Brendan Clarke
{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{for|the Grand Prix motorcycle racer|Brendan Clarke (motorcyclist)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Brendan Clarke
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| currentclub = Galway United
| clubnumber = 1
| height = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/player.php?playerid=2 |title=Player profiles |publisher=Stpatsfc.com |accessdate=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126021915/http://www.stpatsfc.com/player.php?playerid=2 |archivedate=26 January 2012 }}
| position = Goalkeeper
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = C.I.E. Ranch
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Cherry Orchard
| years1 = 2003–2009 | clubs1 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps1 = 29 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2008 | clubs2 = → Sporting Fingal (loan) | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2010 | clubs3 = Sporting Fingal | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2011 | clubs4 = Sligo Rovers | caps4 = 31 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2012–2016 | clubs5 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps5 = 128 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017–2018 | clubs6 = Limerick | caps6 = 50 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2018–2020 | clubs7 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps7 = 64 | goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Shelbourne | caps8 = 54 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2023– | clubs9 = Galway United | caps9 = 77 | goals9 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U23
| nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 12:47, 23 April 2025
}}
Brendan Clarke (born 17 September 1985) is an Irish football player who plays for Galway United in the League of Ireland First Division.
Club career
=St Patrick's Athletic=
Clarke is a goalkeeper and played schoolboy football for local side Cherry Orchard. He is one of a handful of local players to have played for St. Pats. Clarke had an extended spell in the first team at the end of the 2004 season as regular 'keeper Chris Adamson's form dropped.
In 2007, Clarke was sent on a season-long loan to Waterford United but was recalled before the season got underway. At the end of the 2007 season, Clarke played in the 4 of the last 5 league games. Keeping 3 clean sheets out of 4 ensuring the Saints secured UEFA Cup football in 2008. He only missed the last game of the season due to an injury during the warm-up.
He had a very successful loan spell at Sporting Fingal F.C. during the 2nd half of the 2008 season. He played 14 games for Fingal, keeping 7 clean sheets.
When coming back to the Saints for the 2009 season, Clarke was told by the then boss, John McDonnell, that he'd be his number 1 goalkeeper for the season. McDonnell then left the club and was replaced by Jeff Kenna as manager. Kenna let goalkeeper Barry Ryan go to Galway United and replaced him with Galway keeper Gary Rogers. Kenna favoured Rogers from day one and installed Rogers as his number 1 keeper. When Jeff Kenna resigned, new manager Pete Mahon came in and immediately put Clarke into the team. Clarke played in the final 10 games of the 2009 season and put in some fine performances. He kept 4 clean sheets in the 10 games including clean sheets against the Saints relegation rivals Bray Wanderers twice and Dundalk, and also keeping a clean sheet in the vital last game of the season against Shamrock Rovers.
=Sporting Fingal=
Following the 2009 season, Clarke signed a 2-year full-time contract with Sporting Fingal, where he'd had a very successful loan spell in 2008.
=Sligo Rovers=
After Sporting Fingal ceased trading Clarke's contract was cancelled and he signed for Sligo Rovers on a 1-year full-time contract on 15 February 2011. Clarke impressed immediately by saving a penalty on his debut in the 1–0 win over Derry City F.C. in The Brandywell. He followed this up by keeping 5 clean sheets in his first 6 games. He has gone on a great run and has currently kept 9 consecutive clean sheets, setting a new League of Ireland record for consecutive clean sheets. This has helped Rovers move to the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division. Solid performances from Clarke helped Sligo to a 2nd-place finish in the league and also a cup winners medal as Sligo lifted the FAI Cup for the second year in a row.
=Return to St Patrick's Athletic=
Clarke signed a contract to return to the Saints for the 2012 season on 21 December 2011. He earned his place as number one keeper ahead of Barry Murphy and kept five clean sheets in the opening eight games of the season, conceding only three goals. Clarke remained at the Saints for five seasons, in which he won the League in 2013, the 2014 President's Cup, the 2014 Leinster Senior Cup, the 2014 FAI Cup (the club's first in 53 years), as well as the League Cup in 2015 and 2016.
