Forward
Clint Dempsey
6' 1"
Biography of USMNT World Cup soccer player Clint Dempsey who played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and is a Premier League veteran.
Caps: 141 | Goals: 57
One of the marquee names on the USMNT, Clint Dempsey was the New England Revolution’s top draft choice in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Dempsey is an extremely confident and capable player. Dempsey is composed and skillful on the ball and excellent in traffic. Something he has now proven on both sides of the Atlantic after a transfer to the English Premier League’s Fulham in 2007.
Dempsey came on strong in 2005 to continually earn call-ups to the USMNT, which resulted in his selection to the World Cup team in 2006. He was part of the U-20s, but made his impression on the USMNT coaching staff with a spectacular rookie season with the New England Revolution in which he scored seven goals.
Dempsey left the Revolution after three seasons and 71 career games when he was signed by Fulham during the transfer window in January 2007. In that time, the three-time MLS All-Star scored 25 goals and registered 14 assists in leading his side to two consecutive MLS Cup title games in 2005 and 2006.
The skillful midfielder/forward made his debut for Fulham on January 20, 2007, in a 1-1 tie with Tottenham. A folk hero for the club for scoring the goal that kept them in the Premier League, Dempsey is now an established starter with Fulham. He scored a wonder goal to see off Juventus in the Europa League, with Fulham advancing to the final.
At USMNT level, he was a crucial part of the squad that reached the knockout round of the 2010 World Cup. That capped a strong run of form for Dempsey on South African soil, helping push the USA to an unlikely spot in the Confederations Cup final the year before. Dempsey won the Player of the Year awards presented independently by US Soccer and Futbol De Primera three times, including back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.
Dempsey took over the captain’s armband for the United States in the May/June 2013 friendlies and World Cup Qualifying. He returned to MLS in August 2013 as a member of the Seattle Sounders. Dempsey announced his retirement on August 29, 2018. He currently works as a commentator for CBS Sports. Dempsey is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2022.
Credit: Brad Smith – ISIPhotos.com
USMNT Experience
2017
Started the Mar 24 World Cup qualifier against Honduras and scored three goals. Started against Panama in the WCQ on Mar 28 and scored. Started in the friendly against Venezuela on Jun 3. Started the World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago on Jun 8. Started against El Salvador in the quarterfinals on Jul 19. Subbed on against Costa Rica in the semifinals on Jul 22 and scored. Subbed on against Jamaica in the final on Jul 26. Subbed on against Costa Rica in the Sep 1 World Cup qualifier. Started against Honduras on Sep 5. Subbed on against Panama on Oct 6 and Trinidad & Tobago on Oct 10.
2016
Started the World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala on Mar 25 and 29. Scored against Guatemala on the 29. Started against Ecuador on May 25 and against Bolivia on May 28. Started in the Copa Centenario opener against Colombia on Jun 4 and against Costa Rica on Jun 7 converting a penalty. Started against Paraguay on Jun 11 and scored. Started against Ecuador in the Copa Centenario quarterfinals on Jun 16 and scored. Started against Argentina in the semifinals on Jun 21. Started against Colombia in the 3rd-place game on Jun 25.
2015
Started against Chile on Jan 28 and Panama on Feb 8. Started against Guatemala on Jul 3 and converted a penalty. Started against Honduras to open Group A play in the 2015 Gold Cup on Jul 7 and scored two goals. Started against Haiti on Jul 10 and scored. Subbed on for the second-half against Panama on Jul 13. Started the Gold Cup quarterfinal against Cuba on Jul 18 and scored three goals. Started the Gold Cup semifinal against Jamaica on Jul 22. Subbed on in the second-half against Panama on Jul 25 and scored. Dempsey won the Golden Boot with seven goals during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Started the Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico on Oct 10.
2014
Started against Ukraine on Mar 5 and Mexico on Apr 2. Named to the final USMNT 2014 World Cup roster. Started against Turkey and scored on June 1st. Started against Nigeria on June 8th. Started against Ghana in the World Cup Group G opener on June 16th and scored. Started against Portugal in the World Cup on June 22nd and against Germany on June 26th. Started against Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 1st. Started the Oct 14 friendly against Honduras.
2013
Started against Honduras on Feb 6th and scored in the 36th minute. Named captain and started the Mar 22nd World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica, scoring in the 16th minute. Captained the team against Mexico on Mar 26th. Converted a penalty against Belgium on May 29th. Scored twice against Germany on Jun 2nd. Started against Jamaica in the Jun 7 World Cup Qualifier, against Panama on Jun 11, and Honduras on Jun 18. Started against Costa Rica on Sep 6 and converted a penalty. Started against Mexico on Sep 10.
