Arnie Mausser
Encyclopedia
Arnold "Arnie" Mausser (born February 28, 1954 in Brooklyn
, New York
) is a retired American
soccer goalkeeper
who played with 8 different NASL
teams from 1975-1984. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Mausser may be considered one of the finest goalkeepers the United States has ever produced. He is known as the trailblazer for future US goalkeepers such as Kasey Keller
, Tim Howard
, and Brad Friedel
. He was a big man (standing 6' 5") who threw with his right hand, but kicked with his left foot.
, New York
, with two younger brothers, he played numerous sports, his favorite being basketball
. However, in the eighth grade, he began playing goalkeeper because of his size. As he got older, he trained with numerous local teams, eventually catching the eye of the coach of the Rhode Island Oceaneers
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). He signed with the team in 1974 and played a single season before moving to the NASL.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He remained with the team for only a single season before moving to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) for the 1976 season. His excellent play with the Rowdies (6 shutouts and 28 goals scored against him in 24 games) led to his selection as a first team NASL All Star. Despite his success with the Rowdies, the Tampa Bay coach Eddie Firmani
preferred English goalkeeper Paul Hammond who had spent the 1975 season with the Rowdies. As a result, Firmani traded Mausser in 1977 to the Vancouver Whitecaps
after the Rowdies signed Hammond.
Although this move was not the result of Mausser's actions, a pattern had been set which continued throughout his career and earned Mausser a reputation as a mercenary
playing for whoever offered the best pay. From Vancouver, he moved to Colorado Caribous
, again after only a single season. After only one season in Colorado, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Then was traded from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to the New England Teamen during the 1980 season. At the end of the season, the Teamen moved to Jacksonville, Florida
, where Mausser spent the next two seasons as part of the Jacksonville Tea Men
.
In 1983, he joined Team America
, the short lived USSF
attempt to form the United States men's national soccer team
into a quasi-professional team. In 1984, he played the NASL's last outdoor season back with the Rowdies. When the NASL folded, he briefly played with the Kansas City Comets
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He would also play a season with the Buffalo Stallions
of the MISL.
He moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, now of the American Soccer League
in 1988, but then to the Albany Capitals
of the American Professional Soccer League
for the 1990 season. He ended his career back with the Strikers for another two seasons before retiring in 1992.
with which he earned 35 caps
between 1975 and 1985. He generally played well for the national team, earning 10 shutouts. However, he had a hand in one of the worst fiascos in U.S. national soccer team history. In 1985, the U.S. was a tie away from going to the second round of the 1985 CONCACAF Championship
qualification for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. They had one game left, a home match with Costa Rica in Torrance, California. The U.S. had beaten Costa Rica 3-0 at the 1984 Summer Olympics
and had tied them 1-1 in Costa Rica five days before the match in Torrance. However, the U.S. team played disjointed and in the 35th minute, Mausser weakly punched away a cross he could have caught. The ball flopped to the feet of Evaristo Coronado
who easily scored the goal which eliminated the U.S. from the World Cup contention and sent Costa Rica to the second round instead. Mausser played one more game for the national team, a 5-0 thrashing by England on June 16, when he saved a penalty by Glenn Hoddle.
Mausser was inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2003.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played with 8 different NASL
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:...
teams from 1975-1984. 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:...
.
Mausser may be considered one of the finest goalkeepers the United States has ever produced. He is known as the trailblazer for future US goalkeepers such as Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
, Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
, and Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel
Bradley Howard Friedel is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League....
. He was a big man (standing 6' 5") who threw with his right hand, but kicked with his left foot.
Early life
Growing up in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, with two younger brothers, he played numerous sports, his favorite being basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. However, in the eighth grade, he began playing goalkeeper because of his size. As he got older, he trained with numerous local teams, eventually catching the eye of the coach of the Rhode Island Oceaneers
Rhode Island Oceaneers
The Rhode Island Oceaneers was an American soccer club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island that was a member of the American Soccer League.-History:...
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...
(ASL). He signed with the team in 1974 and played a single season before moving to the NASL.
Club career
In 1975, Mausser joined the Hartford BicentennialsConnecticut Bicentennials
The Hartford Bicentennials was a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the North American Soccer League. The team played at Dillon Stadium....
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). He remained with the team for only a single season before moving to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) for the 1976 season. His excellent play with the Rowdies (6 shutouts and 28 goals scored against him in 24 games) led to his selection as a first team NASL All Star. Despite his success with the Rowdies, the Tampa Bay coach Eddie Firmani
Eddie Firmani
Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:...
preferred English goalkeeper Paul Hammond who had spent the 1975 season with the Rowdies. As a result, Firmani traded Mausser in 1977 to the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
after the Rowdies signed Hammond.
Although this move was not the result of Mausser's actions, a pattern had been set which continued throughout his career and earned Mausser a reputation as a mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
playing for whoever offered the best pay. From Vancouver, he moved to Colorado Caribous
Colorado Caribous
The Colorado Caribous was a professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that played in the North American Soccer League...
, again after only a single season. After only one season in Colorado, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Then was traded from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to the New England Teamen during the 1980 season. At the end of the season, the Teamen moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, where Mausser spent the next two seasons as part of the Jacksonville Tea Men
Jacksonville Tea Men
The Jacksonville Tea Men were an American soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Overall, the Tea Men played a total of four seasons in Jacksonville, first in the major league-level North American Soccer League from 1980–1982, then in the lower level American Soccer League and United...
.
In 1983, he joined Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
, the short lived USSF
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...
attempt to form 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...
into a quasi-professional team. In 1984, he played the NASL's last outdoor season back with the Rowdies. When the NASL folded, he briefly played with the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
of the 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 would also play a season with the Buffalo Stallions
Buffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
of the MISL.
He moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, now 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...
in 1988, but then to the Albany Capitals
Albany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
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...
for the 1990 season. He ended his career back with the Strikers for another two seasons before retiring in 1992.
National team
Mausser's strong play earned him the starting goalkeeper position for the 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...
with which he earned 35 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...
between 1975 and 1985. He generally played well for the national team, earning 10 shutouts. However, he had a hand in one of the worst fiascos in U.S. national soccer team history. In 1985, the U.S. was a tie away from going to the second round of the 1985 CONCACAF Championship
1985 CONCACAF Championship
-Group 2:Canada advanced to the second round.---------------------Group 3:Costa Rica advanced to the second round.---------------------Final round:Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.--------...
qualification for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. They had one game left, a home match with Costa Rica in Torrance, California. The U.S. had beaten Costa Rica 3-0 at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and had tied them 1-1 in Costa Rica five days before the match in Torrance. However, the U.S. team played disjointed and in the 35th minute, Mausser weakly punched away a cross he could have caught. The ball flopped to the feet of Evaristo Coronado
Evaristo Coronado
Evaristo Coronado Salas is considered the best Costa Rican soccer striker during the 1980s.Coronado is one of the most recognized sports figures in his country. He played his entire career for Deportivo Saprissa, where he holds the team record for most goals scored ever...
who easily scored the goal which eliminated the U.S. from the World Cup contention and sent Costa Rica to the second round instead. Mausser played one more game for the national team, a 5-0 thrashing by England on June 16, when he saved a penalty by Glenn Hoddle.
Mausser was inducted in 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:...
in 2003.