Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey announced his retirement from professional soccer on Aug. 29, 2018.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 (Seattle): Dempsey won Seattle's Golden Boot for the first time in 2017 after leading the Rave Green with 12 goals in 29 appearances (25 starts) during the 2017 MLS regular season. With 46 regular season goals for Seattle at the conclusion of the 2017 season, Dempsey is just one strike shy of the Sounders FC all-time club scoring record held by Fredy Montero. The USMNT team veteran also tallied five assists in 2017, including four game-winners, which was tied for seventh in MLS. His campaign took off with a run of seven goals in six games this summer, beginning when the Nacogdoches, Texas, native came off the bench against Portland to score in the waning moments of stoppage time to force a 2-2 draw (June 25). He went on to score braces in two of his next three games, as the Rave Green recorded a club-record 13-match unbeaten streak (7-0-6) over the summer. Dempsey added three more goals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, giving him six career postseason tallies with Seattle, the most in club history. Dempsey's efforts led to him being voted 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, recognizing his strong return of the pitch after suffering an irregular heartbeat in August of 2016 that sidelined him for the remainder of that season.

2016 (Seattle): One of the most decorated players in American soccer history, Dempsey scored eight goals and added two assists in his 17 league matches in 2016. He also had a brace in the first leg of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Knockout Round against Club America (February 23). In addition to goals in home contests versus Montreal (April 2), San Jose (May 7) and FC Dallas (July 13), Dempsey had a pair of multi-goal games. At Orlando City, he became the first player in club history to record two hat tricks (August 7). In his final appearance, the forward bagged a brace against rival Portland (August 21). On August 26, Dempsey was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and sidelined from club and country competitions for the remainder of 2016. With the USMNT, Dempsey made 10 appearances and scored four goals in 2016. At the Copa America Centenario, Dempsey led the Stars and Stripes with three goals and three assists, as he led the host nation to a fourth-place finish. He has 52 career goals with the USMNT, which puts him just five goals behind Landon Donovan for first all-time for the U.S. National Team. 

2015 (Seattle): Dempsey started each of his 23 regular season and postseason appearances. In league action, Dempsey ranked second on the club with 10 goals and paced the Rave Green with 10 assists. He was one of four players in MLS to record 10 goals and 10 assists in 2015 and the only one to accomplish this feat in each of the past two seasons. Dempsey’s 61 shots ranked first on the club, while his 27 attempts on-target finished one behind team-leader Obafemi Martins. Of his 10 goals, four of them were game-winners – the highest mark on the club – while he also led the team with four match-winning assists. Dempsey netted a brace in the season-opener against the New England Revolution (March 8), including a converted penalty kick for his first tally of 2015. The following match, Dempsey scored the fastest goal in club history 23 seconds into a loss to the San Jose Earthquakes (March 14). Dempsey led Sounders FC with two goals in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. In the Western Conference Knockout Round against the LA Galaxy, Dempsey recorded the fastest postseason goal in club history with a scoring tally in the fifth minute (October 28). In the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, Dempsey scored the game-winning goal on a free kick in the 86th minute (November 1). It was the club’s only free kick goal across all competitions in 2015. As a key contributor to the United States Men’s National Team, Dempsey recorded seven goals in six matches during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, earning Golden Boot honors. Dempsey was named to the MLS All-Star Fan XI, MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week three times and earned one AT&T Goal of the Week honor.   

2014 (Seattle): Dempsey played in 31 total matches in 2014 for the Rave Green, including 26 regular season matches on 23 starts. His career-high 15 goals ranked second on the team and tied-seventh in MLS. Of his 15 goals, five were game-winners, and two came on penalty kicks. He also tallied 10 assists, including five game-winners, which tied-second in MLS. Dempsey became the fifth player in club history to score a hat trick in a 4-4 draw at Portland (April 5). From March 8-April 26, Dempsey scored (8) or assisted (3) in a league-high six straight matches. He was voted to 2014 MLS All-Star Fan XI. In the U.S. Open Cup final against Philadelphia, Dempsey scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory (September 16). During the MLS Cup Playoffs, Dempsey appeared in all four matches—he scored a half-volley in the Second Leg of the Western Conference Championship, which Seattle won, 2-1, but lost on aggregate. As the captain for the United States Men’s National Team, Dempsey started all four 2014 World Cup games and scored two goals, including the fastest goal for USA in World Cup history, 29 seconds into a 2-1 victory against Ghana. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week three times: Week 5, Week 6, and Week 8. In Week 5 and Week 6, he was also named the MLS Player of the Week.

