Clive Clarke

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For the English footballer, born in 1940, see Clive Clark (footballer). For other persons with similar names see Clive Clark(e) (disambiguation)
Clive Clarke
Personal information
Full name Clive Richard Luke Clarke
Date of birth January 14, 1980 (1980-01-14) (age 28)
Place of birth    Dublin, Ireland
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current club Free agent
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1996–2005
2005–2006
2006-2008
2006
2007		 Stoke City
West Ham United
Sunderland
→ Coventry City (loan)
→ Leicester City (loan)		 222 (9)
002 (0)
004 (0)
012 (0)
002 (0)   
National team2
2004 Ireland 002 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 11:09, 26 August 2007 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 02:44, 8 February 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Clive Richard Luke Clarke (born January 14, 1980 in Dublin) is an Irish footballer currently without a club after leaving Sunderland for health reasons. He plays primarily as a left back, but also as centre back, left midfielder or centre midfielder.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Stoke City

Clarke started playing football with local club Newtown Schoolboys in his home town of Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. He joined Stoke City as a trainee in August 1996, making his debut against Oldham in May 1999.[1] He quickly became a regular in the team, making 55 appearances in the 1999–2000 season and 33 appearances in the 2000–01 season,[1] although he was dropped from the side in February 2001, which prompted him to hand in a transfer request.[2] He returned to the side and went on to make a total of 262 appearances in all competitions for Stoke in nine years at the club, helping Stoke to the Division Two play-off semi-final in May 2001[3] and promotion to Division One (now the Championship) in May 2002.[4]

[edit] West Ham United

Clarke signed for West Ham for a fee of £275,000 at the end of July 2005, brought to the club by the then manager, Alan Pardew, who wanted another left-sided player.[5] He made only three appearances for West Ham[1] and, in August 2006, moved to Sunderland in a deal that saw George McCartney move to Upton Park.[6]

[edit] Sunderland

Clarke joined Sunderland as a replacement for the injured George McCartney.[6] However, he made only four appearances before joining Coventry City on loan in October 2006[7] until January 2007[8] after which he returned to Sunderland. He made twelve appearances for Coventry but made no further appearances for Sunderland after returning from loan.[1]

Clarke later signed a three-month loan deal with Leicester City on 16 August 2007.[9] During the Carling Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Leicester City on 28 August 2007, Clarke collapsed and suffered two heart failures in the changing rooms at the City Ground causing the match to be abandoned at half-time, with the score at 1–0.[10][11] It was reported by the BBC that Clarke was being treated in the emergency room at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. He was said to be 'stable' and would be kept in overnight.[10]

Clarke told the BBC on September 2, 2007 that he felt lucky to be alive.[12]

“ I remember feeling a bit lethargic on the field in the first half, and I was involved in a collision with our goalkeeper Paul Henderson, which led to their goal.

I sat quietly in a corner of the dressing room and felt a bit queasy. I can recall Patrick Kisnorbo talking to me, but it wasn't really registering. Then I just passed out.

When I was told what had happened, the blood drained from my body. I just thought I could have been dead, and that I might never have seen my family again.

When you think about Sevilla player Antonio Puerta (who collapsed last Saturday and died on Tuesday), it goes without saying that a day won't pass when I don't cherish every moment in my life.

 ”

Clarke told Sky Sports on September 12 that he was still hopeful of playing again,[13] but he never made another appearance for Leicester following the incident, and he returned to Sunderland in November. He left Sunderland by mutual agreement in February 2008 after medical advice.[14]

[edit] International career

Clarke was a Republic of Ireland Under 21 player[2] and has two caps for the Republic of Ireland senior team, against Nigeria in May 2004 and against Jamaica in June 2004.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Clive Clarke. Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  2. ^ a b "Clarke in shock transfer request", BBC Sport, 2001-02-22. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  3. ^ "Walsall too strong for Stoke City", BBC Sport, 2001-05-16. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  4. ^ "Stoke seal promotion", BBC Sport, 2001-05-11. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  5. ^ "West Ham snap up Stoke's Clarke", BBC Sport, 1 August 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  6. ^ a b "West Ham sign defender McCartney", BBC Sport, 8 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  7. ^ "Clarke surprised by Coventry move", BBC Sport, 26 October 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Duffy & Clarke extend loan deals", BBC Sport, 21 November 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  9. ^ "Clarke joins Foxes on loan", BBC Sport, 2007-08-16. Retrieved on 2007-08-16. 
  10. ^ a b "Nottm Forest A-A Leicester", BBC Sport, 2007-08-28. Retrieved on 2007-08-28. 
  11. ^ "Clarke 'improving' after collapse", BBC Sport, 2007-08-29. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  12. ^ I'm lucky to be here, says Clarke, BBC Sport 2007-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
  13. ^ Clarke aims to play again, Sky Sports 2007-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-12-09.
  14. ^ "Defender Clarke leaves Sunderland", BBC Sport, 2008-02-06. Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 
  15. ^ Squad Profile: Clive Clarke, FAI Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2007.

[edit] External links

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