Columbus Crew SC midfielder Ricardo Clark says he’s looking forward to seeing a familiar face this weekend when the Black & Gold take on expansion-side Los Angeles Football Club for the first time ever.
LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley played a large role in Clark’s start to his professional career, both for club and country, as well as his development as a player.
“He’s a great guy,” Clark said. “He’s been instrumental to my development. I owe a lot of my success and my development in my career to him.”
Bradley was coaching the New York MetroStars in 2003, when they selected Clark as the second overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder went on to make 28 regular-season appearances (all starts), scoring three goals and registering one assist in his rookie season. In 2004, he saw ample time on the field again, making 26 appearances (19 starts), scoring a goal and notching an assist.
“My rookie year and my second-year season, he let me express myself, which was great,” Clark said. “He would give me tidbits here and there about holding my position, playing within my position and that was good for my development—especially being a young player, when you want to run all over the place. That was the first time I was able to play within a system, and he helped me in that aspect.”
Having been a part of Crew SC since February of this year, the veteran midfielder knows the importance of playing in a system and how successful a team can be when its implemented effectively. Columbus is currently having its most-successful start to the season (7-4-6) under the leadership of Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter since he took over the ropes in 2014.
Clark has made a noticeable impact when called upon,with a goal and an assist in five starts (seven appearances) this season. He’s an experienced player with34 caps playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team, which is where he and Bradley crossed paths once again.
The 35-year-old made his debut for the U.S. as a substitute in a World Cup Qualifier against Panama on October 12, 2005. Less than two years later, Bob Bradley was officially named head coach for the Stars and Stripes.
“He’s a great coach,” Clark said. “He’s taught me a lot in regards to my mentality and how to go about myself within a team. I learned a lot from him.”
With Bradley at the helm and Clark playing a pivotal role in the midfield, they won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007 and took the U.S. to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup. That was the last time the two shared a pitch.
But in that time together, Ricardo Clark developed a strong work ethic from Bradley’s coaching and calls him a “natural leader.”
“By his character, I was able to learn,” Clark said. “He was a guy who was always about being bold in his decision-making in everything he does and that kind of radiates throughout the teams that he coaches.
In LAFC’s first MLS season and Clark’s 14th, the two will meet again at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday night. The match is set to kick off at 10:30 p.m. ET.
