Ricardo Clark
- U.S. National Team: MNT
- Position: Midfielder
- Date Of Birth: May 10, 1983
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 150
- Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga.
- Club: Eintract Frankfurt
A determined central midfielder, Ricardo Clark has quietly been earning praise since his rookie season in MLS. A starter with the Houston Dynamo, his tenacious style has provided sound cover for the national team. He made his first appearance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle with a substitute appearance against Trinidad & Tobago in October. “Rico” has a style that doesn’t necessarily translate to statistical fortitude, but his rambunctious attitude has made him a solid force in the league and the two-time MLS All-Star has elevated his game to the point where people have taken notice.
• Scored his first MNT goal at Copa America 2007 against Paraguay, hitting an 18-yard shot into the bottom corner • Featured in three of the United States big games in 2008, starting against Mexico, Poland and England, and played 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifier for the first time in his career against Guatemala in November
• An MLS champion in 2006 & 2007 when he won the titles with the Houston Dynamo, he took his career appearances in the league above 150 during 2008
• An integral player for the U-20 MNT’s great run to the quarterfinals of the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, starting all five games and playing all but 10 minutes
• Scored his first MNT goal at Copa America 2007 against Paraguay, hitting an 18-yard shot into the bottom corner • Featured in three of the United States big games in 2008, starting against Mexico, Poland and England, and played 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifier for the first time in his career against Guatemala in November
• An MLS champion in 2006 & 2007 when he won the titles with the Houston Dynamo, he took his career appearances in the league above 150 during 2008
• An integral player for the U-20 MNT’s great run to the quarterfinals of the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, starting all five games and playing all but 10 minutes
2009: Filled in for suspended Michael Bradley on June 6 against Honduras and went 90 minutes and twice clearing shots off the goal line ... Entered as a late sub to help seal the USA’s 2-0 victory against Mexico in the first match of final round qualifying … Played 90 minutes in the 3-2 win against Sweden on Jan. 20 … 2008: Made six appearances for Bob Bradley’s team, including five starts … Began his second FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle, though his first one in earnest, and appeared in two semifinal round games against T&T on Oct. 15 and Guatemala on Nov. 19 in Commerce City, Colo. … Kept his unbeaten streak against Mexico intact by starting in the 2-2 draw against El Tri on Feb. 6 in Houston … 2007: Called in to Bob Bradley’s first camp in 2007, and gained his first career MNT start against Denmark in January … Reprised his role in center of midfield for the 2-0 U.S. win against Mexico in February … Named to the 2007 Gold Cup roster, he appeared in four games for the U.S. in the tournament … Also a member of the 2007 Copa America squad … He started all three games in Venezuela …Scored his first MNT goal when he slotted home a Taylor Twellman pass against Paraguay on July 2 in Barinas … 2006: Did not appear in any U.S. games … 2005: Earned his first international cap with the Men’s National Team when he came on for Kyle Martino in their final qualifying match against Panama on Oct. 12, 2005 … Under-23s: Was called up in November 2003 for the teams second round Olympic qualifying matches against St. Kitts & Nevis … Started in first leg of qualifying in St. Kitts, playing all 90 minutes in a 6-0 win … Under-20s: Helped the U.S. secure three shutouts in the 2003 L’Alcudia International Tournament in August … Started the first two qualifying matches in Charleston, S.C., helping the U.S. post consecutive shutouts to qualify for the World Youth Championship … Started four of five matches at the prestigious 2002 C.O.T.I.F. XIX Torneig Internacional in Spain, where the U.S. finished second … Scored the USA’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Canada at the U.S. Soccer Festival on August 1, 2002 … Under-18s: Is one of only three U-18s to start all six internationals in 2000-2001 … Started all three matches as the U.S. won the 2001 International Tournament of Lisbon … Scored three goals with the U-18s in two years … Scored against the Under-20s in a 2-1 loss and scored the game-winner against the U.S. Under-17s on Feb. 10, 2001 … First Appearance: Oct. 12, 2005, vs. Panama … First Goal: July 2, 2007, vs. Paraguay.
2008: Played 25 games in 2008 for Houston to take his career MLS appearance total to more than 150 games … Was substituted only once during his 25 MLS games during the season … Captained the team for the first time on June 12 against New England … Scored two goals and added one assist for the Dynamo, who finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference … 2007: Split significant time between the U.S. team and the Dynamo … Selected for the All Star team in July, his second consecutive appearance at the game … His season will be remembered for a nine-game suspension late in the regular season (that last through the playoffs and into 2008) for kicking Carlos Ruiz … Had two goals and three assists in 19 games before the suspension … 2006: Started 31 times for the relocated Houston Dynamo … Widely acknowledged as one of the premier defensive midfielders in the league, he made his first All-Star appearance in the summer … His two goals and three assists on the season were topped off by an MLS Cup victory for his club in the Fall, the he was in fact ineligible for that game … 2005: With his new team, the San Jose Earthquakes, he started 28 games … Scored a career-high three times and added two assists … Earned both Earthquakes and MLS player of the month honors for July … 2004: Followed up his rookie season with a solid sophomore campaign for the MetroStars, further bolstering his reputation as one of the leagues most promising players … Made 26 appearances in total, including 19 starts …Played in both of the MetroStars’ playoff games …2003: Drafted second overall in the first round by the MetroStars … Went on to make 28 starts for the club, tallying three goals and one assist … A finalist for 2003 Rookie of the Year honors …
Attended Furman University, and was one of the team’s leaders and a huge reason they were among the nation’s elite teams during his time there … During 2002, he was a key component of the defense that posted 15 shutouts during their 23-game season, which included an 11-game shutout streak.
Full name is Ricardo Anthony Clark … Parents are Lancelot and Norma Clark … Father, Lancelot, played soccer at Polytechnic University (N.Y.) in 1977-78 … Lists Pelé as the player he most admires.
