Jeff Clarke

Jeff Clarke

Clarke grew up in Coquitlam, British Columbia where he played youth soccer with Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC winning three provincial and two Canadian National championships. Clarke attended Centennial School, and after graduating in 1996, attended Simon Fraser University where he played on the men’s soccer team for one year. He left college to pursue a professional career abroad but has since graduated from SFU with a degree in Criminology.

In 1997, Clarke signed with the Vancouver 86ers, becoming the team’s starting sweeper. After one season in Vancouver, Clarke decided to move to Europe and joined League of Ireland club St. Patrick’s Athletic F.C.In his two seasons at St. Pats he won the league championship twice and played in the UEFA Championships and then in 2002 joined the Vancouver Whitecaps. As team captain, he helped the Whitecaps capture USL First Division Championships but later left the team in December 2008.

Jeff during his career played in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan,and also played at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia, again with Stalteri and Bent.

He made his senior debut for Canada in an August 1997 friendly match against China and earned a total of 19 International caps, He has represented Canada in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and in 2000 was part of Canada’s squad that won their first 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In 2000, he was the captain of the Canadian Olympic side as it attempted, but failed to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics and  his final international was in May 2002 against Switzerland.