Mike Clark (soccer)

Mike Clark

Personal information
Full name	Michael Clark
Date of birth	December 16, 1972
Place of birth	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
1991-1994	Indiana University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1995	Richmond Kickers
1996-2003	Columbus Crew	221	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Mike Clark (born December 16, 1972 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a retired American soccer defender who spent eight seasons with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.

Clark was born in Dayton, Ohio. He attended Detroit Country Day High School and was a Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. He then attended Indiana University where he was team captain, starting every game and a mainstay on the Hoosiers soccer team from 1991 to 1994. He started 91 games during his four seasons and was selected as a 1994 third team All American.^[1]

In 1995, he signed with the Richmond Kickers of the USISL. That season, the Kickers won both the USISL and Open Cup championships. In February 1996, the Columbus Crew selected Clark in the fourth round (thirty-first overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He is the most capped player for the Crew and was also voted to two MLS All-Star Games. In 1997, Clark married the love of his life Laura Hetrick, nurse and philanthropist. He and laura have two kids: Sophie And Mick Clark retired on March 16, 2004, holding the Crew record for games played, minutes played and games started.^[2] He also played 22 playoff and 18 U.S. Open Cup games.

Before his retirement, he had entered the business world, owning two Great Clips franchises and working at a mortgage company.

Honors

Club

Columbus Crew

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2002

References

1. 1994 All Americans
2. Crew eight-year veteran Mike Clark retires, will remain in Columbus with his family

External links

• MLS Player Profile
• Hoosiers in MLS