Steve Trittschuh
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Trittschuh (born April 24, 1965) is a retired American soccer defender
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League
and Major League Soccer
. He also earned thirty-eight caps
with the United States men's national soccer team
including one game at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
.
. He played at Granite City High School North for the Steelers under former U.S. national coach Bob Kehoe
. He earned All State honors his junior and senior year and was a Parade Magazine All American as a senior. Coming out of high school, he was heavily recruited by several top schools, but selected Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
which he attended on a full ride soccer scholarship. He played for four years for SIU-E, scoring 12 goals and assisting 11 others. He earned second team All American honors his junior year and first team his senior year.
selected Trittschuh in the second round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. He played one season with the Steamers, then filed for free agency in April 1987 when the Steamers ceased operations. That summer, he played for the U.S. national team as it prepared for and then played at the 1988 Summer Olympics
. In October 1988, the United States Soccer Federation
signed American players to the national team. Trittschuh was among fourteen players signed by the USSF. From the spring of 1988 through the spring of 1989, Trittschuh played for the amateur Busch Seniors of St. Louis when not playing for the Olympic or national teams. On May 4, 1989, he signed on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
. He continued with the Rowdies as the team played in the newly formed American Professional Soccer League
. In 1990, his career took an unexpected turn. Trittschuh played a single game for the United States men's national soccer team
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
in a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia
. While the national team was thrashed, Trittschuh caught the attention of the Czechoslovakia's assistant coach, the head coach of Czech powerhouse club Sparta Prague. Sparta Prague offered Trittschuh a contract, which he accepted. At the time the Soviet Union and its eastern bloc allies, including Czechoslovakia were transitioning from communism to democracy. This brought an exceptional level of turmoil which also affected professional soccer in the region. As a result, eastern teams were searching for talent to replace players who were moving to play in Western Europe. While Trittschuh played only a single season for Sparta Prague, he helped them win their league championship. He also became the first U.S. player to play in the European Championship Cup
. At the end of the season, he returned to the Rowdies for two seasons. In the fall of 1992, Trittschuh signed with Dutch club SVV Dordrecht
. As he recounts it, he was in competition with two Finnish players for a spot on the club and he won. He became a regular starter for the team, but towards the end of the season the club ran out of money and stopped paying Trittschuh so he returned to the U.S. In the spring of 1993, he rejoined the Tampa Bay Rowdies. On April 6, 1994, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League
. On November 30, 1994, he signed with the St. Louis Ambush
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). That year he earned another championship when the Ambush took the NPSL crown. In 1995, he moved to the Montreal Impact
of the APSL. In 1995, the new U.S. soccer league, Major League Soccer
(MLS) approached Trittschuh about joining the league. He agreed but had to buy out the final year of his contract with the Impact, for $10,000. When he left the Impact, he finished his APSL (now USL First Division
) as a 5 time all star. In November 1995, he joined the Tampa Bay Terror
of the NPSL. In 1996, Trittschuh joined the new Colorado Rapids
. In 1997, the team reached the 1997 MLS Cup
, falling to 2-1 to D.C. United
. He had a solid three seasons with the Rapids playing in the sweeper position. At the beginning of the 1999 season, Rapids coach Glenn Myernick
moved Marcelo Balboa
into the sweeper position. As a result, through the first 8 games of the 1999 season, Trittschuh never left the bench. On June 14, 1999, the Rapids traded Trittschuh to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
for midfielder/forward Guillermo Jara. Trittschuh would go on to play 64 regular and post-season games for the Mutiny. In 2001, he retired from active playing and was hired by the Colorado Rapids as an assistant coach.
. He made his national team debut against Egypt at the 1987 Presidents Cup
. He also played for the national team at the 1987 Pan American Games
.
In 1988, he was a member of the U.S. team which went 1-1-1 at the Seoul Olympics. As previously mentioned, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
and played the full 90 minutes in their opening game against Czechoslovakia. He was also a member of the 1991 Gold Cup championship team. In 1995, he played his last game with the national team, against Saudi Arabia
.
men's soccer team. In 2001, he became an assistant coach with the Colorado Rapids
.
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 professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He also earned thirty-eight caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with the United States men's national soccer 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...
including one game at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
.
Youth
Trittschuh is a native of Granite City, IllinoisGranite City, Illinois
Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
. He played at Granite City High School North for the Steelers under former U.S. national coach Bob Kehoe
Bob Kehoe
Robert “Bob” Kehoe is a former U.S. soccer defender. He earned four caps as captain of the U.S. national team in 1965. He later coached the US national team in 1972. He was also the first U.S. born coach in the North American Soccer League. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame...
. He earned All State honors his junior and senior year and was a Parade Magazine All American as a senior. Coming out of high school, he was heavily recruited by several top schools, but selected Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
which he attended on a full ride soccer scholarship. He played for four years for SIU-E, scoring 12 goals and assisting 11 others. He earned second team All American honors his junior year and first team his senior year.
