Ricardo Clark is returning to Houston.
The former Dynamo standout central midfielder has re-signed with the club after trying his hand abroad, according to Houston's FOX affiliate, which reported the acquisition as a done deal on Thursday afternoon.
Because Clark left MLS on a free transfer and the Dynamo made him a bona fide offer before he left, Houston maintained his MLS rights, so he was not subjected to the league's allocation order upon his return. And because Clark's contract with Eintracht Frankfurt was terminated as of July 31 and he was a free agent, he was allowed to sign with the team outside of the transfer window.
Clark, 29, began his time with the San Jose Earthquakes/Dynamo franchise in 2005 after starting his MLS career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He was a key cog in the Dynamo's MLS Cup championship teams in 2006 and 2007 and departed for Europe along with Stuart Holden prior to the Dynamo's forgettable 2010 season.
Clark was a starter for the U.S. men's national team during the 2010 World Cup, but he struggled to secure regular playing time at Eintracht Frankfurt and was sent on loan to Stabaek in Norway this past February. With Geoff Cameron departing for Stoke City, Clark provides a well-qualified option to slide into his place in the midfield, where Cameron had shifted up to after starting the season at centerback.
In his return to the national team this past January, Clark scored the game-winning goal in the waning moments of the United States' 1-0 victory over Venezuela at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Depending on Clark's match fitness and when he is officially added to the Dynamo roster, his first game could come against his former team. The Dynamo play the Red Bulls on back-to-back Fridays, starting this Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium, where first place in the Eastern Conference is on the line.
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What do you think of this development? Do you think this move makes Houston the favorite to top the Eastern Conference?
Share your thoughts below.
+1
Isn’t he back in MLS for the reasons Timmy stated?
Relevant when observed from that vantage point, no?
Looks like we have Galaxy fan here. How’s you’re season going buddy?
Plus Brad Friedel and Marcus Hahnemann (EPL regulars), Demarcus Beasley (a Champions League player), Sacha Kljestan and Michael Parkhurst (both of whom have won championships in top-15 leagues). Ryan Nelsen, Andy Dorman, Stern John — all national team players for other countries who have done well in England after beginning in MLS. And it’s going to get better as MLS continues to be a first stop for talented Caribbean and Central American (/immigrant) kids like Mattocks and Najar.
So if Clark and Rolfe both bypassed the allocation order and signed with their old clubs because they left on free transfers then how come every time Bocanegra’s name comes up he’s linked to New England or Vancouver or whoever has top spot in the allocation order? Boca left Chicago on a free after 2003. They must have made him an offer to stay which means his MLS rights are still with Chicago.
Any chance a SBI writer could confirm this?
Ricardo Clark’s World Cup issues (real or not) are meaningless at this point.
The Men’s National team achieved enough success to consider that tournament successful or at least a building point for future success.
The program has moved on and so has Ricardo Clark.
He played well when asked to partner with Bradley in the midfield and started consistently for what was then a talented Bundesliga club that reached the upper mid-level.
Whatever factor preceded his return to the United States surely involved agents, relationships with key personnel at various clubs and “what have you done lately.”
Houston has done well to hold his rights and bring a solid national team contributor back in his prime.
Fitness remains the main issue and I’m sure they evaluated his situation extensively.
This is an article about Clark returning to MLS. Isn’t the fact that he’s a good MLS player what’s really relevant here? Maybe the rest of it’s not so relevant?
playoff bubble? the dynamo are number 2 in the east.
great pick up for the dynamo
And good depth for CCL play. Rico knows what playing in Central America is like, and that will be good with 2 crucial CCL road games to start.
You do realize that an injury derailed Rico in Germany, right? When he was healthy, he played well. He lost his place while injured and never worked back into the squad.
He didn’t light up Norway, but Stabaek is working with a ridiculously young and inexperienced team. He was brought in on a temporary basis to provide some experience and leadership.
You put up a pretty uninformed comment overall, though.
I’d assume at the central mid position in the 4-3-3. That actually hasn’t been Moffat consistently, it’s rotated between him, Creavalle, and Cameron during the win streak so I’m not too worried about the chemistry aspect.
That’s a pretty moronic comment considering they’re in 4th place overall (with a game in hand on SJ and RSL) and have the best streak going in the league.
Ok, but besides like the last 5 or 6 that have left recently that experienced considerable success they’ve all failed…or something.
Do you forgive the other 10 guys? Maybe 9, Howard was ok that game.
You haven’t paid attention the last few weeks, have you?
