Clyde Simms

A consistent and reliable performer in the midfield who joins the Revolution in 2012 after spending the first seven years of his MLS career with D.C. United … a defense-first midfielder, Simms helped United win back-to-back Supporters Shields in 2006 and 2007, and the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup … departed D.C. in fifth place on the club’s career appearance chart (182) … a solid presence in the locker room and in the community … in his eight-year professional career, spanning his A-League and MLS seasons, has never been ejected from a game.

2011: Started all 29 of his appearances, playing 2,404 minutes – third-most on United’s roster. Claimed sole possession of fifth place on D.C.’s appearance chart on July 30 at San Jose, playing in his 170^th career match for United. Finished the season with 182 regular-season appearances – nine games shy of fourth place on the club’s appearance chart.

2010: Made 20 MLS appearances, including 18 starts, with his time limited to a sports hernia injury. Became the sixth player in D.C. United history to appear in 150 matches for the club when he started against Columbus (Sept. 4).

2009: Started all 28 regular-season games in which he played, missing two games in early August following sports hernia surgery in late July. Served as United’s captain on several occasions. Scored United’s only goal in the 2-1 loss to Seattle in the championship match of the U.S. Open Cup.

2008: Started a career-high 30 matches, playing all but three minutes of the MLS season (2,697 minutes). Scored a career-high two goals and added two assists. Also played in all four  of United’s CONCACAF Champions Cup games, all four U.S. Open Cup games, all three SuperLiga games and four of six Champions League games for a season total of 45 appearances (43 starts). His 3,849 minutes in all competitions was the most-ever for a United player, barely eclipsing the mark set by goalkeeper Troy Perkins (3,847 minutes played) in 2007. Scored his two goals in back-to-back games: against New York on June 14 and against San Jose on June 22, both games at RFK Stadium. The only three minutes of the year in which he did not play came on Aug. 23 against Colorado when he came off in the 87^th minute.  

2007: Made 25 appearances (16 starts) while recording three assists. Assumed starting defensive midfielder duties midway through the season. United went 11-1-5 in MLS games in which he started. Picked up assists at Kansas City (July 4), at Dallas (Sept. 1) and against Toronto (Sept. 29). Also scored the game-winning goal against CD Guadalajara (Sept. 26) in a 2-1 victory in the first leg of Copa Nissan Sudamericana.

2006: Established himself as a United regular, making 24 appearances (14 starts). Scored one goal and added one assist. Scored his first MLS goal – the game-winning strike – against Chicago on June 21. Added an assist against Kansas City (June 24). The midfielder also started seven matches for D.C.’s reserves, registering one assist.

2005: Signed with D.C. United as a discovery player from the Richmond Kickers (USL1). Made 25 appearances (12 starts). Made his MLS debut at Chivas USA (April 2) as a substitute. Recorded his first MLS assist in United's 5-1 win over Real Salt Lake (August 31).

BEFORE MLS: Played one season with the Richmond Kickers of the then USL A-League in 2004 following a successful tryout. Made 26 appearances (24 starts) while scoring three goals, including two game-winners. Was the league’s only rookie to garner A-League team of the week honors twice during the year: against Virginia Beach Mariners (May 31) and for scoring the game-winning goal against the Charleston Battery (June 12). His other two goals came against Atlanta (July 10), and against Montreal (Aug. 29, game-winning goal).

COLLEGE: Played four seasons at East Carolina, where he was a three-year captain … made 72 career appearances, fifth all-time in the program’s history, appearing in every game the Pirates played in his four-year career … started all but one game of his collegiate career … a two-time all-Conference USA performer (2002, 2003).

U.S. NATIONAL TEAM: Earned his first cap with the U.S. Men's National Team on May 28, 2005, in a friendly against England at Soldier Field in Chicago. 

PERSONAL: The oldest of Brenda and Clyde Simms III’s three children … also has twin sisters, Kendra and Cabria (age 26) … majored in construction management at East Carolina … a former youth club teammate of Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer with the Jamestown Jammers … favorite non-soccer athletes is Shaun White … fan of the band Radiohead … a Manchester United supporter … learned how to play the guitar in his spare time while with D.C. United … has a pet Boston Terrier, Calvin.