🚨 BREAKING Premier League icon declared bankrupt as £2m house listed on court order
Former Premier League Star Lee Clark Declared Bankrupt Amid Financial Troubles
Lee Clark, a former Premier League footballer best known for his time at Newcastle United, has officially been declared bankrupt, according to recent filings made public by the London Gazette. The 52-year-old, once a fixture in English football both on and off the pitch, is now facing significant financial difficulties despite a long and varied career in the sport.
Clark, born in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, made a name for himself in the top flight playing for clubs including Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Fulham. He was particularly beloved by Newcastle supporters, having made 265 appearances and scored 28 goals for the Magpies over two separate stints with his boyhood club.
The bankruptcy order stems from a petition filed by a finance company named One Stop Business, headquartered in York. The petition was initially lodged on November 7, 2024, with the bankruptcy order officially granted on June 10, 2025. Court documents list Clark as residing at a luxury £2 million home in the affluent Jesmond area of Newcastle, underlining the dramatic nature of his financial downturn.
Clark’s football journey began at Newcastle United, where he progressed through the youth ranks and broke into the senior team, quickly establishing himself as a dynamic midfielder. In 1997, he made a headline-grabbing switch to bitter rivals Sunderland — a move that generated considerable controversy among fans. Though he performed well for the Black Cats and was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League in the 1998/99 season, his time at Sunderland ended abruptly following a highly publicised incident.
During the 1999 FA Cup Final, Clark was spotted wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with an offensive slogan directed at Sunderland fans, reading “Sad Mackem B******s.” The incident, which caused outrage, effectively ended his career with the club. He never played for Sunderland again and moved on to Fulham before later returning to Newcastle.
After retiring from playing, Clark transitioned into coaching and football management. He started his post-playing career on the coaching staff at Newcastle United under Glenn Roeder and later followed Roeder to Norwich City. Clark soon took up managerial roles in his own right, enjoying early success with Huddersfield Town, where he led the team on a record-breaking unbeaten run. He later managed Birmingham City and also had stints in charge of Blackpool, Kilmarnock, Bury, and non-league side Blyth Spartans.
Clark’s managerial career eventually took him overseas, with jobs in both Africa and the Middle East. Notably, he managed Sudanese sides Al-Merrikh and Al-Merrikh SC (renamed after internal club changes), before moving to Oman to take charge of Al-Ittihad. His willingness to work abroad reflected a commitment to remaining in the game despite the volatile nature of football management.
Adding to the family’s footballing legacy, Clark’s son Bobby Clark has also emerged as a promising talent. A midfielder like his father, Bobby came through the ranks at Liverpool and was part of Jürgen Klopp’s youthful side that famously won the 2024 Carabao Cup with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley. Following his breakthrough season with the Reds, Bobby secured a £10 million move to Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg, where he was reunited with former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who had taken over as head coach.
Despite the current financial woes, Lee Clark’s impact on English football — both as a player and a manager — remains significant. However, the bankruptcy marks a stark and personal chapter in the life of a man who, for many years, lived under the spotlight of football fame and success.