Ricardo Clark

Ricardo Clark
Personal information
Full name Ricardo Anthony Clark
Date of birth (1983-02-10) February 10, 1983
Place of birth Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Houston Dynamo
Number 13
Youth career
AFC Lightning Soccer Club
2001–2002 Furman Paladins
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2004 MetroStars 54 (4)
2005 San Jose Earthquakes 30 (3)
2006–2009 Houston Dynamo 97 (7)
2010–2012 Eintracht Frankfurt 15 (0)
2012 → Stabæk (loan) 12 (0)
2012– Houston Dynamo 98 (18)
National team‡
2005–2012 United States 34 (3)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 13, 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 17, 2014

Ricardo Anthony Clark (born February 10, 1983)[1] is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.

Career

High School and College

Clark attended St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and played college soccer at Furman University in 2001 and 2002, where he was named a first-team All-American in his second season. In 2001, he overcame foot injury to start 14 games and record one assist. In 2002 he scored three goals and registered three assists, and was named, First Team NSCAA All-American, first-team All-American, First Team College Soccer News All-American and All-Southern Conference First Team. He also helped lead Furman to 19–3–1 record and Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Professional

NY/NJ MetroStars

After his sophomore year, Clark signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, and entered the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected second overall by the MetroStars. Clark was excellent from the first game with the Metros, playing a vital role in the team's midfield, and finishing the season first on the team in minutes. Although Clark was an early favorite to be named MLS Rookie of the Year, he faded near the end, but still was a finalist for the award. He helped the MetroStars win four games en route to the first final in club history. MetroStars were defeated 1–0 by Chicago Fire in Open Cup final.

In his second year with the Metros, Clark struggled to find playing time in a very crowded midfield and to find his form after some minor injuries, but he came on strong at the end of the year, becoming an automatic starter. In two years with the MetroStars, Clark scored four goals and added two assists.

San Jose/Houston Dynamo

He was traded to San Jose Earthquakes for allocation money and an international roster slot in January 2005.[2]

Clark played very well in San Jose in a defensive midfield position, scoring three goals and two assists. He was named Player Of The Month for July and Earthquakes Player Of The Month for July. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season where he was part of two MLS Cup Championship runs in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Clark scored MLS Goal of the Week nominee on August 16 vs. Real Salt Lake with a long-range strike. He also has one son and one daughter

In 2007, Clark started 19 games in 2007 despite missing almost a month while competing in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONMEBOL 2007 Copa America with the U.S. national team. He was named to MLS All-Star squad that faced Celtic F.C. He finished season with two goals and three assists, but missed the final two regular season and all playoff matches due to a suspension resulting from a deliberate kick aimed at a prone Carlos Ruiz in a match with FC Dallas. On March 3, 2009, started in second leg of a CONCACAF Champions League match at Atlante F.C., made him the fifth player in club history to make 100 starts in all competitions.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Clark, whose contract with MLS expired at the end of the 2009 season, signed a deal with Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt for the remainder of the 2009–10 season with an option to extend the contract at the end of the season.[3] Despite being injured for much of his time in Germany, Clark inked a three-year deal with Frankfurt on May 7, 2010.[4] On February 22, 2012 Clark was loaned to Stabæk Fotball until July 31, 2012.[5]

Houston Dynamo

Clark was re-signed to the Houston Dynamo on August 2, 2012, to replace Geoff Cameron, who had moved to Premier League side Stoke City.[6] He helped lead the team to an MLS Cup final. In 2013, he again lead the team to a Conference Final by scoring 4 goals in the regular season, along with one goal and one assist in the playoffs. The team named him the Players' Player of the Year for this 2013 season. In 2015, Clark set a career high with 8 goals in a single season and was named team MVP and Player's Player of the Year by the Houston Dynamo. He also received the teams Humanitarian of the Year award for his work with youth in communities through his charity named *Positive Passes.

International

Clark has played for several youth United States national teams. He played for the US at the 2003 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Clark got his first senior cap on October 12, 2005 against Panama, and scored his first international goal on July 2, 2007 against Paraguay in the 2007 Copa America. He received his first appearance in a World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago and his first start in World Cup Qualifying against Guatemala. He also participated in the 2009 Confederations Cup[7] Clark scored his first goal in World Cup Qualifying on a 26-yard strike against Trinidad and Tobago, giving the U.S. a 1–0 victory.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
01. July 2, 2007 Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas, Venezuela  Paraguay
1 – 1
1 – 3
Copa América 2007
02. September 9, 2009 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Trinidad and Tobago
1 – 0
1 – 0
Q 2010 World Cup
03. January 21, 2012 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States  Venezuela
1 – 0
1 – 0
Friendly Match

Career statistics

Club

As of December 17, 2014
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
USA League Open Cup Playoffs North America Total
2003MetroStarsMajor League Soccer283502000353
2004261002000281
2005San Jose Earthquakes303002100324
2006Houston Dynamo312202000352
2007192000030222
2008252002070342
2009221003030281
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2009–10Eintracht FrankfurtBundesliga3000000030
2010–11110300000140
2011–122. Bundesliga1000000010
Norway League Norwegian Cup League Cup Europe Total
2012StabækTippeligaen120210000141
USA League Open Cup Playoffs North America Total
2012Houston DynamoMajor League Soccer111 50 0161
2013304 41 0345
2014254 0000254
Total USA 247237022213028925
Germany 150300000180
Norway 120210000141
Career total 2742312122213032126

International

As of December 17, 2014.
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States
200510
200600
200791
200860
2009111
201040
201110
201221
Total343

Honors

United States
Houston Dynamo

Individual

References

  1. ↑ http://www.houstondynamo.com/players/ricardo-clark
  2. ↑ "MetroStars Acquire a Portion of an Allocation and Youth International Spot from San Jose Earthquakes". oursportscentral.com. January 14, 2005. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Alles klar mit Clark" (in German). kicker.de. March 21, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Am Anfang wäre ich fast verzweifelt" (in German). bild.de. May 6, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Ricardo Clark loaned from Eintracht to Stabaek". Sports Illustrated. February 22, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  6. ↑ Lovell, Darrell (August 2, 2012). "Dynamo finalize deal to bring back former hero Clark". Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ Ashenden, Mark (June 15, 2009). "USA 1-3 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved March 26, 2011.

External links

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