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Decent-ish article on LC in today's Mail. United are Clarke's 17th club of his career - the highest of any current player.
Leon Clarke is the ultimate journeyman pro after joining his 17th club - and he's only 31
It's safe to say change has not been unusual for Clarke. His current club Sheffield United is the 17th of his career, the highest of any current Football League player — and he’s only 31.
‘I didn’t imagine my career would go the way it has done,’ is his understated response. ‘Sometimes circumstances are out of your control and at other times you move to play football rather than sitting back to pick up your money.’
Leon Clarke has had 17 clubs, the highest of any current Football League player
Clarke once took a pay cut to leave Premier League QPR for League Two Swindon because he wanted regular games.
He started off idolising Steve Bull as a nine-year-old at the Wolves School of Excellence. Little did he know he would move home 15 times and never play more than a couple of years in one place. Fortunately, his mum has friends in the removals business.
'People always ask me why I have been at so many teams. Sometimes circumstances are out of your control and at other times you move to play football rather than sitting back to pick up your money.'
Clarke joined Wolves at the age of nine and made his professional debut in 2003
Ask the striker to name his favourite teams and he starts to sound like a travel guide.
'Southend was really enjoyable. Chesterfield, Scunthorpe. I had a really good partnership with Callum Wilson at Coventry, after a couple of training sessions I could see he had blistering pace and thought “He's going to make my life easy!”
'The biggest clubs I've played for are Wolves, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and now Sheffield United. I love Sheffield as a city. Northern fans seem to be more passionate.'
His career is a perennial roller-coaster. Two years ago, Wolves took him back from Coventry for £750,000. The following year he was off to Bury on a free transfer via that loan spell at Wigan. This summer United paid a six-figure fee for him and gave him a three-year contract.
'I've got a little boy, Shia, who is six months. We've got a home in Bromsgrove and I don't want to move any more,' he says.
The 31-year-old has had spells at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United
'I've lost count of the times I've moved. I once went from QPR to Preston, rented an apartment there and the loan got cancelled after a couple of months.
'Sheffield United are a massive club and the contract shows they have a lot in belief in me. The club has been in League One too long and we want promotion.
'Longer-term we can all dream of the Premier League. It's something I haven't ticked off in my career and if I can do it here, it would be incredible. We would fill the stadium every week.'
After a poor start to the season, The Blades face Gillingham on Sunday hoping to build on last weekend's first win of the season against Oxford.
Clarke has kept a few close friends from the various clubs he's played at including Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and David Davis of Birmingham City. Going into a new dressing-room environment has made him something of a psychologist.
The forward enjoyed a successful partnership with Callum Wilson at Coventry
'You have to get to know the players, their personalities. It can be frustrating to leave and go through that process again,' he admits.
'I tend to sit back and observe, try to work everyone out, who the jokers are, the quiet ones. Initially, I keep myself to myself and ease my way into it.
'Once or twice, I have not fitted in with the group as well as I had wanted. I am not going to say where! You can't do too much about it, if you force it you are not being true to yourself.'
Clarke has also worked with plenty of different managers beginning with Glenn Hoddle at Wolves. 'He was amazing for my career. I enjoyed his methods and he would join in training from time to time,' he says.
Paolo di Canio at Swindon was a different matter. The pair came to blows on the touchline after a League Cup tie against Southampton in 2011 which Clarke regards as a watershed moment in his career.
A TV grab of Clarke clashing with then Swindon manager Paolo di Canio in 2011
'Di Canio was enthusiastic and passionate about his football but I knew I couldn't play for him again,' he says.
'The incident changed things. I was seen as a disruptive influence, a bad egg, and I knew wherever I went to next, I would have to do well.
'I spoke to the Chesterfield manager John Sheridan and he was really good for me. He told me to keep my head down and score goals. I got nine in 14 on loan and Charlton Athletic who were top of League One signed me.'
Bury manager David Flitcroft was an understanding figure when Clarke's father Darel was tragically killed in a pub assault last January.
'I enjoyed working with David. I had those family problems and he didn't put any pressure on me when I needed time off,' says the striker appreciatively.
Given Clarke's history, it would be hard to predict what lies in store next for him. But after spending so much time on the road, he craves stability at Bramall Lane.
