Bill Bertani
Encyclopedia
William Joseph “Bill” Bertani (b. September 8, 1919; d. December 12, 1988 in Fulton, Missouri
) is a former U.S .soccer player who was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
that year.
. He was with the St. Louis Raiders during the 1947-1948 season. In 1948, he joined St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
and was a member of the Simpkins team which won both the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cup. He was the second leading scorer with seven goals during the 1947-1948 St. Louis Major League season.
Bertani was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1975.
at the Summer Olympics
. Bertani played in the 9-0 loss to Italy in the first round of the Olympics, which eliminated the U.S. from the tournament.
Following the Olympics, the U.S. played two full internationals, an 11-0 loss to Norway
, followed by a 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland
on August 11, 1948.
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
) is a former U.S .soccer player who was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He also earned two 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...
that year.
Club career
Bertani spent his playing career in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He was with the St. Louis Raiders during the 1947-1948 season. In 1948, he joined St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford was a U.S. amateur soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1947 to 1956. It won three league championships and the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cups, and lost in the finals of the 1954 National Amateur Cup. Five members of the U.S...
and was a member of the Simpkins team which won both the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cup. He was the second leading scorer with seven goals during the 1947-1948 St. Louis Major League season.
Bertani was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1975.
National and Olympic teams
In 1948, Bertani was selected for the U.S. soccer teamUnited States at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 300 competitors, 262 men and 38 women, took part in 126 events in 19 sports.- Gold:*Harrison Dillard — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the Summer Olympics
Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Olympic Games title was won by Sweden, managed by Englishman George Raynor.-Summary:Sweden, whose Football Association forbade professionalism within domestic football, ran out as winners and only used 12 players throughout the entire tournament but there were exceptional performances put...
. Bertani played in the 9-0 loss to Italy in the first round of the Olympics, which eliminated the U.S. from the tournament.
Following the Olympics, the U.S. played two full internationals, an 11-0 loss to Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
, followed by a 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on August 11, 1948.