Clark played three and a half seasons with the Timbers (2018-21) and leads the club's MLS era in wins and appearances.
Former Portland Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark announced his retirement from soccer yesterday.
Clark played three and a half seasons with the Timbers (2018-21) appearing in 76 matches with 40 wins – both club highs in the MLS era – and earning 20 clean sheets, good for second in the club’s MLS history.
Claimed off waivers in 2018 from DC United, Clark served as a backup as the team won the 2018 Western Conference Championship and made a run to the 2018 MLS Cup. Becoming a starter in 2019, Clark earned 13 wins and six shutouts in 24 appearances and was named the 2019 Timbers Army Supporters Player of the Year. In the COVID-19-affected season of 2020, the goalkeeper would backstop the Timbers throughout the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament to win the competition’s cup final and was awarded the MLS is Back Save of the Tournament for a PK double-save effort against the LA Galaxy's Javier "Chicharito" Hernández.
Steve Clark's double-save that won the MLS is Back Save of the Tournament
His final season in the Rose City in 2021 saw Clark earn 13 wins and seven shutouts as the club claimed another Western Conference Championship (2021) and he started in the 2021 MLS Cup at Providence Park.
Along with his time with DC, Clark also played in MLS with Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo FC as well enjoying stints in Norway with Hønefoss and in Denmark with AC Horsens.
In a statement on Instagram, Clark said, “Today I officially say goodbye to the game. I was just a kid from Mason, Michigan with a dream. A college walk-on who backpacked through England and Norway to get my first deal. I was the kid who wouldn't quit. God used soccer to make me a better man, husband and father – for that I am the most grateful. Soccer, in a lot of ways, saved my life. To my wife, my hero: Clark's don't let dreams die. I love you forever. To my teammates: My legacy lies with you in those moments we strived to get better and do something special.”
