Jeff Clarke (Canadian soccer)

Football player infobox
playername = Jeff Clarke



fullname = Jeffrey Clarke

nickname =
height = height|ft=5|in=9
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|10|18
cityofbirth = New Westminster
countryofbirth = Canada
currentclub = Vancouver Whitecaps
clubnumber = 2
position = Midfielder

youthyears =
1996
youthclubs = Metro Ford
Simon Fraser Clan
years = 1997
199 - 1999
1999
1999-2000
2000
2001
2002-
2008
clubs = Vancouver 86ers
St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.
Hampton Roads Mariners
Edmonton Drillers "(indoor)"
Baltimore Blast "(indoor)"
Portland Timbers
Vancouver Whitecaps
→ Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
caps(goals) = 015 0(1)
006 0(1)
007 0(0)
007 0(3)
009 0(0)
021 0(3)
155 (12)
001 0(0)
nationalyears = 1997-
nationalteam = Canada
nationalcaps(goals) = 019 (1)
manageryears =
managerclubs = Simon Fraser University "(assistant)"
pcupdate = 27 September 2008
ntupdate = September 3, 2006

Jeffrey Clarke (born October 18, 1977) is Canadian soccer midfielder who has earned nineteen caps, scoring one goal, for the Canadian national team. He currently plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the First Division of the United Soccer Leagues.

Youth and college

Clarke grew up in Coquitlam, British Columbia where he played youth soccer with Metro Ford. During his time with the team, Metro Ford won three provincial and two Canadian championships. Clarke attended Centennial Senior Secondary. After graduating in 1996, he attended Simon Fraser University where he played on the men's soccer team for one year. While he left college prior to completing his degree, he has since begun taking courses again in order to gain a degree in Criminology.

Professional

In 1997, Clarke signed with the Vancouver 86ers becoming the team's starting sweeper. After one season in Vancouver, Clarke decided to move to Europe. At the end of the 1997 season, he moved to Belgium where he had a trial with Royal Antwerp. However, the first of several work permit problems prevented him from signing with Antwerp. In 1998, he joined League of Ireland club St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.. He scored his only goal v Bray Wanderers in May 1999 to clinch the league title for St. Pats.

After the 1999 season, Clarke moved again, this time to the Hampton Roads Mariners. At the time, he was attempting to join clubs in several European leagues, including England, Denmark and Austria, but he had difficulty gaining a work permit. In July 2000, he signed with Longford Town. However, he left the team and returned to Canada in August ^{[http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=175]} when Canadian national team coach Holger Osieck threatened to not call him into the national team. ^{[http://timberlog.blogspot.com/2001/03/kilkenny-city-hope-to-sign-jeff-clarke.html]} Clarke then decided to sign with the Edmonton Drillers of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). ^{[http://drillersarchive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=997&Itemid=47]} However, the Drillers folded in December 2000, half way through the NPSL season. The Baltimore Blast then selected Clarke in a dispersal draft. ^{[http://drillersarchive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=493&Itemid=2]} When the Blast were eliminated from the playoffs, he joined the Portland Timbers on February 14, 2001. In 2002, he returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

In 2006 he helped the Whitecaps capture their first USL First Division Championship beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0, after the game he was named the Championship MVP.

National teams

Clarke was a member of the Canadian team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship. ^{[http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/mu17_notes.pdf]} He later went on to play at the 1997 U-20 World Championships. That same year, he earned his first cap with the senior national team in a game against Iran. In 2000, he was the captain of the Canadian Olympic as it attempted, but failed to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Coaching

In addition to playing for the Whitecaps, Clarke serves as an assistant coach with Simon Fraser University. He coaching with [Stefan Leslie] the run soccer academy programs at the Guildford Athletic Club.

External links

* [http://www.paulstalteri.com/othercanadiansabroad/jeffclarke.htm Outstanding career overview]
* [http://whitecapsfc.com/teams/mens/?id=344 Short bio from Whitecapsfc.com]
* [http://www.timbersfanpage.com/1dplayers.htm Portland Timbers stats]