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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Ciaran Shanks

Remembering Glasgow-born Bobby Clark's incredible legacy in US college football

For a certain generation of fans, Bobby Clark is fondly remembered as the record-breaking shot-stopper who helped lay the foundations ahead of glory that would follow.

The Glasgow-born goalkeeper was a key part of an Aberdeen team in the 1970s and early 1980s that won a league title and two domestic trophies - an undeniable legend at Pittodrie with Hall of Fame status.

However, Clark maintains an equally impressive legacy in a different guise on the other side of the planet. Clark would go on to become a true doyen of college football - or that dreaded 'S' word - in the United States.

His remarkable success on the touchline across the Pond would see him coach Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame, two of the most prestigious universities in the world, over a 20-year period.

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The latter of the universities in particular is regarded as one of the most famous sporting institutions in America for its Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletic teams. So how on earth did end up taking the reins?

While playing for Aberdeen, Clark graduated as a physical education teacher in 1967 and that year, he would get his first taste of the States in the bizarre United Soccer Association tournament where Aberdeen were invited to play as the Washington Whips.

Clark enjoyed a stellar playing career, winning 17 caps for Scotland among his trophy success in the north-east. He battled to prove himself under the likes of Eddie Turnbull, Ally MacLeod, Billy McNeill and Sir Alex Ferguson, as Aberdeen Live previously told.

The gloves were hung up in 1983 and it was likely that Clark would take the plunge into coaching but instead of knocking on the doors of chairman at home, he opted to take the road less travelled.

Clark wound up coaching the aptly-named Highlanders of Zimbabwe in 1984 after being recommended by his old lecturer from Jordanhill College in Glasgow.

The Scot loved his first experience in management but in 1985, Clark began what would eventually become an illustrious career in the US college system.

Clark coached Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where his oldest son Tommy attended until 1993 and won three Ivy League tournament finals. The following year, Clark would take the reins of the New Zealand national team and Olympic side.

Bobby Clark with Scotland manager Jock Stein and assistant manager Eddie Turnbull. (Daily Record)

By the time his former boss Ferguson had built an empire at Manchester United, Clark was only a few years from constructing his own college football machine in the States.

After being named head coach of Stanford in 1996, Clark would lead the team to be NCAA Championship runners-up in 1997.

His stellar work would catch the eye of Notre Dame where he would truly make his mark not only in shaping players, but individuals. The conference regular season would be won on five separate occasions between 2004 and 2014.

Notre Dame lifted the conference championship in 2003 and 2012 with Clark leading the Indiana team to their first-ever NCAA Championship in 2013.

Clark is rightfully considered a Notre Dame great as the team flourished under his leadership. He was highly regarded not only for his footballing nous but his man-management with more than 30 of his former charges going on to play in Major League Soccer.

Now 77, Clark retired from coaching in 2017, one year prior to his induction into Aberdeen's Hall of Fame. His impact on the university was sizeable, judging by Notre Dame's tribute.

“From Scotland to New Zealand to Zimbabwe to the United States, Bobby has used soccer as a means for impacting the lives of young men, and because he has thousands of young men who have benefitted," the university said.

"Bobby’s focus on family, integrity and excellence made him a perfect match for Notre Dame. We will miss him greatly, and while Bobby is in many ways irreplaceable, his legacy is equally indelible.”

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