Gary Rensing
Encyclopedia
Gary Rensing is a retired American soccer defender
who played nine seasons in the North American Soccer League
and earned four caps with the U.S. national team.
from 1967 to 1969. In 1967, the Billikens shared the national title with the Michigan State Spartans
after the game was called after 42 minutes of scoreless overtime for deteriorating weather conditions. In 1969, the team won the title with a 4-0 victory over the University of San Francisco
.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) signed Rensing out of college. He went on to play eight seasons with the Stars before the team folded at the end of the 1977 season. Rensing then moved to the Chicago Sting
for the 1978 season. Rensing retired at the end of the 1978 season.
, his first with the national team and he came on for Walner Mata
in the September 10, 1972 loss to Mexico
, his last game with the national team.
Rensing was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played nine 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 earned four caps with the U.S. national team.
Youth
Rensing attended St. Louis University where he was a member of the men’s soccer teamSaint Louis Billikens men's soccer
The Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of Saint Louis University. The Billikens compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I...
from 1967 to 1969. In 1967, the Billikens shared the national title with the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
after the game was called after 42 minutes of scoreless overtime for deteriorating weather conditions. In 1969, the team won the title with a 4-0 victory over the University of San Francisco
San Francisco Dons
The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco .-History:Athletics at USF dates back to its founding in 1855, when founder Anthony Maraschi, S.J. organized ball games as recreation for the first students...
.
NASL
In 1970, the St Louis StarsSt. Louis Stars (soccer)
The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...
of 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:...
(NASL) signed Rensing out of college. He went on to play eight seasons with the Stars before the team folded at the end of the 1977 season. Rensing then moved to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
for the 1978 season. Rensing retired at the end of the 1978 season.
National team
Rensing earned four caps, all of them World Cup qualifiers, in 1972. The U.S. went 0-3-1 and failed to qualify for the cup finals. While Rensing played all four games, he never played an entire game. He came off for Larry Hausemann in the August 20, 1972 loss to CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, his first with the national team and he came on for Walner Mata
Walner Mata
Werner Mata is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who earned seven caps with the U.S. national team between 1969 and 1973. He is listed as Walner Mata in some sources.-National team:...
in the September 10, 1972 loss to 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...
, his last game with the national team.
Coach
Rensing has also coached with Forest Park Community College.Rensing was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.