“YES! YES! YES!”
When Steve Clark launched his MLS career at Columbus Crew SC with a 3-0 win against D.C. United on March 8, 2014, he introduced the post-match chant that by now has become a ritual with supporters.
Crew SC fans will be able to celebrate that ritual a little while longer, as the club announced today it has signed the standout goalkeeper to a new, multi-year contract.
For Clark the decision to commit to Columbus long-term had a lot to do with the club’s supporters.
“I hope this means something to the fans, because in this day and age players come and go,” Clark said. “I definitely wanted to put pen to paper and say this is where I intend to be, this is where I want to be, this is a place where I am developing. You know, I really enjoy the fans.
“I hope they are happy,” Clark said. “I am happy to be here. People are willing to call me their own and I am willing to call them my own. So, I am proud to be here.”
Clark, 28, joined Crew SC via trade on Dec. 16, 2013, after spending four seasons in Norway with Honefoss BK. Since his arrival, he has become a fixture in Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s team, both on and off the pitch.
“In looking at Steve’s performance last year, in looking at what he means to the team, in looking at what he means to this community, he is an important figure,” Berhalter said
“He’s proven to be a very good goalkeeper in this League and we are excited to have him as part of this team.”
Clark started every match and played every minute for the club in his first full campaign with Columbus. He notched a 14-10-10 record with a goals-against average of 1.24 and 111 saves.
Clark ranked in the top five in clean sheets, saves and clearances that year. He was named a finalist for the 2014 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and captured both the club’s Defender of the Year honor and the Kirk Urso Heart Award last season.
“With Steve, you know what you’re going to get from him,” Berhalter said. “He’s extremely competitive and he wants to win every single thing he’s in, whether that’s in training or game. That attitude seeps into the rest of the team.
“On the field, from a goalkeeper’s standpoint, he comes up with big saves and he wins the team points. That’s a characteristic that you can’t teach,” Berhalter said. “He’s there at the right moments to make the right saves.”
Berhalter also pointed to Clark’s ability to play the ball with his feet under intense pressure. The Mason, Michigan native led Major League Soccer in total passes (866), successful passes (673) and passing accuracy (77.7%) in 2014.
“We have high expectations for what we ask of him with his feet. But he accepts that role and he is able to accept the pressure,” Berhalter said. “We really like that quality from him.”
Clark wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I really like to pass the ball. I like to work on that side of my game. I just wouldn’t want to play anywhere else where we are playing very direct and I am just kicking the ball very long,” he said.
“We want to entertain with our style of play. We want to put a lot of points on the board. And that’s why I am certainly continuing to stay with Columbus.”
The simple response from Crew SC supporters has to be: “YES! YES! YES!”
