 1970 Missouri State high school championship. That season, Vaninger scored twenty-three goals.http://prepsports.stltoday.com/ssi/prep/stories2000.nsf/soccer-boys/story/5F5953CD17947B138625691500530F0D?OpenDocument After graduating from high school, Vaninger attended St. Louis Florisant Valley Community College
from 1970 to 1972. He played two seasons on the school’s soccer team, earning junior college All American honors both seasons. Florisant Valley won the national junior college championship in both 1970 and 1971.http://www.stlcc.edu/fv/athletics/text/awards.html In addition to playing with Florisant Valley, Vaninger was also a member of St. Louis Kutis
. In 1971, Kutis won the U.S. National Amateur Cup
. Vaninger assisted on the third of Kutis’ four goals in their 4-1 win over Cleveland, Ohio
club Inter-Italian.http://www.stlsoccer.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=57103&sid=a4a1df7598ec54db55a28636e6885fa4
(NASL). He spent five seasons with the Stars until they folded at the end of the 1977 season. He then moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1978 and 1979 season. However, in 1979, he played only one game and left the NASL. In 1980, he joined the Miami Americans of the American Soccer League where he played for one season. In 1980, Vaninger signed with the expansion St. Louis Steamers
of Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He played two seasons with the Steamers until 1982. Some sources state that he continued to play professionally until 1983. Vaninger is tied for the MISL record with 3 powerplay goals in one game.
. His last game came in a March 26, 1975 loss to Poland
in Poland.
of MISL hired Vaninger as an assistant coach. In 1990, he became the Director of Youth Development. Vaninger was the director of the Busch soccer club before being replaced by Steve Pecher
in 1999 when he left to become the Director of Coaching and Education for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.
In 2002, Vaninger was inducted in the St. Louis Soccer Players Hall of Fame.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and at least two seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He also won the 1971 U.S. Amateur Cup with St. Louis Kutis
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
. He continues to coach youth soccer in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Early career
Vaninger grew up in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and attended St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's High School (St. Louis, Missouri)
St. Mary’s High School is an all-boys' Catholic high school located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Mary’s High School serves young men in the Marianist tradition. - History :St...
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. The team won the 1970 Missouri State high school championship. That season, Vaninger scored twenty-three goals.http://prepsports.stltoday.com/ssi/prep/stories2000.nsf/soccer-boys/story/5F5953CD17947B138625691500530F0D?OpenDocument After graduating from high school, Vaninger attended St. Louis Florisant Valley Community College
St. Louis Community College
St. Louis Community College is the Missouri two-year college supported by the Junior College District of St. Louis City – St. Louis County. The three original campuses were built simultaneously in 1964: Florissant Valley , Forest Park , and Meramec . A fourth campus, Wildwood opened in August 2007...
from 1970 to 1972. He played two seasons on the school’s soccer team, earning junior college All American honors both seasons. Florisant Valley won the national junior college championship in both 1970 and 1971.http://www.stlcc.edu/fv/athletics/text/awards.html In addition to playing with Florisant Valley, Vaninger was also a member of St. Louis Kutis
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
. In 1971, Kutis won the U.S. National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
. Vaninger assisted on the third of Kutis’ four goals in their 4-1 win over Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
club Inter-Italian.http://www.stlsoccer.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=57103&sid=a4a1df7598ec54db55a28636e6885fa4
Professional
In 1973, Vaninger signed with the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). He spent five seasons with the Stars until they folded at the end of the 1977 season. He then moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1978 and 1979 season. However, in 1979, he played only one game and left the NASL. In 1980, he joined the Miami Americans of the American Soccer League where he played for one season. In 1980, Vaninger signed with the expansion St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
of Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He played two seasons with the Steamers until 1982. Some sources state that he continued to play professionally until 1983. Vaninger is tied for the MISL record with 3 powerplay goals in one game.
National team
Vaninger earned three caps with the U.S. national team in 1974 and 1975. His first game came September 5, 1974, when he scored the lone U.S. goal in a 3-1 loss to MexicoMexico 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...
. His last game came in a March 26, 1975 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in Poland.
Coach
In 1989, the expansion St. Louis StormSt. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
of MISL hired Vaninger as an assistant coach. In 1990, he became the Director of Youth Development. Vaninger was the director of the Busch soccer club before being replaced by Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:...
in 1999 when he left to become the Director of Coaching and Education for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.
In 2002, Vaninger was inducted in the St. Louis Soccer Players Hall of Fame.