2013 (Seattle/Tottenham): Dempsey made nine appearances and six starts for Seattle after signing as a Designated Player on August 3. He scored his first Sounders FC goal in the regular season finale, a 1-1 draw versus LA (October 27). Dempsey recorded his first club assist in 2-0 win versus Colorado (October 30) in the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. He finished sixth on the team with 32 shots, averaging 4.42 shots per 90 minutes (led team). Dempsey made his club debut in a 2-1 win at Toronto (August 10) when he came on in the 34th minute for an injured Obafemi Martins and finished with a team-high five shots. He made his first start for Seattle in a 3-1 loss at Houston (August 17). Dempsey was introduced to Sounders FC fans during pregame ceremony of match vs. FC Dallas (August 3).

2012-13 (Fulham/Tottenham): Dempsey was named the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive time and third overall. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the summer transfer window, and scored seven goals with six assists in 29 league appearances. His first goal for the club was the game winner in a 3-2 win on September 29 against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He made 16 league appearances to start the season, starting 12 and scoring four goals.

2011-12 (Fulham): Dempsey was named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year for the second time of his career. He played every minute of every Premier League match with Fulham and started each game in the Europa League, in which he tallied 17 goals and six assists in all competitions. His goal in the 85th minute (December 5) against Liverpool gave Fulham a 1-0 win and set the record (37) for most goals by an American in the EPL, surpassing Brian McBride. He scored a goal and notched an assist in the 6-0 win against Queen’s Park Rangers (October 2). Dempsey added two goals in the 3-0 victory against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Europa League.

2010-11 (Fulham): He finished the campaign as Fulham’s leading goal scorer with 12 tallies and a career-high 37 appearances in the Premier League, including 42 appearances in total. As a result, he was voted the 2010-11 Player of the Year for Fulham by the fans. He played in every match to open the campaign, including 20 starts in 22 total appearances. In the first half of the season, he already had eight goals in league play and nine in all competitions. Every goal he scored came in either a victory or a draw for Fulham. He scored both goals in the 2-0 victory against Wigan (October 30).

2009-10 (Fulham): Dempsey finished the season with 43 appearances in all competitions, including 12 in the Europa League. He had nine goals in all competitions, and seven in the EPL. The wonder strike against Juventus on March 18 that put his team in the quarterfinals of the Europa League was voted the 2010 BBC London Sporting Moment of the Year. His appearance against Hamburg in the Europa League semifinal on April 22 made him the first American to play in that stage of a European competition since DaMarcus Beasley in the Champions League in 2005 for PSV. He logged 34 minutes in the return leg a week later. Dempsey scored in back-to-back games, netting the tying goal in the 2-2 draw at Manchester City on October 25 and the last goal in the 3-1 win against Liverpool six days later. He added a brace in the 3-0 win on November 25 against Blackburn.

2008-09 (Fulham): Dempsey started every match in all competitions for Fulham after New Year. He finished the season with seven goals, helping Fulham to a seventh place finish – their best ever in the EPL – and a spot in the Europa League. He registered two goals in the 3-1 win on April 12 at Manchester City. His first brace in English soccer came when he netted two goals against Chelsea during a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage (December 28). He started eight games of Fulham's nine-game Premier League unbeaten run to close out 2008. Dempsey opened his goalscoring account on the season with a crucial equalizer against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Originally, he began the season as a substitute for Fulham, but forced his way into the starting lineup after a series of good performances in the fall.

