Zander Clark

Zander Clark
Personal information
Full name Alexander Clark
Date of birth (1992-06-26) 26 June 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian
Number 28
Youth career
Hamilton Academical
2008–2011 St Johnstone
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2022 St Johnstone 170 (0)
2011–2012 → Elgin City (loan) 33 (0)
2013–2014 → Queen of the South (loan) 24 (0)
2014–2015 → Queen of the South (loan) 33 (0)
2022– Heart of Midlothian 58 (0)
International career‡
2023– Scotland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:32, 11 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024 (UTC)

Alexander Clark (born 26 June 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian and the Scotland national team.

After playing youth football with Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone, Clark began his senior career in the 2011–12 season on loan at Elgin City. He also had two loan spells at Queen of the South before becoming a St Johnstone regular after making his debut for them in 2015. He was part of the St Johnstone side that won both domestic cups during the 2020–21 season. Clark left St Johnstone after the 2021–22 season and signed for Heart of Midlothian in September 2022.

Clark made his senior international debut for Scotland in October 2023, aged 31.

Early life

Alexander Clark was born 26 June 1992 in Glasgow,[1] and raised in Clydebank.[2]

Club career

St Johnstone

Clark started his career in the youth sides at Hamilton Academical and then St Johnstone.[3] On 4 July 2011, Clark joined Elgin City on loan ahead of the 2011–12 season.[4]

On 17 October 2013, Clark signed for Queen of the South on loan until 1 January 2014.[5][6] He made his debut on 19 October 2013, in a 2–1 defeat against Dundee.[7] On 14 January 2014, the loan was extended until the end of the season.[8]

On 14 May 2014, Clark signed a new two-year contract with St Johnstone.[9] On 25 July 2014, Queen of the South announced that Clark had returned to the club on loan for the season.[10] Queens announced on 28 May 2015 that Clark was returning to St Johnstone.[11]

Clark made his first appearance for St Johnstone on 26 September 2015, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Dundee United.[12] It was announced shortly afterwards that Clark had signed a new contract with St Johnstone, due to run until the summer of 2018.[13]

In July 2017 he was taken to hospital following a head injury in a friendly match against Sunderland.[14] He was released from hospital after being diagnosed with a concussion.[15]

Clark was suggested as a possible candidate for the Scotland international squad during the 2018–19 season, particularly when he kept five consecutive clean sheets in the autumn[16] and also after a good performance in a 2–0 home defeat against Celtic in early February.[17] Later in February 2019 he suffered a hamstring injury.[18]

During a Scottish Cup quarter-final against the Scottish champions Rangers in April 2021, Clark assisted in St Johnstone's 122nd-minute goal to take the game into a penalty shoot-out. Having come up the field for a corner, Clark flicked on Liam Craig's cross, and the ball was turned into the goal by Chris Kane.[19] In the shoot-out itself, Clark saved attempts from James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe as St Johnstone won 4–2 to progress to the semi-finals.[19] They went on to win the trophy, with Clark keeping a clean sheet in the final[20] (as he had in the League Cup Final three months earlier).[21]

Clark left St Johnstone in June 2022,[22] and was linked with transfers to Dundee United and English club Stoke City.[23]

Heart of Midlothian

On 2 September 2022, Clark joined Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian on a three-year contract.[24][25] He made his debut for the club on 24 December 2022, coming on as a substitute after Craig Gordon broke his leg.[26]

Clark himself was injured ahead of the 2023–24 season.[27][28] As of 12 October 2023, he had the highest save percentage in the Scottish Premiership during the 2023–24 season.[29]

International career

Clark received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in August 2021 for games against Denmark, Moldova and Austria.[30][2] He earned his second call up in November 2021.[31] He pulled out of the Scotland squad in June 2022[32] as he was due to get married.[33]

Clarke was recalled to the Scotland squad in March 2023, as he played regularly for Hearts following an injury to Craig Gordon.[34] He made his international debut in a friendly against France on 17 October 2023, aged 31.[35][36][37]

He was called up to Scotland's provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[38]

Career statistics

As of 11 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
St Johnstone 2011–12[39] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2012–13[40] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14[41] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[42] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[43] Scottish Premiership 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2016–17[44] Scottish Premiership 26 0 2 0 3 0 — 31 0
2017–18[45] Scottish Premiership 16 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 18 0
2018–19[46] Scottish Premiership 33 0 2 0 6 0 — 42 0
2019–20[47] Scottish Premiership 29 0 3 0 2 0 — 34 0
2020–21[48] Scottish Premiership 27 0 4 0 7 0 0 0 38 0
2021–22[49] Scottish Premiership 32 0 1 0 3 0 6[b] 0 42 0
Total 170 0 12 0 21 0 8 0 211 0
Elgin City (loan) 2011–12[39] Scottish Third Division 33 0 3 0 1 0 4[c] 0 41 0
Queen of the South (loan) 2013–14[41] Scottish Championship 24 0 3 0 2 0 2[d] 0 31 0
Queen of the South (loan) 2014–15[42] Scottish Championship 33 0 1 0 2 0 3[e] 0 39 0
Heart of Midlothian 2022–23[50] Scottish Premiership 21 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
2023–24[51] Scottish Premiership 35 0 0 0 3 0 4[f] 0 42 0
2024–25 Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 58 0 3 0 3 0 4 0 68 0
Career total 318 0 22 0 28 0 21 0 389 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two in UEFA Europa Conference League, two in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  3. ^ Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, two in Scottish Division play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  5. ^ One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, two in Scottish Premiership play-offs
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

