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Clive Charles, one of the famous City players of the 70's is the current coach for the USA national team at the Sydney Olympics. Charles has seen his team lose 3 - 1 to Spain in the semi finals but they can still pick up a bronze medal if they defeat Chille in the 3 / 4 place play off.

Its good to see former players have successful careers and I think you will agree that when you see the performances of the teams that Clive has coached he has performed excellently in his coaching roles. Clive will surely go down in history as being the player with the biggest afro ever to play for Cardiff. Clive was part of the City side that contained famous names like Adrian Alston, Tony Evans, Albert Lamour, Ron Healy, Freddie Pethard, Willie Anderson etc etc.

Clive Charles career details.
U.S. National U-23 Men's Team: Had there been any doubters to begin with, Clive Charles would have silenced them after his first year on the job as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team. After compiling a 7-4-2 record, which included two victories over Germany, a 1-0 triumph over Argentina and a come-from-behind win over Chile, not to mention a strong third place showing at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico, Arena has shown the confidence placed in him to guide the U.S. Men has not been misplaced. Clive Charles has served as the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 (Olympic) National Team since October 1996, taking over after the ‘96 Olympics. Since then, he has posted a 22-9-10 overall record with the Under-23's and led the young squad to a third place finish at the 1997 World University Games in Italy and a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games in Canada last summer. In addition to his role with the U-23s, Charles has served U.S. Soccer in a number of coaching capacities over the years. From 1995 to 1998, he was an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team under Steve Sampson, including the World Cup France ‘98. Charles was also the Head Coach of the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team from 1993 to 1995.

College: Named the third head coach in University of Portland men's soccer history prior to the 1986 season, Charles became the university's director of soccer and began pulling double duty as head coach of the Pilot women's soccer program in 1989.

Collectively, Charles' men's and women's teams have won 11 conference championships (losing only 25 league games) and earned 15 NCAA playoff berths (including six Final Four appearances) in a combined 25 seasons. Charles owns four Far West Region Coach of the Year and six West Coast Conference Coach of the Year awards. Twenty-three Pilots have earned All-America status during Charles' tenure.

The 1996 Pilot women posted a 21-game unbeaten streak, including an undefeated conference run, before falling 3-2 to Notre Dame at the NCAA Final Four. In 1995, Charles led both programs to their respective Final Fours, becoming only the second collegiate soccer coach in history to lead two teams to the NCAA semifinals in the same year (UNC's Anson Dorrance was the first in 1987). The women's side lost 1-0 in overtime to Notre Dame in the national championship game at Chapel Hill, N.C. The men's team fell 1-0 to eventual NCAA champion Wisconsin in the semifinals at Richmond, Va.

The women's program has earned seven consecutive post-season berths, advancing to the Final Four in 1994, '95, ‘96 and ‘98. The men's team has made eight NCAA appearances in the last 12 years, advancing to the semifinals in 1988 and '95. Charles '88 squad won its first 21 games before falling 1-0 to national champion Indiana in the semis and finishing 21-1. He led the Pilots to a No. 1 ranking during the 1992 regular season.

Charles ranks fifth all-time and fifth among active NCAA Division I women's soccer coaches in all- time winning percentage (.792). Early in the 1998 season, Charles won his 300th career collegiate game. The Portland men and women won on the same day, making Clive just the 11th coach in NCAA soccer history to reach the 300 mark.

Professional Playing Experience: A defender, Charles played professionally for 17 years, including eight seasons in the English First Division (now known as the Premier Division). Charles was transferred from West Ham United to Cardiff City in 1974. He made more than 100 appearances and scored five goals for Cardiff City before his contract was purchased by the Portland Timbers of the North American Soccer League. Besides the Timbers, who he played with for four seasons (1978-81), Charles' NASL experience also included stints with the Montreal Olympics and Pittsburgh Spirit. He was a three-time NASL All-Star and was selected to the all-time NASL Team by the legendary Pele. Charles ended his pro career in 1982 with the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Personal: Charles, 49, was born in London, England. Prior to his coming to the University of Portland, he coached the boys' soccer team at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Ore. He has served as director of player development for the Oregon Youth Soccer Association and currently is the coaching director of F.C. Portland. Charles has extensive soccer broadcast experience, including as an analyst for ESPN at the World Cup USA ‘94. He and his wife Clarena have two children: 25-year-old Sarah, a former defender (1994-97) on the Pilot women's soccer team, and 27-year-old Michael, who lettered in golf at the University of Portland.