Enjoy retirement, Clint! Favorite player ever. I will always wear my Dempsey "where's Waldo" jersey with pride. I sure hope he gets into broadcasting right away. Maybe he'll pull a Dono and un-retire after a little time away from the game
Did something new pop up healthwise that caused him to retire right now instead of at the end of the season? I was thinking there was a pretty good chance he'd retire after the season, but I was hoping he'd have get a chance at another playoff run (at least as a bench option) and a chance at a USMNT send-off in the fall friendlies.
Keep in mind goals were usually Clint's major contribution, whereas 95% of the time, Donovan was looking to dish the rock. Everybody was wanting the greatest ever American player to do more himself. A lot of those fans got the moments they wanted from Demps. Tricks, swagger, dented nets. People wanted USA's best player to swerve through clouds of defenders and/or orchestrate like Zidane. But I actually I think everyone would appreciate Landon more now, in the post Barca press era, the Pep, Klopp, Red Bull era when players are typically not trying to hang out with the ball. Landon was a killer weapon in a way many didn't get at the time, and weren't so well prepared to defend. He was the ultimate transition player.
Agreed. Both were great players, and I think LD was more of the "complete", build-the-team-around guy (what are assist #s? LD probably dominates there?)...but i just hate hearing that they are tied for top goalscorer. LD scored on a lot of PKs that aren't nearly the equivalent (ie. impressive) as scoring from the run of play.
Very different types of players. Both are awesome. One can argue either way in terms of the "better player." Both showed up on big stages. Assists is a no contest. Donovan 58 Bradley 22 C. Jones 22 Dempsey 21 Reyna 19
Clint Dempsey has been a legend in his time for our national team. Thanks, Clint! I wish all the best to him and his family on his retirement. He had a great career, one of the best ever for an American.
Well, if we're talking about finishing penalties, Clint could have this record if he wasn't so damn cool. Viva Deuce a Cero.
I heard the news break on the United States of Soccer radio show. The first caller sounded like he was English and immediately brought up Dempsey forcing his way out of Fulham as something he'll always be remembered for in a bad way. Made me laugh for some reason, maybe because the very first call on what the host described as a testimonial show amounted to "those damn Yanks." Anyways, my favorite Dempsey moments on the NT (not necessarily the best): 1. Ghana goal 2014. Just defined badass. I'm not sure scoring first against Ghana would've done the trick if it wasn't the type of statement goal this one was. 2. Spain Confed Cup. Really showed his goal-scorer's instinct to be in the right position and make the key last minute adjustment before shooting. All too rare for U.S. players. 3. Gold Cup 2011 goal vs. Panama. More for the celebration afterwards. Dempsey repping Donovan, and Bradley, Jones and Bedoya getting in on the celebration. Even thought they didn't win the tournament, this moment serves as a nice little snapshot of a good era.
Personally, I wish he'd gotten that one more goal - because I liked him just a bit more than Donovan. End of an era.
I find it poetic that the two most influential and highest achieving US Soccer players of the modern era are tied at the top of the all-time scoring list. Thank you, Clint, for all the great memories.
Best field player the US has produced. He had a WORLD CLASS international career. It'll be some years before anyone comes close to matching his goal creation record at major tournaments. His physical tools did not portend a significant international and club careers for a US international. But his mentality and field vision were simply unmatched by any other US-produced player to wear the jersey.
World Cup: 4 goals 1 drawn pk in 10 Matches Copa America: 3 goals 3 assists in 6 matches Confederations Cup: 3 goals 1 assist in 5 matches
So you just wanna throw out what makes up 97% of sports talk on TV? In an alternate universe, every edition of SportsCenter from now til the UCL draw tomorrow would be ESPN personalities at each others' throats over "USMNT GOAT: LD or Deuce?" With @Roger Allaway getting invited to Around the Horn to advocate for Patenaude and Souza