Whitecaps re-sign three veterans
Published on March 16, 2006 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi announced today that the Whitecaps have extended the contracts of midfielders Jeff Clarke and Steve Klein and defender Steve Kindel through the 2007 season. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed."
"The club is excited to have Clarke, Kindel and Klein back this year and through 2007," said head coach Bob Lilley. "They bring quality, consistency, experience and leadership to our line-up, as all three are integral pieces of the equation moving forward."
Clarke, 28, enters his sixth season with the Caps and eighth in the league. The 5'9", 165-pound native of New Westminster, BC, has played in 118 games for the Whitecaps scoring nine goals and assisting on eight. Last year Clarke was named the captain at the start of the season and played in 25 games, collecting one goal and one assist in 2,011 minutes.
Clarke, who first joined the Whitecaps in 1997, spent two seasons in Europe, with St. Patrick's Athletic of Ireland's Eircom League before returning to North America in 2000. After one year stints with the Hampton Roads Mariners and then the Portland Timbers, Clarke returned to Vancouver in 2002. Clarke, a former captain with the SFU Clan, has 19 caps for the Canadian National Men's Team.
Kindel, 29, enters his ninth season with the Caps. Having previously spent most of his minutes as a midfielder, last year Kindel made a successful transition to the left flank logging 2,381 minutes, second only to Martin Nash, and contributing offensively with one goal and two assists in 29 games. The 5'8" 150-pound Burnaby, B.C. native has 32 goals and 19 assists in a Whitecaps uniform. In 2001 and 2002, Kindel finished second in team scoring and was named Second Team All A-League.
A former standout at SFU, Kindel was 1997 NAIA Pacific Northwest Conference Player of the Year. During the 1998-99 season Kindel played in Europe with RAEC Mons of the Belgian 3rd Division. Kindel returned to the United Soccer Leagues in 2000, first joining the Richmond Kickers, than the Hampton Roads Mariners, before re-signing with Vancouver on August 1, 2000.
Klein, 30, made an immediate impact during his first season in Vancouver finishing second in club scoring with seven goals and four assists in 27 games. For his efforts the 6'2", 176-pound midfielder was named to 2005 USL First Division All-League First Team.
Klein previously spent the last three years with the Charleston Battery, starting 81 of 84 games played. During his time with the Battery he scored eight goals and assisted on five. Prior to Charleston, the native of Nashville, Tennessee, played three seasons with the Hershey Wildcats under coach Lilley, where he accumulated 13 goals and 10 assists in 68 games.
Klein was a 4-year starter at Bowling Green State University, where he was voted first team All-American in his senior year. He is also the all-time leading points scorer at BGSU. After college, Klein was drafted by Major League Soccer's New England Revolution for the 1997 season but saw limited time due to injury. In 1998, before joining the Wildcats, Klein played a season for the Nashville Metros.
The Whitecaps regular season kicks off on Saturday, April 22 versus the Portland Timbers. Guarantee your priority purchase rights for the inaugural Whitecaps Nations Cup with the new 3-Game Pack. Prices start at just $42. For more information about the 3-Game Pack and other Whitecaps ticket packages call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com.
USL First Division Stories from March 16, 2006
- Whitecaps re-sign three veterans - Vancouver Whitecaps
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