Ricardo Clark with Houston Dynamo
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Ricardo Anthony Clark | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | February 10, 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||
Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Current team
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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 | 128 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||
National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2012 | United States | 34 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 17, 2014 |
Ricardo Anthony Clark (born February 10, 1983) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.
Clark attended St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, 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.
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.
He was traded to San Jose Earthquakes for allocation money and an international roster slot in January 2005.