St Johnstone

References

  1. ^ a b "Z. Clark: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gibson, Darren (9 September 2021). "John and Paul McGinn: Clydebank's footballing heroes star against Austria". Clydebank Post. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  3. ^ Stewart, Craig (1 November 2013). "Clark delighted to get clearance to play". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Elgin bring in goalkeeper". Scottish Professional Football League. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Queens Loyal". www.facebook.com.
  6. ^ "Doonhamers call for Clark". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  7. ^ McNair, Andrew (24 October 2013). "Keeper Zander Clark happy with his debut for Queen of the South". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Bob McHugh: Motherwell striker joins Queen of the South on loan". BBC Sport. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  9. ^ "NEW TWO YEAR DEAL FOR ZANDER". St Johnstone F.C. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Zander Clark Rejoins". Queen of the South F.C. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  11. ^ "QosFC: Player Update". www.qosfc.com.
  12. ^ Mitchell, Paul (26 September 2015). "St Johnstone 2–1 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  13. ^ "St Johnstone: Zander Clark extends contract after debut". BBC Sport. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  14. ^ "St Johnstone's Zander Clark taken to hospital during win over Sunderland". BBC Sport. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  15. ^ "St Johnstone's Zander Clark is out of hospital after picking up knock against Sunderland". BBC Sport. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  16. ^ Roache, Ian (14 November 2018). "Scotland coach Peter Grant defends decision to ignore St Johnstone's in-form keeper Zander Clark". The Courier. DC Thomson. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Zander Clark: St Johnstone goalkeeper earns plaudits in Celtic defeat". BBC Sport. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  18. ^ "Zander Clark: St Johnstone goalkeeper expected back sooner from hamstring injury". BBC Sport. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  19. ^ a b Southwick, Andrew (25 April 2021). "Rangers 1-1 St Johnstone (St Johnstone win 4-2 on penalties)". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  20. ^ PA Media (22 May 2021). "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". The Guardian.
  21. ^ Murray, Ewan (28 February 2021). "St Johnstone sink Livingston to claim their first Scottish League Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  22. ^ "St Johnstone set to snap up Sam Walker from Kilmarnock as Zander Clark replacement". HeraldScotland.
  23. ^ Burns, Scott (30 June 2022). "Zander Clark to Dundee United ramps up as Jack Ross pushes for goalkeeper". Daily Record.
  24. ^ "Zander Clark joins Hearts | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Hearts sign former St Johnstone goalkeeper Clark" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Hearts' Gordon to miss season after leg break" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  27. ^ "Hearts to assess Zander Clark injury after taking no chances with goalkeeper in Dunfermline friendly".
  28. ^ "Hearts await update on Zander Clark pre-season injury". The Herald. 10 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Stopper Clark leads the way". BBC Sport. 12 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Scotland: Zander Clark, Liam Kelly & Lewis Ferguson called up for World Cup qualifiers". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Stoke's Brown 'buzzing' at Scotland call" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  32. ^ Nicolson, Eric (10 June 2022). "St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark drops out of Scotland squad for Ireland match". The Courier.
  33. ^ Bloomer, Danny (10 June 2022). "Leeds United news as Liam Cooper excused from Scotland squad as Arsenal join race for Whites man". Leeds Live. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Scotland : Zander Clark & Angus Gunn named in squad for Spain & Cyprus games". BBC Sport. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark ready to end the prolonged wait to fulfil a lifelong dream".
  36. ^ "Zander Clark | Scotland | Scottish FA". www.scottishfa.co.uk.
  37. ^ "France 4-1 Scotland: Star-studded hosts inflict heavy defeat on makeshift Scots". BBC Sport. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Euro 2024: Scotland call up Doak, McCrorie and Forrest". BBC Sport. 22 May 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Zander Clark in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Zander Clark in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  42. ^ a b "Games played by Zander Clark in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  43. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  44. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  45. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  46. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  47. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  49. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  50. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  51. ^ "Games played by Zander Clark in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  52. ^ Lindsay, Clive (22 May 2021). "Perth side complete domestic cup double". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  53. ^ "St Johnstone beat Livingston to clinch their first League Cup". BBC. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.