How do you know Dynamo is singular?
Great move
Houston needs an infusion of athleticism to augment the physical/defensive style they employ.
Ricardo Clark brings extensive national team experience and international club level pedigree to a team needing something to push it over the hump individual talent-wise.
Clark brings leadership and savy to a midfield corps that has seen defection after defection over the years
Great move for everyone involved.
I like the “other than” start to this question…
I think he’s right at home in MLS.
I have all the respect in the world for Bob Bradley but he was amongst the only that rated him so highly.
Is he coming in to play CB or DM? If its the former, then he’ll have to prove he can do it as its not his natural position. If its at DM, he’ll push Moffatt out I would think, and possibly effect the team chemistry.
John O’Brien
A guy named Kasey Keller..
A guy named Kasey Keller..
Jozy, Bradley,Edu,Bocanegra,Holden was until he got hurt.
Wow. Just Wow.
And Bocanegra went from the Chicago Fire to Fulham and Rangers. Edu went from TFC to Rangers and won a bunch of hardware and Brian Freakin’ McBride has a pub named after him in the stadium of an EPL team. And these are all just off the top of my head. Yikes.
How to people really believe crap like this? Maybe a dark horse. And history proves dark horses have a better chance than favorites. But Houston is not even in the top 5 of favorites.
For real… And Holden was named Bolton’s player of the year (and kept them from relegation)!
I guess he did well in Norway, but that’s now the worst team in the league — 7 points from about 20 games.
Michael Bradley for one…
I have felt that Clark is underrated insofar as his ability on the ball. When the coaches trust him to be proactive, as they probably do in Houston, he can be effective to an extent that I wouldn’t be shocked if he approached Osvaldo Alonso’s level of excellence.
Who farted?
seems like a lot of failures returning to the MLS of late. So how long until Cameron returns in disgrace?
Other than Dempsey and Howard, who has really thrived overseas from MLS? Feeder league that eats itself.
lol.
that was back when it was either Kljestian, Edu or Clark next to Bradley.. i always wanted Edu to play but no one was a perfect choice.
Good move all around. Well done.
Clark made mistakes against Ghana and England. But he also scored a great winning goal on the road v T&T during qualifying. Messi missed a penalty in Champions League semis. And the headline writer made a subject verb agreement error. It should be Dynamo brings back Clark. Dynamo is singular in American English but would be pl in British English.
We all make mistakes
(SBI-Actually Andrew, you’re wrong. According to AP style, which is the established set of rules that journalists in this country follow, sports teams nicknames that are singular are to be treated as plural. It is a rule that changed about 3-4 years ago. It goes against the standard grammar rule, but was changed to make for less awkward writing when dealing with singular team names, which are more prevalent now. So no, there was no mistake. ‘Dynamo bring back’ is correct.
Thanks for trying to help though.)
He was playing quite well as a starter in the Bundesliga before his injury. He also did well in Norway. He made mistakes against England and Ghana in the world cup that led to goals. That wasn’t his fault though, he wasn’t ready to play. I fault Bradley.
Come on. Ricardo was playing great soccer at that time in his career, the guy was just off winning a couple MLS Cups and was playing still reguarly in the Bundesliga appearing in over half the games. He had a bad 30 minutes, you know professionals are human and make mistakes like anyone else. Bradley recognized it, subbed him… we tied the game. It was bad defending that lost us the game, 80 + minutes of it RC wasnt even on the field. Grow up…
I’m a Dynamo fan and I endorse this message/news.
big pick up for a team on playoff bubble. He should fill right in where Cameron left.
as much as his WC performance hurts US fans, you have to remember his goalazo vs. Trinidad and overall quality play in the entire qualifying run. good to see MLS stars make the most of their time, jumping to Europe when the opportunity is out and coming right back once that opportunity closes.
Paging Carlos Ruiz, paging Carlos Ruiz – will you please report to the MLS team of your choice for another foot-lashing? Thank you.
We’re going to another MLS Cup Final this year at this rate. Playing great, coming together, getting Rico back. Doesn’t look like we’re stopping any time soon.
cool
I likey!
I know this is petty, but I still can’t forgive the mistake against Ghana. Same with Bradley for playing someone clearly not ready to play
Saw this coming a mile away. Great for the Dynamo and their fans
If he returns to previous Dynamo form, Houston should be the favorite to win the cup.
I have no criticism whatsoever for this acquisition.
May be a good player by MLS standards, but really offers little internationally or at higher club levels. Wish him the best though