2007-08 (Fulham): In his first full season with Fulham, he was featured in 36 of the team's 38 games. Dempsey scored six goals on the season and added two assists to become the team's top scorer in the Premier League. After being thrust into a role as a striker after Brian McBride’s injury, he responded admirably, netting goals in three consecutive Premier League games against Aston Villa, Tottenham and Wigan. He was also named as Player of the Month for August by Fulham’s supporters group. Dempsey helped Fulham narrowly escape relegation on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win against Portsmouth.

2006-07 (Fulham): Dempsey made the jump across the Atlantic, joining Fulham, where he joined fellow Americans Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride. Though he struggled to break into the team at first, he came on strong in the final weeks of the season and scored the club’s most vital goal of the season: His goal against Liverpool on May 5 effectively saved Fulham from relegation, as it gave them three points and took them away from the drop zone. In total, he made 10 appearances in midfield for the team, scoring one goal.

2006 (New England): Due to World Cup duty and injury, Dempsey was limited to only 21 appearances. However, he still tallied eight goals for the club, and added four assists. Dempsey was named to the MLS Best XI and was also a starter in the All-Star Game against Chelsea.

2005 (New England): Dempsey posted 10 goals and nine assists in 26 regular-season games, which was good for second on the team-scoring charts. His fourth-minute goal against Chicago in the Eastern Conference Championship sent the Revolution to their second MLS Cup final. He collected a host of honors from MLS, including being named to the MLS Best XI and started the All-Star game. Dempsey was chosen as the MLS Player of the Month for April after scoring four goals and adding three assists in five games.

2004 (New England): Dempsey won MLS Rookie of the Year after a remarkable first season with the New England Revolution. He played in 24 of 30 games, finishing tied for third on the team with seven goals scored and fifth in points with 15. He helped the Revolution advance to the Eastern Conference Championship before falling to D.C. United 4-3 on penalty kicks. He earned his first appearance as a substitute in the 83rd minute on April 3 against L.A., and started the first game of his MLS career, playing 90 minutes on April 17 vs. San Jose. Dempsey scored the first goal of his MLS career in the 12th minute against the MetroStars (April 25).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dempsey made his first international appearance for the United States Men’s National Team on November 17, 2004 versus Jamaica. He scored his first goal on May 28, 2005 against England. In 2005, Dempsey appeared in 13 games, including four CONCACAF Gold Cup matches to help the U.S. win its third title. Dempsey made his first World Cup appearance in 2006, scoring two goals. The following year, Dempsey was named U.S. Soccer’s Male Athlete of the Year after scoring three goals and helping the team win another CONCACAFGold Cup title. In 2009, Dempsey surpassed the 50-cap mark while posting a career-high 14 starts. At the 2010 World Cup, Dempsey scored the game-tying goal against England in the World Cup opener, and attempted the fourth most shots of any player in the group phase. Dempsey led the team with five goals in 2011. He secured Jurgen Klinsmann’s first win with the match’s lone goal on October 8. The following year, Dempsey posted a career-high six goals, including five in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying, with three of them serving as game-winners. In 2013, Dempsey started all 10 appearances for USA and matched his career-high with six goals. He is currently tied for the all-time U.S. lead with 13 goals in World Cup Qualifying. He scored the fastest goal in American World Cup history, and the fifth fastest in all-time World Cup history, with a goal 30 seconds into the match against Ghana on June 16, 2014. He scored another goal in group play to trail Landon Donovan by one goal for most in American World Cup history. The forward tallied five goals in nine matches for the USMNT throughout CONCACAF’s World Cup Qualification process for the 2018 tournament in Russia. In all, Dempsey has scored 57 international goals, which is tied with Donovan for the most in U.S. history, on 141 appearances.

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

As a three-year star at Furman at midfield and forward, he was in the top four on the team 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, along with being a two-time NSCAA All –South region choice.

PERSONAL

“Deuce” and his wife, Bethany, have four children: daughters Elysia and Sophia, and sons Jackson and Clayton. He is the son of Aubrey and Debbie Dempsey, and the fourth of five children. His parents used to drive Clint to practice on a six-hour round trip to Dallas three times a week. A huge fan of fishing and hiphop, Dempsey recorded his own single “Don’t Tread” in 2006.

ACQUIRED

Signed as Designated Player on August 3, 2013.