Professional
In 1987, the St. Louis SteamersSt. 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...
selected Trittschuh in the second round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. He played one season with the Steamers, then filed for free agency in April 1987 when the Steamers ceased operations. That summer, he played for the U.S. national team as it prepared for and then played at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. In October 1988, the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
signed American players to the national team. Trittschuh was among fourteen players signed by the USSF. From the spring of 1988 through the spring of 1989, Trittschuh played for the amateur Busch Seniors of St. Louis when not playing for the Olympic or national teams. On May 4, 1989, he signed on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He continued with the Rowdies as the team played in the newly formed American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. In 1990, his career took an unexpected turn. Trittschuh played a single game for the United States men's national soccer 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...
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
in a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
. While the national team was thrashed, Trittschuh caught the attention of the Czechoslovakia's assistant coach, the head coach of Czech powerhouse club Sparta Prague. Sparta Prague offered Trittschuh a contract, which he accepted. At the time the Soviet Union and its eastern bloc allies, including Czechoslovakia were transitioning from communism to democracy. This brought an exceptional level of turmoil which also affected professional soccer in the region. As a result, eastern teams were searching for talent to replace players who were moving to play in Western Europe. While Trittschuh played only a single season for Sparta Prague, he helped them win their league championship. He also became the first U.S. player to play in the European Championship Cup
European Cup and Champions League history
The history of the European Cup and Champions League is long and remarkable, with fifty years of competition finding winners and losers from all parts of the continent....
. At the end of the season, he returned to the Rowdies for two seasons. In the fall of 1992, Trittschuh signed with Dutch club SVV Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
. As he recounts it, he was in competition with two Finnish players for a spot on the club and he won. He became a regular starter for the team, but towards the end of the season the club ran out of money and stopped paying Trittschuh so he returned to the U.S. In the spring of 1993, he rejoined the Tampa Bay Rowdies. On April 6, 1994, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. On November 30, 1994, he signed with the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). That year he earned another championship when the Ambush took the NPSL crown. In 1995, he moved to the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
of the APSL. In 1995, the new U.S. soccer league, Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) approached Trittschuh about joining the league. He agreed but had to buy out the final year of his contract with the Impact, for $10,000. When he left the Impact, he finished his APSL (now USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
) as a 5 time all star. In November 1995, he joined the Tampa Bay Terror
Tampa Bay Terror
The Tampa Bay Terror were an indoor soccer team based in Tampa Bay, Florida that competed in the defunct National Professional Soccer League . The team existed for two seasons before folding: 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. The team's home games were held at the Bayfront Center. The two season that the...
of the NPSL. In 1996, Trittschuh joined the new Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. In 1997, the team reached the 1997 MLS Cup
MLS Cup 1997
Lineups:'COLORADO RAPIDSMarcus Hahnemann, Chris Martinez , Steve Trittschuh, Peter Vermes, Matt Kmosko, Marcelo Balboa,Sean Henderson , Chris Henderson, Paul Bravo , David Patino, Steve Rammel...
, falling to 2-1 to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. He had a solid three seasons with the Rapids playing in the sweeper position. At the beginning of the 1999 season, Rapids coach Glenn Myernick
Glenn Myernick
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick was an American soccer player and coach. He won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as that year’s outstanding collegiate player. He then spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Myernick also earned 10 caps with the U.S. national...
moved Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
into the sweeper position. As a result, through the first 8 games of the 1999 season, Trittschuh never left the bench. On June 14, 1999, the Rapids traded Trittschuh to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
for midfielder/forward Guillermo Jara. Trittschuh would go on to play 64 regular and post-season games for the Mutiny. In 2001, he retired from active playing and was hired by the Colorado Rapids as an assistant coach.
National team
Trittschuh also had a long and successful national team career. In 1987, he was selected to play for the U.S. national teamUnited 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 made his national team debut against Egypt at the 1987 Presidents Cup
U.S. Men's Soccer Records (1980-1989)
This is a compilation of every international soccer game played by the United States men's national soccer team from 1980 to 1989. It includes the team's record for that year, each game and the date played. It also lists the U.S. goal scorers....
. He also played for the national team at the 1987 Pan American Games
1987 Pan American Games
The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, from 7 August to 23 August 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas competed in 30 sports earning...
.
In 1988, he was a member of the U.S. team which went 1-1-1 at the Seoul Olympics. As previously mentioned, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
and played the full 90 minutes in their opening game against Czechoslovakia. He was also a member of the 1991 Gold Cup championship team. In 1995, he played his last game with the national team, against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
.
Coach
In 1989, Trittschuh served as an assistant coach with the Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
men's soccer team. In 2001, he became an assistant coach with the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
.