Clint Dempsey grew up in Nacogdoches, TX, played collegiate soccer in South Carolina at Furman, and played 141 times for the US Men’s National Team, the nation’s fourth-most capped player. He scored 57 international goals for his country. His 57 goals tied him all-time with Landon Donovan.
About a month after announcing his retirement from professional soccer he found himself on the sidelines at Craven Cottage, the fabled stadium in London, England. It wasn’t just a visit. It was a homecoming on the home grounds of Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League.
Dempsey’s contract had been purchased for $4 million transfer from the MLS New England Revolution in 2006. He played 185 games for Fulham, scoring 50 goals, over six seasons.
He scored goals and Fulham won games. He became a fan favorite, and recently at halftime of Fulham’s game with Watford, Fulham fans said hello and good-bye once again to the 35-year-old American.
“I can’t wait to see Fulham playing back in a league they belong in and taking a little trip down memory lane,” Dempsey said on the Fulham website when his appearance was announced.
“It will be great to see the fans. The Cottage was one of my favourite stadiums to play in. It was such an intimate atmosphere, and I’ve just got so many great memories of playing there.
“The fans were a big part of helping create those memories. I gave all I could for Fulham so to be able to come back and sit in the stands as a supporter is going to be a great experience.”
He did not exit the EPL from Fulham. He played one season with Tottenham Hotspur. He returned to American in 2013 and signed a MLS contract to play for the Seattle Sounders. He helped to the Sounders to the 2016 MLS Cup championship.
What a career that Texas boy from Nacogdoches had. He had 43 World Cup qualifying appearances for his country. No one has ever played more for the red, white and blue. He scored 18 times in those games. His 18 goals ties him with Jozy Altidore for most ever in U.S. World Cup qualifiers.
Sadly, he didn’t get to end his international career at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. Did not qualify, but in the regional Hexagonal, Dempsey scored three times in a 6-0 win over Honduras, and the lone goal in a 1-1 draw with Panama.
In London, they called his return to Craven Cottage a homecoming. In his long career he has made himself at home at a lot of places. And U.S. Soccer is better for that.