Jeff Clarke – Head Coach of ELITE Soccer Programs

Youth and College:

Clarke grew up in Coquitlam, British Columbia where he played youth soccer with Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC. During his time with the team, Metro Ford won three provincial and two Canadian 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 and has since graduated from SFU with a degree in Criminology.

Professional:

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. After the 1997 season, he moved to Belgium, where he had a trial with Royal Antwerp. However, the first of several work permit problems prevented him from signing with Antwerp. In 1998, he 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 also was the starting right-back in the UEFA Championships preliminary round home and home with Glasgow Celtic. He scored his only goal against Bray Wanderers in May 1999 to clinch the league title for St. Pats.

After the 1999 season, Clarke moved again, this time to the Hampton Roads Mariners. At the time, he was attempting to join clubs in several European leagues, including England, Denmark, and Austria, but, once again, he had difficulty gaining a work permit. In July 2000, he signed with Longford Town. Clarke then decided to sign with the Edmonton Drillers of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). However, the Drillers folded in December 2000, half way through the NPSL season. The Baltimore Blast then selected Clarke in a dispersal draft. When the Blast were eliminated from the playoffs, he joined the Portland Timbers on February 14, 2001. In 2002, he returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

As team captain, he helped the Whitecaps capture their first USL First Division Championship, beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3 to 0 in the championship. After the game, he was named the Championship’s MVP. On 12 October 2008 he helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship, beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in Vancouver but he was released from the team on 8 December 2008.

International career

Clarke played at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan, in a team alongside Paul Stalteri and Jason Bent. He then 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. He earned a total of 19 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. In 2000 he 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.

His final international was a May 2002 friendly match against Switzerland.

Coaching career

Jeff is currently serving as the Technical Director of the Surrey United Soccer Club and technical lead of the Surrey-Guildford United Metro Program where he coaches the U18 Metro Girls team. Clarke served as an assistant coach with Simon Fraser University from 2004-2006. Jeff was formerly the Technical Director of the Guildford Athletic Club and was instrumental in rebuilding their soccer program.

Jeff Clarke is the founder and head coach of ELITE Soccer Programs and plans to service the members of the BC soccer community the same way the coaches and volunteers from his past did in hopes of giving the young, talented soccer programs the same great opportunities that he received.