{{short description|American soccer player}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Eddie Clear | fullname = Edward Clear | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|5|15}} | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | height = 5 ft 10 in | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 1959-1966 | youthclubs1 = Schumacher, Kutis, White Star FC | years1 = 1967–1969 | clubs1 = St. Louis Stars | caps1 = 11 | goals1 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1968 | nationalteam1 = United States | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 = | death_date = March 18, 2022 | death_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. }} '''Edward Clear''' (May 15, 1944 – March 18, 2022) was a retired American soccer defender who earned five caps with the United States national team in 1968.
==Early life== He was born on the Northside of St. Louis, Missouri on May 15, 1944, to James, a lifelong civil servant working with the US Postal Service, and Marie Clear, a housewife and part-time waitress. He was the second of five children: his three sisters Carol, Katie, and Mary Bridget, and brother Doug. He grew up playing CYC soccer and baseball for his local Catholic parish team, Holy Rosary. Later he played both sports for his high school, Christian Brothers College. During the years between his school playing days and his professional career, Clear played for several high-profile soccer teams in the St. Louis area: Schumacher, Kutis, and White Star FC.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
==Professional== He played professionally for the St. Louis Stars in both the National Professional Soccer League and North American Soccer League from 1967 to 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://soccerhalloffame.org/Registry/NASL_A-E.htm#C |title=North American Soccer League: A - E |access-date=2007-08-21 |archive-date=2008-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114045817/http://soccerhalloffame.org/Registry/NASL_A-E.htm#C |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==National team== Clear gained his first of five caps with the U.S. national team in a 3–3 tie with Israel. He played the next three games with the U.S., then did not play in the next two U.S. games. His final appearance with the U.S. came in a 1-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Canada on October 27, 1968. He was a substitute for Bob Gansler.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html USA - Details of International Matches 1885-1969] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113210650/http://rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html |date=2010-01-13 }}</ref>
Clear was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on November 14, 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eteamz.com/stlsoccerhalloffame/news/index.cfm?cat=466590 |title=St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame |access-date=2010-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613185759/http://www.eteamz.com/stlsoccerhalloffame/news/index.cfm?cat=466590 |archive-date=2018-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Personal life == After his retirement from soccer he married Joan (Hummel) Clear in April 1969. He went on to have 7 children and 13 grandchildren. The couple divorced in 1980. He would later marry Barb (Bilger) Clear, with whom he would remain married until his death. Clear died March 18, 2022, from complications caused from a heart attack he suffered at his South St. Louis home.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edward "Eddie" M. Clear |url=https://stlouiscremation.com/obituaries/edward-eddie-m-clear/ |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=St. Louis Cremation|date=18 March 2022 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/C/Clear.Edward.htm NASL stats]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clear, Eddie}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Soccer players from St. Louis Category:American men's soccer players Category:National Professional Soccer League (1967) players Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players Category:St. Louis Stars (soccer) players Category:United States men's international soccer players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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