=Limerick=
On 3 December 2016, Limerick announced via their Twitter account that they had signed Clarke on a 2-year contract ahead of the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2016/12/04/30161172/official-limerick-land-turner-oconnor-clarke|title=OFFICIAL: Limerick land Turner, O'Connor & Clarke | Goal.com|website=goal.com}} He made a total of 54 appearances in all competitions with the club,{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/brendan-clarke/7170/|title=Republic of Ireland – B. Clarke – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}} winning the supporters player of the year award for 2017, before departing in the summer of 2018 due to financial difficulties at the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/321455/brendan-clarke-bids-emotional-farewell-to-limerick-fc.html|title=Brendan Clarke bids emotional farewell to Limerick FC|website=limerickleader.ie}}
=Third Spell at St Patrick's Athletic=
He returned to St Patrick's Athletic for a third spell at the club, midway through their 2018 season.{{Cite web|url=https://sportinglimerick.com/watch-st-pats-confirm-signing-of-brendan-clarke/|title=WATCH – St Pat's confirm signing of Brendan Clarke|date=2 July 2018}} On 18 September 2018, he scored the first goal of his career, scoring the winner in a 2–1 win over Sligo Rovers from the penalty spot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0915/994018-keeper-clarke-slots-winner-as-pats-win-in-showgrounds/|title=Keeper Clarke slots winner as Pat's triumph in Sligo|first=David|last=Goulden|date=15 September 2018|via=rte.ie}} In November 2018 he signed a new 2-year contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21929/brendan-clarke-signs-on-the-saints-for-two-more-seasons/|title=Brendan Clarke signs on with the Saints for two more seasons|website=ExtraTime.com}} Despite being named the clubs Player of the Year by fans for the 2019 season, ahead of the 2020 season Clarke was told by manager Stephen O'Donnell that he could leave the club,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/sport/brendan-clarke-demand-cork-city-17316705|title=Clarke in demand as Cork want St Pat's keeper on loan next season|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=26 November 2019|website=DublinLive}} however he decided to stay and fight for the starting spot with Conor Kearns and Brian Maher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/brendan-clarke-opens-up-battle-22405261|title=Clarke opens up on his battle to stay first-choice goalkeeper at St. Pat's|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=24 July 2020|website=Irish Mirror}} By the end of the season Clarke had played every minute of every league game for the club and was voted Player of the Year for the second year running.{{cite tweet|number=1331645863295332360|user=stpatsfc|title=AWARDS | It's time to announce our 2020 end of season awards, sponsored by @PatronSaints 🏆 Player of the Year 👉… |date=25 November 2020}}
=Shelbourne=
He joined Shelbourne in November 2020 ahead of their 2021 League of Ireland First Division season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/brendan-clarke-st-patricks-athletic-shelbourne-5279944-Nov2020/|title=Experienced goalkeeper Clarke ends third spell with St Patrick's Athletic to join Shelbourne|first=Ben|last=Blake|website=The42}}
=Galway United=
On 26 November 2022, it was announced that Clarke would be joining Galway United for their 2023 campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://galwayunitedfc.ie/brendan-clarke-signs-2023/|title=Brendan Clarke Signs for 2023|first=Joseph|last=Murray|date=26 November 2022|website=Galway United}} On 21 August 2023, he made his 500th career appearance in all competitions, in a 5–1 win away to UCD in the FAI Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41209777.html|title=Five-star Galway United cruise past UCD in the FAI Cup|first=Paull|last=Buttner|date=21 August 2023|website=Irish Examiner}} On 22 September 2023, Clarke was part of the team that beat Kerry 4–0 to win the 2023 League of Ireland First Division, gaining promotion in the process.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41232601.html|title=Galway United gain promotion to the top flight in style|first=Murt|last=Murphy|date=22 September 2023|website=Irish Examiner}}
International career
He has represented the Republic of Ireland at schools international level and was selected as part of the Republic of Ireland U23 squad to play Northern Ireland in 2008.