'It would be really nice to stay here,' he says.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...pro-joining-17th-club-s-31.html#ixzz4JHMgmQ9f
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Leon Clarke is the ultimate journeyman pro after joining his 17th club - and he's only 31
- The forward's current club Sheffield United is the 17th of his career
- The Blades face Gillingham on Sunday hoping to build on first win
It's safe to say change has not been unusual for Clarke. His current club Sheffield United is the 17th of his career, the highest of any current Football League player — and he’s only 31.
‘I didn’t imagine my career would go the way it has done,’ is his understated response. ‘Sometimes circumstances are out of your control and at other times you move to play football rather than sitting back to pick up your money.’
Leon Clarke has had 17 clubs, the highest of any current Football League player
Clarke once took a pay cut to leave Premier League QPR for League Two Swindon because he wanted regular games.
He started off idolising Steve Bull as a nine-year-old at the Wolves School of Excellence. Little did he know he would move home 15 times and never play more than a couple of years in one place. Fortunately, his mum has friends in the removals business.
'People always ask me why I have been at so many teams. Sometimes circumstances are out of your control and at other times you move to play football rather than sitting back to pick up your money.'
Clarke joined Wolves at the age of nine and made his professional debut in 2003
Ask the striker to name his favourite teams and he starts to sound like a travel guide.
'Southend was really enjoyable. Chesterfield, Scunthorpe. I had a really good partnership with Callum Wilson at Coventry, after a couple of training sessions I could see he had blistering pace and thought “He's going to make my life easy!”
'The biggest clubs I've played for are Wolves, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and now Sheffield United. I love Sheffield as a city. Northern fans seem to be more passionate.'
His career is a perennial roller-coaster. Two years ago, Wolves took him back from Coventry for £750,000. The following year he was off to Bury on a free transfer via that loan spell at Wigan. This summer United paid a six-figure fee for him and gave him a three-year contract.
'I've got a little boy, Shia, who is six months. We've got a home in Bromsgrove and I don't want to move any more,' he says.
The 31-year-old has had spells at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United
'I've lost count of the times I've moved. I once went from QPR to Preston, rented an apartment there and the loan got cancelled after a couple of months.
'Sheffield United are a massive club and the contract shows they have a lot in belief in me. The club has been in League One too long and we want promotion.
'Longer-term we can all dream of the Premier League. It's something I haven't ticked off in my career and if I can do it here, it would be incredible. We would fill the stadium every week.'
After a poor start to the season, The Blades face Gillingham on Sunday hoping to build on last weekend's first win of the season against Oxford.
Clarke has kept a few close friends from the various clubs he's played at including Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and David Davis of Birmingham City. Going into a new dressing-room environment has made him something of a psychologist.
The forward enjoyed a successful partnership with Callum Wilson at Coventry
'You have to get to know the players, their personalities. It can be frustrating to leave and go through that process again,' he admits.
'I tend to sit back and observe, try to work everyone out, who the jokers are, the quiet ones. Initially, I keep myself to myself and ease my way into it.
'Once or twice, I have not fitted in with the group as well as I had wanted. I am not going to say where! You can't do too much about it, if you force it you are not being true to yourself.'
Clarke has also worked with plenty of different managers beginning with Glenn Hoddle at Wolves. 'He was amazing for my career. I enjoyed his methods and he would join in training from time to time,' he says.
Paolo di Canio at Swindon was a different matter. The pair came to blows on the touchline after a League Cup tie against Southampton in 2011 which Clarke regards as a watershed moment in his career.
A TV grab of Clarke clashing with then Swindon manager Paolo di Canio in 2011
'Di Canio was enthusiastic and passionate about his football but I knew I couldn't play for him again,' he says.
'The incident changed things. I was seen as a disruptive influence, a bad egg, and I knew wherever I went to next, I would have to do well.
'I spoke to the Chesterfield manager John Sheridan and he was really good for me. He told me to keep my head down and score goals. I got nine in 14 on loan and Charlton Athletic who were top of League One signed me.'
Bury manager David Flitcroft was an understanding figure when Clarke's father Darel was tragically killed in a pub assault last January.
'I enjoyed working with David. I had those family problems and he didn't put any pressure on me when I needed time off,' says the striker appreciatively.
Given Clarke's history, it would be hard to predict what lies in store next for him. But after spending so much time on the road, he craves stability at Bramall Lane.
'It would be really nice to stay here,' he says.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...pro-joining-17th-club-s-31.html#ixzz4JHMgmQ9f
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
