Ricardo Clark

Ricardo Clark
  • U.S. National Team: MNT
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Date Of Birth: Feb. 10, 1983
  • Height: 5-10
  • Weight: 150
  • Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga.
  • Club: Houston Dynamo

A determined central midfielder, Clark’s tenacious style has provided sound cover for the national team. He possesses great range and the willingness to shoot from distance. A veteran of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Clark made his first goal in World Cup qualifying a big one, netting the game-winner in the 1-0 win in Trinidad & Tobago. A two-time MLS Cup champion and three-time MLS All-Star for the Houston Dynamo, he took his talents overseas to Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.

  • Started two matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the important opening game 1-1 draw against England
  • Appeared in half of the USA’s final round qualifiers, and seven total in the 2010 qualifying cycle
  • 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
  • A two-time MLS Cup winner with Houston, collecting back-to-back trophies in 2006 and 2007
2010: Started in the 1-1 draw against England on June 12 and the 2-1 overtime loss to Ghana on June 26 in the Round of 16 … Making four starts total for the year, he appeared in the final two tune-up matches for the World Cup on May 29 against Turkey and June 5 against Australia … 2009: Made a career-high 11 appearances, including 10 starts … After playing in the first two matches of the year, including the 2-0 win against Mexico on Feb. 11 in Columbus, injuries hampered his availability until the summer … Part of the U.S. squad that reached the final of the Confederations Cup … His long-range blast in the 62nd minute handed the U.S. a 1-0 win on Sept. 9 in Port of Spain and a critical three points in qualifying … Clark’s Trinidadian-born father was in the stands to witness the goal … Earned ussoccer.com Man of the Match honors in the USA’s final match of 2009, a 3-1 loss to Denmark … 2008: Made six appearances for Bob Bradley’s team, including five starts … Began his second 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 as head coach in 2007 and got 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 when he came on for Kyle Martino in the final qualifying match against Panama on Oct. 12 … 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 2003 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 Aug. 1, 2002 …  A member of the 2003 World Championship squad … Under-18s: Was 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.
2010: Used in midfield and central defensive in the first half of the 2010-11 season … A fractured cheekbone at the start of 2011 sidelined Clark for several weeks …2009-10: The three-time MLS All-Star moved to Eintracht Frankfurt of the German Bundesliga in January and saw scattered minutes before the World Cup as he worked his way into the lineup … 2009: Had one goal and one assist in 22 games for Houston… Named to his third MLS All-Star team … 2008: Played 25 games for Houston to take his career MLS appearance total to more than 150 games … Was substituted only once … 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, though 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 where he was a teammate of Clint Dempsey … 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, is originally from Trinidad played soccer at Polytechnic University (N.Y.) in 1977-78 … Married to wife Martha and has two kids, Mateo and Amaya … Lists Pele as the player he most admires … Favorite musical artists include Outkast, TI, and Bob Marley … Brother Richonne played at Clayton State … Enjoys hip hop and reggae music.

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