COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew announced today that it has acquired goalkeeper Steve Clark after adding him from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for the Crew’s 2015 Fourth Round SuperDraft selection. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, further terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Clark will be added to the club’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
“Steve is a player that has risen through the ranks of Norwegian football and has established himself as a top goalkeeper abroad,” said Crew Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “He was all-league in Norway and has enjoyed three consecutive strong seasons. Steve has presence, good reflexes and is extremely good in one-on-one situations, and he brings intensity to the goalkeeping position.”
LISTEN: Clark's first interview in Black & Gold
Clark has played the last four seasons with Honefoss BK, currently in Norway’s Tippeligaen, the country’s topflight division. The club was in the First Division in 2010 before being relegated to second tier Adeccoligaen for the 2011 season. The club earned promotion back to the Tippeligaen ahead of the 2012 campaign, giving Clark three years of experience at Norway’s highest level of competition. In four campaigns, he posted a record of 30-32-32 and had a 1.34 goals against average and 26 shutouts. In 2011, as the club made a run for promotion, Clark led the team with 12 shutouts and a 0.93 goals against average, helping the club secure points in 25 of 30 matches en route to a 16-5-9 record.
Clark played collegiately at Oakland University from 2005-2008 and was a two-time All-Summit League player as a junior and senior. In his final season with the Golden Grizzlies he ranked eighth in the country with a 0.54 goals against average, and he was also named to the All-Midwest Region First Team, posting a Summit League record-tying 11 shutouts. Clark also secured the honor of Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. With the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League (PDL) from 2006-2009, he made 75 appearances and helped the Bucks to a PDL championship in 2006, while being named Most Valuable Player in the title match. He made four starts in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action during his time with the Bucks, including a July 12, 2006 Third Round match-up against the Crew, where he made nine saves in a 4-1 Black & Gold win. Clark also had a brief stint in 2009 with the Charleston Battery before departing for Norway.
TRANSACTION: Crew trades a 2015 Fourth Round SuperDraft pick to Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for goalkeeper Steve Clark.
<img alt="" src="https://columbus-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Steve-clark-headshot.jpg" style="width: 140px; height: 200px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;"> |
<strong>Name:</strong> Steve Clark<br><strong>Position:</strong> Goalkeeper<br><strong>Height:</strong> 6’2”<br><strong>Weight:</strong> 192<br><strong>Born:</strong> April 14, 1986 in Mason, Michigan<br><strong>Hometown:</strong> Mason, Michigan<br><strong>Citizenship:</strong> United States<br><strong>Acquired:</strong> Traded from Seattle Sounders FC on December 16, 2013 in exchange for a 2015 Fourth Round SuperDraft pick<br><strong>Professional Experience:</strong> Honefoss BK (2010-2013), Charleston Battery (2009), Michigan Bucks (2006-2009) |
