Clint Dempsey: One of America’s best calls it a day

Arguably one the greatest is not the greatest American Soccer player Clint Dempsey walked away from the game of football with a thank you statement disseminated by the Seattle Sounders Media  Relations  Department.

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After a lot of thought, my family and I have decided that this is the right time for me to step away from the game,” said Dempsey. “I’d like to thank all of the teammates, coaches and support staff that I’ve worked with throughout my career. It has always been my dream to make it as a pro. I’m grateful to have been on this ride. I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle Sounders and the U.S. Men’s National Team. Y’all have always made me feel at home, and it is something that I will always remember.”

Rather fitting that a player who never quite seemed settled on the field would end it all with a Y’all made me feel at home quote.  The onfield restlessness by Dempsey was not so much an agitated Global Nomad looking for a home but rather a tenacious, freewheeling goal scorer who found freedom on the pitch. It was on the pitch that Dempsey was able to fully self-expressed and where that pitch did not matter.

Whether it was in MLS with the New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders, Fulham and Tottenham  Hotspur of the English Premier League, or the USMens Nationa Team Clint was about scoring goals and winning.

The former US. Men’s team captain’s awards and accomplishments are comparable to any of the great athletes who have recently retired in their perspective sports, Kobie Bryant, Manu Ginobili, and Gianluigi Buffon to name a few.

 Dempsey was named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year three times and is tied for the most goals scored by an American in international play and is the only American to score in three consecutive FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and holds the record for most goals by an American in the Premiership and ranked fourth in voting for the 2011-2012 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year after finishing tied for fourth in the Premier League with 17 goals for Fulham.
 Dempsey is currently tied for the USMNT all-time record with 57 career international goals. On top of his accomplishments in Europe and with the National Team, Dempsey finishes his MLS career with 79 goals and 45 assists in 209 appearances (including postseason play).
Dempsey Rodriguez
Sounders Clint Dempsey and Victor Rodriguez celebrate after Dempsey’s second goal of the game. ( Charis Wilson)
In 2013 Dempsey joined the Sounders and started 100 of 115 regular appearances and scored 47 goals which leave him in tied with Fredy  Montero for the club record for most goals scored. In 2014 the Sounders won the Supporters Shield and Dempsey recorded 15 goals and 10 assists as he partnered with Obafemi Martin to lead the Sounders to a club record 20 wins.
For current  US soccer players, Dempsey was the reason many of them played soccer and believed they could make it big in the sport.

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