Dempsey, Clint
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 03/09/1983
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 170 lbs
Pro Team: Tottenham
College Experience: Furman University
Caps: 90
Goals: 30
The New England Revolution's top draft choice in 2004 is an extremely confident and capable player who will compete for playing time at several positions. Clint 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.
Dempsey came on strong in 2005 to continually earn call-ups to the national team, 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 MNT 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 National Team 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 has twice won the Player of the Year awards presented independently by US Soccer and Futbol De Primera, winning both in 2011.
National Team Highlights
2012: Named US Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year for 2011. 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.
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.
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 Highlights
2012-13: Transferred to Spurs on Aug 31st, 2012.
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: 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.
