VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Thursday that Ricardo Clark has been named head coach of the club’s MLS NEXT Pro team, Whitecaps FC 2, with Nick Dasovic becoming Whitecaps FC BMO Academy high potential player (HPP) head coach.
“We believe that these changes within our staffing team will help enhance our high-performance player pathway,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “When Ricardo joined our club in 2021, his role included a focus on the development and progression of our young players, and this will be a great opportunity for him to take the next step in his coaching career. We are also thankful to have Nick continuing to play a key role in our development structure, as he brings an abundance of experience and knowledge.”
Clark joined Whitecaps FC as a first team assistant coach ahead of the 2021 MLS season. Prior to his time in Vancouver, he worked as interim head coach with the Dynamo’s U-19 academy team and previously as head coach with the U-16 team. Clark was also an assistant coach with the United States U-20 men’s national team. The native of Atlanta, Georgia is currently completing his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Pro License.
During his 17-year playing career, Clark won MLS Cups with Houston in 2006 and 2007, was named an All-Star in 2006, 2007, and 2008, and to the MLS Best XI in 2006. He also spent time playing in Europe with Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Norway’s Stabæk. At the international level, Clark made 34 appearances with three goals scored for the United States men’s national team, including two appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Clark moves into his new role after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the first team. Last month, Florian Jungwirth joined head coach Vanni Sartini’s first team staff along with assistant coach Michael D’Agostino, goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha, and video analyst Andrew Foster.
