Every American soccer fan knows the name of Clint Dempsey. His career began in MLS long ago with the New England Revolution, but his second MLS stint will be the focus here. He left the Revs for Fulham, then Tottenham after that. In August of 2013, the Seattle Sounders announced the signing of Clint Dempsey as a Designated Player. He would finish up the 2013 season with the Sounders, scoring his first and only goal of his debut season.
In 2014, Dempsey showed his quality. He actually went back to Fulham on loan in 2014, meaning he never actually had an off-season. After continuing to play at the highest level, he returned to the Sounders at the start of the 2014 season. Using Premier League games as a tune-up for MLS play worked out well for him, as he scored against Toronto FC in the second match. In the very next match, he lit up the Portland Timbers with a memorable hat trick during the Cascadia Cup matchup. He opened the hat trick with an equalizer in the 24th minute. Down 4-2, Dempsey slid into the box to pull one back, then tied it 4-4 from the spot at the death. In the next game, he scored another two against FC Dallas. Two matches later, it was another brace against Colorado. A minute into the second half, he chipped the keeper on a rebound, then headed one in later on. He scored 8 goals in the first 6 games of the season.
Dempsey went to the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the United States. Straight away, he scored against Ghana, then added another against Portugal in game two. In his first game back from the world's tournament, he somehow reacted to a driven ball and deflected it into the goal. After going on a bit of a cold streak, he once again showed up in the big game against Portland, making a run down the entire pitch to score. Dempsey scored against the Timbers five times in 2014. In the 2014 US Open Cup Final, he scored during a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia, which ended with Seattle lifting the trophy. His final goal of the regular season came against Landon Donovan's LA Galaxy at the back post. The Sounders won the Supporters' Shield. They beat FC Dallas in penalties. In the second leg against LA Galaxy during the WCF, he snuck one in, but a later Galaxy goal saw the Sounders lose on away goals and end the season. Dempsey finished with 15 goals and 10 assists, MLS career-highs in both, and made the All-Star Team.
In 2015, Deuce got off to another flying start. Just 25 minutes into the fresh season, he rocketed a penalty into the top corner. He dribbled into the net on a feed from Obafemi Martins in the later moments. He beat San Jose with a rebound header early in the next match. Dempsey continued to show up every single time he played Portland, scoring in the rivalry once again. In a loss to Columbus, he scored a brace. He curled a left footed shot off the near post and in, before adding a consolation rebound. In the 2015 MLS All-Star Game, he earned a secondary assist on a David Villa goal and win over Tottenham. He followed up a spill in front against Toronto and scored the match-winner. On Decision Day, he upped his goal total to double digits with a brace against Real Salt Lake. He pushed home a Martins cross to open the scoring, then turned in a Jeff Attinella save for another. Seattle finished fourth, setting up a road knockout match against the Galaxy. Dempsey scored the first goal in the 3-2 victory. In the first leg against FC Dallas, he smashed a perfect free kick into the top right corner. Dallas won the series in pens.
In 2016, Clint Dempsey was an MLS All-Star for his third consecutive year. A late headed corner kick against Montreal was his first of the season. A first-time finish against San Jose served as a game winner. In June, Dempsey went to the Copa America with the US, scoring three times in a good run in the tournament. He sniped a spot kick into the top corner during a rout of Dallas. In August, he scored a large portion of his season's goals in a match against Orlando. Seattle responded to a 1-0 deficit with three goals, all from Dempsey. He equalized with a tap-in, put home a Jordan Morris pass, then scored in an identical fashion for the third goal. His final match of the year was against Portland, meaning Deuce would undoubtedly show up. The first goal was a penalty driven straight down the middle. He rolled a weak footed shot into the bottom corner to double the advantage. The August match was his last of the season because he was ruled out with an irregular heartbeat. He watched as the team went onto win the 2016 MLS Cup in his honor.
In 2017, Clint Dempsey returned to the sport, earning him the 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award. He came back in a big way. In the opening game of the campaign, Dempsey put one in at the back post in Houston. He put a pen down the gut to beat the Red Bulls. He nodded home a Nicolas Lodeiro cross to add another to the tally. On Independence Day, Dempsey celebrated America with a brace. He picked out the corner of Tim Howard's net to score early on, a pretty lob made it two. Dempsey scored another brace against Minnesota United in early August. Chad Marshall set up an easy headed goal inches from the netting. Dempsey's movement and close control led to another. His 12th goal of the season was zinged past David Ousted. In the second leg of a playoff series with Vancouver, he scored a brace to advance. His left footed shot gave the Sounders the lead, the capper was knocked in by No. 2. His back post run closed the Western Conference Final to defeat Houston. Seattle went to MLS Cup, but lost to Toronto FC.
In 2018, Clint Dempsey finished up his professional soccer career. In MLS play, he scored once and assisted once, the final marks of his career. His last assist went to Jordy Delem versus Minnesota. The final goal of Dempsey's career was a sliding tap-in right in front. A back injury sidelined the legend in August, and he never returned. His final match was an 11 minute cameo against the Earthquakes on July 25th. Dempsey announced his retirement on August 29, 2018. The man that is widely regarded as the best American soccer player ever had quite the decorated career. He scored 47 goals in his 115 Sounders appearances. He is tied atop the all-time leading goal scorers in United States international history, knotted at 57 with Donovan. His resume clearly speaks for itself. Clint Dempsey comes in at #27 for his Seattle Sounders contributions.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2018 | SEA | 902 | 1 | 1 |
2017 | SEA | 2,276 | 12 | 5 |
2016 | SEA | 1,429 | 8 | 2 |
2015 | SEA | 1,742 | 10 | 10 |
2014 | SEA | 2,132 | 15 | 10 |
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