John Carenza came from a soccer family as his father, Joe Carenza, Sr., is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. John Carenza played for Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIU-E), where he was twice a runner-up for the Hermann Trophy. A forward, Carenza held the SIU-E record for goal scoring with 71, a record still standing in 2015. In addition to the 1972 Olympics, Carenza played for the US at the 1971 Pan American Games. He was a first-round choice of the St. Louis Stars in the 1973 North American Soccer League (NASL) draft. Carenza played both forward and defense for the Stars, playing through the 1978 season. He later entered the financial world with Nicol Financial Services as a regional manager in Illinois. Carenza is a member of the St. Mary’s High School, SIU-E, and the St. Louis Soccer Halls of Fame.
United States