Ricardo Clark

Personal information
Full name	Ricardo Anthony Clark
Date of birth	February 10, 1983 (1983-02-10) (age 26)
Place of birth	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Houston Dynamo
Number	13
Youth career
2001–2002	Furman Paladins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2004	MetroStars	54	(4)
2005	San Jose Earthquakes	30	(3)
2006–	Houston Dynamo	97	(7)
National team‡
2005–	United States	26	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 November, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 October, 2009

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

[edit] Career

[edit] 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.

[edit] Professional

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.

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 the San Jose Earthquakes for an allocation before the 2005 season. Clark played very well in San Jose in a defensive midfield position, scoring three goals and two assists. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season.

[edit] Suspension

On October 4, 2007, Clark was handed a record nine-game suspension and a $10,000 fine by Major League Soccer for an incident involving FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruíz during Houston's 3–0 victory over Dallas on September 30.^[1] Following a crowded corner kick in which Clark accused Ruiz of kneeing him in the back, Clark violently kicked Ruiz after he fell to the ground.

[edit] 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 Qualifyer against Trinidad and Tobago and his first start in World Cup Qualifying against Guatemala. He also participated in the 2009 Confederations Cup where he was sent off in the American's first match against Italy, following a kick on Gennaro Gattuso. 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. His father, born in Trinidad, was watching from the stands.

[edit] International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
01.	July 2, 2007	Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas, Venezuela	Paraguay	1 – 0	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

[edit] Personal

Clark got married in early 2007. His parents are Lancelot and Norma. His father, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, played soccer at New York Polytechnic University in 1977–78. His brother Richonne also plays soccer, for the NAIA school Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). Clark is a sports enthusiast and supports the Astros, Rockets and Texans.

[edit] Honors

[edit] United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions (1): 2007

[edit] Houston Dynamo

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup Champion (2): 2006, 2007

[edit] Individual

• MLS Best XI: 2006

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MLS player profile

Ricardo Clark international tournaments v • d • e United States squad – 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions (4th Title) 1 Howard • 2 Hejduk • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 Feilhaber • 6 M. Bradley • 7 Beasley • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Donovan • 11 Ching • 12 DeMerit • 13 Bornstein • 14 Ralston • 15 Simek • 16 Parkhurst • 17 Spector • 18 Keller • 19 Clark • 20 Twellman • 21 Mapp • 22 Onyewu • 23 Guzan • Coach: B. Bradley v • d • e United States squad – 2007 Copa América 1 {{{p1}}} • 2 Wynne • 3 DeMerit • 4 Boswell • 5 Feilhaber • 6 Pearce • 7 Califf • 8 Gomez • 9 Johnson • 10 Davies • 11 Gaven • 12 Conrad • 13 Bornstein • 14 Olsen • 15 Moor • 16 Kljestan • 17 Beckerman • 18 Keller • 19 Clark • 20 Twellman • 21 Mapp • 23 Guzan • 25 Nguyen • Coach: Bradley v • d • e United States squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-Up 1 Howard • 2 Bornstein • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Casey • 5 Onyewu • 6 Pearce • 7 Beasley • 8 Dempsey • 9 Davies • 10 Donovan • 11 Wynne • 12 M. Bradley • 13 Clark • 14 Califf • 15 DeMerit • 16 Kljestan • 17 Altidore • 18 Guzan • 19 Adu • 20 Torres • 21 Spector • 22 Feilhaber • 23 Robles • Coach: B. Bradley