Personal life
In April 2020, Clarke opened up about having previously used the mental health services made available to players via the PFAI and urged other players to avail of the services also should they need them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/they-wont-regret-it-brendan-clarke-urges-league-players-to-use-mental-health-services-39131706.html|title='They won't regret it' – Brendan Clarke urges League of Ireland players to use mental health services|website=The independent}} Clarke was named as Chairperson of the PFAI in September 2020, taking over from outgoing Chairperson & former teammate Gary Rogers, with Roberto Lopes as his vice-chairperson.{{cite tweet|number=1301105342319820802|user=stpatsfc|title=Congratulations to @BrenClarke1 on being named as the new Chairperson of the @PFAIOfficial He replaces former Sa… |date=2 September 2020}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 21 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/brendan-clarke/7170/|title=Republic of Ireland – B.Clarke|publisher=ie.soccerway.com|accessdate=2020-12-10}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FAI Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="8"|St Patrick's Athletic
|2003 |rowspan="7"|LOI Premier Division |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2004
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2005
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2006
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2007
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup|name=statsUC}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup|name=statsSSC}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2008
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup|name=statsUC}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup|name=statsSSC}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2009
|9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup|name=statsSSC}} | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| Sporting Fingal (loan)
|2008 |14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Sporting Fingal
|2010 |17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Sligo Rovers
|2011 |31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup|name=statsSSC}} | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| rowspan="6"|St Patrick's Athletic
|2012 |rowspan="5"|LOI Premier Division |20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup|name=statsSSC}} | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2013
|30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 2{{efn|2 appearances in Setanta Sports Cup & 1 appearance in Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2014
|33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League|name=statsUCL}} | 0 | 4{{efn|2 appearances in Setanta Sports Cup, 1 appearance in President's Cup & 1 appearance in Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2015
|16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 2{{efn|1 appearance in President's Cup & 1 appearance in Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2016
|29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!128 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 172 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3" valign=centre|Limerick
|2017 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearances in Munster Senior Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| 2018
|24 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearances in Munster Senior Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 24 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!50 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4"|St Patrick's Athletic
|2018 |rowspan="3"|LOI Premier Division |12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 15 | 1 | |||
| 2019
|34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=statsUEL}} | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| 2020
|18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!64 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 1 | |
| rowspan="3"|Shelbourne
|2021 |25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 0 | ||||
| 2022
|29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!54 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 59 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Galway United
|2023 |36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 0 | ||||
| 2024
|rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 0 | ||||
| 2025
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!77 | 0 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 83 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!464 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 554 | 1 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;St Patrick's Athletic
- League of Ireland Premier Division (1): 2013
- FAI Cup (1): 2014
- League of Ireland Cup (3): 2003, 2015, 2016
- President's Cup (1): 2014
- Leinster Senior Cup (2): 2014, 2019
Sligo Rovers
Shelbourne
Galway United
Maynooth University (As assistant manager)
=Individual=
- League of Ireland consecutive clean sheet record: 9 in 2011 with Sligo Rovers
- PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year (2): 2013, 2024
- PFAI Premier First Team of the Year (2): 2021, 2023
- SWAI Goalkeeper of the Year (1): 2013
- Limerick Supporters Club Player of the Year: 2017
- St Patrick's Athletic Player of the Year (2): 2019, 2020
- Galway United Player of the Year: 2024
- Galway Sports Star Award for Soccer: 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Galway United F.C. squad}}
{{St Patrick's Athletic F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{2013 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
{{2021 PFAI League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year}}
{{2023 PFAI League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year}}
{{2024 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Brendan}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Sporting Fingal F.C. players
Category:Sligo Rovers F.C. players
Category:Limerick F.C. players
Category:Shelbourne F.C. players
Category:Galway United F.C. players
Category:Cherry Orchard F.C. players
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin