Denny Vaninger
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| Denny Vaninger | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dennis Vaninger | |
| Date of birth | ||
| Place of birth | United States | |
| Playing position | Forward | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1970-1972 | St. Louis Florisant valley | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1971-1972 1973-1977 1978-1979 1980-1982 |
St. Louis Kutis St. Louis Stars Fort Lauderdale Strikers St. Louis Steamers (indoor) |
71 (22) 20 (3) |
| National team | ||
| 1974-1975 | United States | 3 (1) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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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.
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[edit] Early career
Vaninger grew up in 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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
[edit] NASL
In 1973, Vaninger signed with the St. Louis Stars of the North American Soccer League (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.
[edit] MISL
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.
[edit] 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 Mexico. His last game came in a March 26, 1975 loss to Poland in Poland
[edit] Coaching
Vaninger was the director of the Busch soccer club before being replaced by Steve Pecher. He currently is the Director of Coaching and Education, Missouri Youth Soccer.[4]
Vaninger has been inducted in the St. Louis Soccer Players Hall of Fame
