Steve Clark says goodbye to Portland Timbers

Starting goalkeeper Steve Clark announced on Instagram that he is set to depart the club after three and a half years. It was announced last week by the team that Clark was out of contract and that the club was in negotiations around a new contract agreement. It now appears that no new deal was able to be reached and now Portland’s starting goalkeeper for the past three seasons is leaving Rose City.

The 35-year-old has been with the Timbers since 2018, keeping 26 clean sheets in 92 appearances across all competitions.

No official word has been given by the club yet on Clark’s departure, but the finality of the above post strongly suggests that Clark and Timbers were unable to reach a deal.

Steve Clark Portland Timbers career

Clark was originally signed by the team off waivers midway through the 2018 season. He spent the remainder of that season as a backup to Jeff Attinella during the campaign in which the Timbers made a run to the 2018 MLS Cup Final. He won the starting goalkeeper job during the following year and hasn’t given it up since.

Clark has helped Portland win the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 and reach the final of the MLS Cup Playoffs this season, losing on penalties to NYCFC. He was also on the bench for the Timbers' loss 2-0 to Atlanta United in the 2018 MLS Cup.

With the exception of a few injury-induced absences, Clark was solid and consistent during his Timbers tenure. He was prone to the occasional and high-profile mistake, but he also made a habit of making spectacular saves. Many times, it was Clark’s play that kept Portland in games. 

The 2021 season especially stands out as perhaps one of Clark’s best ever, as he anchored a defense that made a spectacular postseason run all the way to the 2021 MLS Cup Final. He very quickly became a fan-favorite, winning the Timbers Army Supporters’ Player of the Year belt in 2019.

Steve Clark words

"Thank you to the Portland Timbers for the last 3.5 seasons," Clark wrote on Instagram. "It’s been an incredible ride. The decision to leave isn’t one I took lightly.

"To the fans, your passion reignited my own. I’ll never forget the sound of providence park chanting my name. To my teammates, what we all experienced together will never be forgotten. To our friends, neighbors, and fellow Yogis, getting to know you personally and be known by you - means the world to us."

Houston Dynamo is interested in the goalkeeper

He is eligible for MLS free agency, and despite his age, he has shown he is a top-tier goalkeeper in the league. He is an attractive option for a team that is looking for an upgrade in goal and will likely not be without a club for long.

On Wednesday, MLSsoccer.com's Bogert reported that the Houston Dynamo had won the race for Clark's signature.