A native ofNacogdoches, Texas, Dempsey spent his youth career with the Dallas Texans before joiningFurman University's men's soccer team in 2001. In 2004, he was drafted by the New England Revolution, where he scored 25 goals in 71 appearances. In 2007, Dempsey signed for Premier League club Fulham for£2 million. With Fulham, he was an integral part of the team that were runners-up to Spanish clubAtlético Madrid for the2009–10 UEFA Europa League. He was awarded Fulham Player of the Season for2010–11 and2011–12, where he was the club's top scorer for both. In 2012, Dempsey became the first American player to score ahat-trick in the Premier League.[10]
In 2012, Tottenham signed Dempsey for a fee of $9.6 million, then a record signingfor an American. He scored 12 goals in his only season with Tottenham, giving him 72 goals across all competitions for Premier League clubs—the most by an American in a top-tierEuropean league.[11] He was signed by the Seattle Sounders the following year, and played 115 matches for the club, scoring 47 goals, and leading the club to win the2014 Supporters' Shield. During the 2016 season, Dempsey was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and missed the team's run to theMLS Cup. He returned the following season, before announcing his retirement from professional soccer in 2018.
Dempsey was born inNacogdoches, Texas, and is of Irish ancestry on his father's side. For much of his childhood, Dempsey's family lived in atrailer park where he and his siblings grew up playing soccer with the complex's large population of Hispanic immigrants.[15]
In his teens, Dempsey maintained these ties playing in a local Mexican-dominated adult league.[16] His older brother, Ryan, was offered a tryout for the Dallas Texans, an elite youth soccer club, and brought Dempsey, who was noticed and recruited while passing time juggling a ball on the sidelines.[17]
Dempsey became a standout on the team at an early age but had to quit due to financial constraints as his eldest sister Jennifer was becoming a ranked youth tennis player.[18] Several parents of his teammates with the Texans offered to assist the Dempseys with expenses and travel, allowing him to rejoin the club.[citation needed]
On November 27, 1995, Dempsey's 16-year-old sister Jennifer died from abrain aneurysm. Dempsey was devastated with the family's loss and later explained that this event helped him develop a deeper motivation to pursue soccer in honor of his sister.[19]
He went on to be the captain and high scorer of the Texans and was honored with theMVP of the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl tournament. Dempsey studied the play ofArgentina's national team, especiallyDiego Maradona, and was heartbroken when the news came to Nacogdoches that Maradona would not be playing in the1994 World Cup game played in theCotton Bowl.[20] He attendedFurman University as a health and exercise science major and a key player for Paladins soccer. Dempsey was an "outstanding" midfielder while at Furman,[21] named second teamNSCAA All-American in 2002, and receiving All-Southern Conference first team honors in 2001 and 2002.[21] He earned NSCAA All-South Region honors in 2002 and 2003 and was a member of the 2001 Soccer America and College Soccer News All-Freshman teams.[21]
TheNew England Revolution selected Clint Dempsey with their first pick (eighth overall) in the2004 MLS SuperDraft.[22] He made his Revolution debut in the2004 season home opener, a 3–1 loss against theSan Jose Earthquakes on April 17, 2004.[23] The match was notable as the final home appearance for Revolution strikerJoe-Max Moore.[24] Dempsey scored his first MLS goal the following week, giving the Revolution a 12th minute lead against theMetroStars on April 25.[25]
In2005, Dempsey contributed ten goals and nine assists in 26 games, second in team scoring behindTaylor Twellman.[30] He was named MLS Player of the Week for matchweek 4,[23] and won MLS Goal of the Week in matchweek 5, a strike which was subsequently a finalist for 2005MLS Goal of the Year.[31] He scored the game-winning goal in the 4th minute of theEastern Conference Final on his way to an appearance in theMLS Cup Final.[32] He was again named anMLS All-Star,[33] and also named a member of theMLS Best XI.[23]