2012
Started against Italy on Feb 29th, scoring the goal in the 1-0 win. Scored against Antigua and Barbuda in World Cup Qualifying on June 8th and scored against Guatemala on four days later. Started against Jamaica on Sept 7th and scored within a minute of the opening whistle. Scored twice against Guatemala on Oct 16th. Named US Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year and Futbol de Primera's Player of the Year.
2011
Started against Argentina on March 26th. Scored against Canada in the June 7th Gold Cup opener and again against Panama in the quarterfinals. He had another goal in the semifinal against Panama on June 22nd. Scored in the Oct 8th friendly against Honduras. Scored against Slovenia on November 15th. Named Futbol de Primera's Player of the Year and US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year.
2010
Scored against Turkey in the Sendoff Series and was named to the World Cup roster. Scored against England to draw 1-1 to start the World Cup and played in all four games in South Africa.
2009
A regular starter for the US as they work through the Hexagonal round of World Cup Qualifying. Standout performance in the knockout rounds of the Confederations Cup, including scoring in the final, earned him the Bronze Ball for the tournament. Missed the October qualifiers with a shoulder injury.
2008
Started up front in 2-2 February exhibition tie against Mexico in Houston.
2007
Started five out of six Gold Cup games, scoring winner in opening game against Guatemala. Was rested for Copa America. Played full 90 and scored second US goal in 4-2 September exhibition defeat to Brazil in Chicago. Made 13 starts, scoring three goals and registering two assists, over the course of the year.
2006
Scored four goals for the US, including one in the World Cup versus Ghana, leading team for the year. After not playing against the Czech Republic, Dempsey started for Bruce Arena's side against Italy and Ghana.
2005
Scored first international goal in 2-1 friendly loss to England on May 28, 2005.
2004
Earned first cap with the US Men's National Team in the World Cup Qualifier against Jamaica in Columbus on November 17 when he came on as a 66th minute substitute.
2003
Named to the U-20 National Team for the FIFA World Youth Championships where he made one appearance, replacing Freddy Adu for the final 20 minutes against Korea to help the US win its group and advance to the quarterfinals. Scored his first goal with the U-20s against Canada in a 2-1 win at the USASA Festival in Houston.
2002
Played in four games with the U-20s, getting two starts.
Professional Experience
2018
Announced his retirement on Aug 29 after playing in 14 games for Seattle.
2017
Returned to Seattle, playing in 29 games and winning MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Made the MLS Cup final.
2016
A key part of Seattle's championship run, missing the playoffs due to a heart issue.
2015
Finished 4th in the West, making the conference semifinals.
2014
Loaned to Fulham for Jan-Feb. Won the Supporters' Shield in his first full season with the Seattle Sounders, playing in 26 games and scoring 15 goals.
2012-13
Transferred to Spurs on Aug 31st, 2012. Made 28 appearances, scoring seven times for the 5th-place club. Transferred to Seattle in August, 2013.
2011-12
Finished a remarkable season with Fulham as the club's most dangerous offensive player. Again voted Player of the Season and again led the team in scoring.
2010-11
Voted Player of the Season for Fulham, becoming their career leader in Premier League goals scored.
2009-10
Strong play after recovering from injury, both in the Premier League and Europa League. Part of the runners-up Europa League squad, Fulham's first major final in the club's history.
2008-09
A regular with Fulham, considered one of the best players on the squad.
2007-08
Used by Fulham as a striker following injury to Brian McBride. Signed an extension with Fulham after helping them stay in the Premier League for the second season in a row.
2007
Transferred to Fulham where he joined fellow US internationals Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride. Scored equalising goal against Liverpool that helped keep Fulham in the Premier League. Started 2007-08 season with two goals, one in 3-3 tie with Tottenham, the second in 1-1 tie with Wigan.
2006
Scored eight goals and registered four assists in 21 games for the Revolution to help lead them to the MLS Cup title game against Houston. Rehab from injury confined him to a sub's appearance.
2005
Posted 10 goals and nine assists in 26 games, good for second best on the team scoring charts. Named to the MLS Best XI and started the MLS All-Star game. Chosen as MLS Player of the Month in April after scoring four goals and adding three assists in five games.
2004
Was a first round selection for the Revolution in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Rookie season went very well. First career start was on April 17 against San Jose. Scored the first goal of his MLS career against the MetroStars on April 25. Registered seven goals and one assist on the season.
Youth and College
Youth and college: A three-year star at Furman at midfield and forward, Dempsey finished in the top four on his squad in scoring in each of his three years for the Paladins, finishing with 17 goals and 19 assists for 53 points in 62 games. During his time at Furman, he helped lead his team to a pair of Southern Conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the third round in 2002 and a top 10 National ranking. He was selected to the NSCAA Second Team All-America squad in 2002 and was an All-Southern Conference selection all three years. A two-time NSCAA All-South region choice.
