Al Trost
Encyclopedia
Alan Trost is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder
. He played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University
where he won the 1969 and 1970 Hermann Trophy
as the player of the year. His professional career includes years in both the North American Soccer League
(NASL) and Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He also was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team
. He went on to earn 14 caps with the U.S. national team
, scoring one goal. He coached professionally with the St. Louis Steamers
of MISL and continues to coach youth soccer. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
where he led the Billikins to the 1969 and 1970 NCAA championships
. In 1967, Trost’s freshman year, St. Louis made it to the title game, which was ended due to weather with the score 0-0. St. Louis and Michigan State were declared co-champions that season. In 1969, Trost earned NCAA Tournament Offensive MVP honors. Trost was also a two-time Hermann Trophy
recipient as the collegiate player of the year in 1969 and 1970. Ironically, he was only selected as a first team All American
in 1970. On September 30, 2009, Trost was named to SLU's Half-Century Team
.
. The U.S. began qualification for the games in 1971 and Trost was an integral part of the Olympic team
, playing eight of the U.S.’ eleven games. He scored twice, first in the August 22, 1971 3-1 victory over and the next game, a September 18 1-0 victory over El Salvador. Trost played two of the three games at the Munich Olympics
, the 0-0 tie with Morroco and the crushing 0-7 defeat at the hands of West Germany.
Trost continued playing for the national team after the Olympics. He earned his first cap, and scored his only goal, with the senior team on August 12, 1973 in a 1-0 victory over Poland
. He went on to captain the U.S. through the failed 1974 and 1978 World Cup qualifying campaigns. His last game with the national team came against Portugal
in Lisbon on Sept. 20, 1978.
. After the 1977 season, the Stars gave up on St Louis and moved to Anaheim, California
to play the 1978 season as the California Surf
. Despite leading the Surf in scoring, the team traded him to the Seattle Sounders
in January 1979 for Tony Chursky
. Trost played the 1979 season with the Sounders, scoring only one goal in eleven games. On 28 September 1979, Trost left the Sounders and the NASL. During his time in the league, he was a second team All Star in 1976 and received honorable mention in 1973 and 1977. Trost ended his NASL career number 72 on the NASL points list with 100 off 38 goals and 24 assists.
of Major Indoor Soccer League in 1979-1980. In 1981, the St. Louis Steamers
hired Trost to replace Pat McBride
who left the team in a contract dispute during the 1980-1981 post-season. Trost continued coaching the Steamers during the 1981-1982 season when he took the team to the MISL championship series, which it lost to Trost’s old team, the New York Arrows. When the team began the 1982-1983 season 5-9, Trost was fired on January 4, 1983.
) boy’s soccer team, while playing for the St. Louis Stars. In 1974, he took the team to the Missouri state championship. He currently coaches the Parkway South High School
boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Saint Louis University
Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2006 he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
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...
. He played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
where he won the 1969 and 1970 Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the player of the year. His professional career includes years in both 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) and Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He also was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team
United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
. He went on to earn 14 caps 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...
, scoring one goal. He coached professionally with the 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 MISL and continues to coach youth soccer. 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:...
.
College
Trost attended Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
where he led the Billikins to the 1969 and 1970 NCAA championships
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. In 1967, Trost’s freshman year, St. Louis made it to the title game, which was ended due to weather with the score 0-0. St. Louis and Michigan State were declared co-champions that season. In 1969, Trost earned NCAA Tournament Offensive MVP honors. Trost was also a two-time Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
recipient as the collegiate player of the year in 1969 and 1970. Ironically, he was only selected as a first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
in 1970. On September 30, 2009, Trost was named to SLU's Half-Century Team
St. Louis University Men's Soccer Half-Century Team
The St. Louis University Men's Soccer Half-Century Team was announced September 30, 2009 by the St. Louis University Department of Athletics in celebration of the first 50 years of soccer at SLU...
.
Olympics and national teams
While Trost finished his collegiate career in 1970, he chose not to turn pro in order to be eligible for the 1972 Summer Olympics1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. The U.S. began qualification for the games in 1971 and Trost was an integral part of the Olympic team
United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
, playing eight of the U.S.’ eleven games. He scored twice, first in the August 22, 1971 3-1 victory over and the next game, a September 18 1-0 victory over El Salvador. Trost played two of the three games at the Munich Olympics
Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Football competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Nürnberg, Passau, and Regensburg.-Medalists:-Group A: ---- -----------------Group B: ---- ----------------...
, the 0-0 tie with Morroco and the crushing 0-7 defeat at the hands of West Germany.
Trost continued playing for the national team after the Olympics. He earned his first cap, and scored his only goal, with the senior team on August 12, 1973 in a 1-0 victory over 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...
. He went on to captain the U.S. through the failed 1974 and 1978 World Cup qualifying campaigns. His last game with the national team came against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in Lisbon on Sept. 20, 1978.
NASL
In 1973, Trost began his professional playing career 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:...
. After the 1977 season, the Stars gave up on St Louis and moved to Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
to play the 1978 season as the California Surf
California Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
. Despite leading the Surf in scoring, the team traded him to the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
in January 1979 for Tony Chursky
Tony Chursky
Tony Chursky is a former Canadian national soccer team and NASL goalkeeper.- Player :...
. Trost played the 1979 season with the Sounders, scoring only one goal in eleven games. On 28 September 1979, Trost left the Sounders and the NASL. During his time in the league, he was a second team All Star in 1976 and received honorable mention in 1973 and 1977. Trost ended his NASL career number 72 on the NASL points list with 100 off 38 goals and 24 assists.
MISL
After leaving the NASL, Trost played a single season for the New York ArrowsNew York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of Major Indoor Soccer League in 1979-1980. In 1981, the 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...
hired Trost to replace Pat McBride
Pat mcbride
Patrick "Pat" McBride is a retired American soccer midfielder and indoor soccer coach. He earned five caps with the U.S. national team and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
who left the team in a contract dispute during the 1980-1981 post-season. Trost continued coaching the Steamers during the 1981-1982 season when he took the team to the MISL championship series, which it lost to Trost’s old team, the New York Arrows. When the team began the 1982-1983 season 5-9, Trost was fired on January 4, 1983.
High school coaching
Trost began his coaching career with the McCluer North High School (Florissant, MissouriFlorissant, Missouri
Florissant is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city has a total population of 52,158 in 2010 census.-History:...
) boy’s soccer team, while playing for the St. Louis Stars. In 1974, he took the team to the Missouri state championship. He currently coaches the Parkway South High School
Parkway South High School
Parkway South High School is a fully accredited high school, serving students in grades 9-12 in the Parkway School District, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Parkway South is the largest of the Parkway high schools...
boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2006 he 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:...
.