VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Thursday that the club has hired three-time Major League Soccer All-Star, two-time MLS Cup champion, and recent Houston Dynamo FC Academy coach Ricardo Clark as an assistant coach with the first team.
“We are very happy to welcome Ricardo to our coaching staff,” said Marc Dos Santos, Whitecaps FC head coach. “We wanted to bring into the staff someone who had been in the league, experience overseas and on the international stage, as well as a passion towards coaching and working with young players. Ricardo brings tremendous experience and we look forward to welcoming him to the team as he takes this next step in his coaching career.”
Whitecaps FC assistant coach Ricardo Clark
- Coached with Houston Dynamo FC Academy and U.S. U-20 men’s national team
- Two-time MLS Cup champion (2006, 2007), three-time MLS All-Star (2006-08), and MLS Best XI (2006) during 17-year playing career
- 34 appearances and three goals for U.S. men’s national team, two appearances at 2010 FIFA World Cup
“In addition to his responsibilities as a first team coach on the pitch, a large part of Ricardo’s new role will include his one-on-one work with our young professional players and the integration with our performance team,” added Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC chief executive officer and sporting director. “We have a number of young players and his experience will be a great resource for these young men. We are very pleased to add Ricardo to our club.”
Most recently, the accomplished former pro worked as interim head coach with the Dynamo’s U-19 academy team and previously as head coach with the U-16 team. Clark was also an assistant coach with the United States U-20 men’s national team. Clark is currently completing his United States Soccer Federation ‘A’ License.
“I’m excited to be here and thankful to the club for the opportunity, especially to Axel Schuster, Marc Dos Santos, and Greg Anderson,” said Clark. “I’m looking forward to working with our staff and the group to embrace the challenges in front of us and do my best to help bring success to Vancouver and our supporters.”
During his 17-year playing career, Clark won MLS Cups with Houston in 2006 and 2007, was named an All-Star in 2006, 2007, and 2008, and to the MLS Best XI in 2006. The former central midfielder totalled 357 MLS regular season appearances with 36 goals and 28 assists from his time with the Dynamo, Columbus Crew SC, San Jose Earthquakes, and NY/NJ Metrostars. With Houston, he sits second all-time in games played (304), games started (286) and minutes played (25,319) for the Dynamo.
The native of Atlanta, Georgia also spent time playing in Europe with Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Norway’s Stabæk. At the international level Clark made 34 appearances with three goals scored for the United States men’s national team, including two appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
