Ruben Michael MENDOZA

Ruben Mendoza was born in St. Louis, but grew up in Durango, Mexico, where he played street soccer. His family returned to St. Louis when he was 16 and he played with local teams, before joining Zenthoefer Furs in 1951. Mendoza then played for St. Louis Raiders (renamed to St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club in 1953) from 1952-60. He was a left wing, known as a prolific scorer with a feared bicycle kick. He won St. Louis league titles in both 1951 (with Zenthoefer) and 1952 with the Raiders. In 1952 the Raiders also won the National Amateur Cup, and Mendoza played on winning National Amateur Cup teams with Kutis in 1956-60, winning St. Louis league titles with them in 1953-54, 1957, and 1960. He earned four caps with the US National Team between 1954-59, also appearing in both the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. After his playing career ended, Mendoza became a coach in Granite City, Illinois. His club teams won multiple Illinois State Cup titles in the 1970s and 80s. The local high school, with players Mendoza had trained as youths, won Illinois state championships in 1972, 1976-80, 1982, 1987, and 1989-90. In 1984 he was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.