Mike Clark (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Clark is a retired American soccer defender
who spent eight seasons with the Columbus Crew
in Major League Soccer
.
Clark grew up in Detroit, Michigan
. He attended Country Day High School and was a Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. He then attended Indiana University where he was a mainstay on the Hoosiers soccer team from 1991 to 1994. He started 91 games during his four seasons and was selected as a 1994 third team All American.
In 1995, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
of the USISL. That season, the Kickers won both the USISL and Open Cup
championships. In February 1996, the Columbus Crew
selected Clark in the fourth round (thirty-first overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He is the most capped player for the Crew and was also voted to two MLS All-Star Games. Clark retired on March 16, 2004, holding the Crew record for games played, minutes played and games started. He also played 22 playoff and 18 U.S. Open Cup games.
Before his retirement, he had entered the business world, owning two Great Clips franchises and working at a mortgage company.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent eight seasons with the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Clark grew up in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He attended Country Day High School and was a Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. He then attended Indiana University where he was a mainstay on the Hoosiers soccer team from 1991 to 1994. He started 91 games during his four seasons and was selected as a 1994 third team All American.
In 1995, he signed with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USISL. That season, the Kickers won both the USISL and Open Cup
1995 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* AAC Eagles 1-2 Chicago Stingers * Connecticut Wolves 0-3 New York Centaurs * Tampa Bay Cyclones 2-4 Atlanta Ruckus * Richmond Kickers 6-1 Maryland Spartans...
championships. In February 1996, the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Clark in the fourth round (thirty-first overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He is the most capped player for the Crew and was also voted to two MLS All-Star Games. Clark retired on March 16, 2004, holding the Crew record for games played, minutes played and games started. He also played 22 playoff and 18 U.S. Open Cup games.
Before his retirement, he had entered the business world, owning two Great Clips franchises and working at a mortgage company.