In March of2006, Dempsey received a two-week suspension for fighting with teammateJoe Franchino in practice.[34] During the regular season, Dempsey added eight more goals, but missed significant time in the playoffs due to injury,[35] and time during the regular season due to the World Cup.[36] Dempsey won MLS Player of the Week honors for week 14, and MLS Goal of the Week in matchweek 28 for his strike againstD.C. United. He came on as a substitute in theMLS Cup Final, but the Revolution lost their second straight final, this time in apenalty shoot-out. He was named anMLS All-Star for a third time, and to the MLS Best-XI for a second time.[23][37]
On January 11, 2007, he was granted a work permit from theHome Office as Fulham announced his signing on a long-term deal.[40] This made Dempsey the most expensive American export to thePremier League in a deal worth a reported£2 million.[41] He made his Fulham debut in a 1–1 home draw againstTottenham Hotspur on January 20, 2007.[42] HisFA Cup debut followed seven days later in a 3–0 home win overStoke City.[43]
Dempsey scored his first goal for Fulham on May 5 when he struck the only goal of a 1–0 home win overLiverpool.[44] This goal saved Fulham from relegation and effectively guaranteed their place in the top-flight for the following season.[45]
Dempsey was not in the starting XI for the first three matches of the 2007–08 season, but after an injury toBrian McBride, he came into the side as a striker and scored in a 2–1 defeat againstAston Villa.[46] He followed this up by scoring in Fulham's next fixture in a 3–3 home draw against Tottenham on September 1.[47]
Two weeks later, he opened the scoring in Fulham's 1–1 away draw againstWigan Athletic.[48]
These goals gave Dempsey three in as many games. On September 29, Dempsey was involved in an aerial collision withJohn Terry during a 0–0 draw atStamford Bridge which resulted in Terry later being substituted.[49] There was some suggestion that Dempsey used a deliberate elbow on Terry;[50] however, refereeMartin Atkinson did not report the incident toThe Football Association.[51]
On November 3, Dempsey scored during Fulham's 3–1 home win overReading to secure just a second league win of the season.[52]
He scored his last goals of the season in a 1–1 home draw withWigan Athletic and a 5–1 away loss to Tottenham in December.[53][54]
In May 2008, Fulham announced Dempsey had signed a contract extension which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2010.[55] Fulham beat Portsmouth 1–0 on the final day of the season to secure Premier League status for another year.[56] He ended the season as Fulham's top Premier League goalscorer with six goals.[57]
Dempsey made the Fulham XI only once in the first eleven fixtures of the2008–09 season but scored his first goal in a 1–1 away draw atPortsmouth on October 26 after coming on as a substitute.[58] He replaced Zoltan Gera in the side and scored his first home goal of the season in a 3–0 win overMiddlesbrough on December 20.[59] Eight days later he scored twice in theWest London derby against Chelsea which included a last-minute equalizer in a 2–2 home draw.[60]
On February 24, 2009, Dempsey scored the first FA Cup goal of his career in a 2–1 home win overSwansea City in the fifth-round.[61] His final home goal of the season came in a 2–1 defeat toBlackburn Rovers on March 11.[62] Fulham came from a goal down to beatManchester City 3–1 away from home as Dempsey scored two goals on April 12.[63]
For the second successive season, Dempsey ended as Fulham's top Premier League goalscorer joint withAndrew Johnson with seven goals.[64] These goals helped Fulham secure a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, the highest in the club's history, and confirmed their qualification for the newly formedUEFA Europa League for the following season.[65]
On August 13, 2009, Dempsey signed a contract extension to remain with Fulham through 2013.[66]
Dempsey training with Fulham in August 2009
On August 20, he scored his first goal in European competition, in the newEuropa League, netting Fulham's second goal in a 3–1 win againstAmkar Perm in theplay-off round.[67]
On December 30,La Gazzetta dello Sport named Dempsey as one of the top eleven Premier League players of the season.[68]
On March 11, Dempsey returned, coming on in the last minute of Fulham's loss away toJuventus, and then completed 72 minutes of Fulham's 3–0 away loss toManchester United in the league.[70]
On March 18, Dempsey came off the bench against Juventus in their second-leg, last-16 tie in the Europa League and scored the winner on a long chip shot. Fulham won the game 4–1, and this game resulted in the club winning an award, as well as Dempsey receiving an award for his goal.[71]
The Guardian suggested that the goal "might become the most famous goal in Fulham's history".[72]
His performances throughout 2009–10 earned him the designation of Most Valuable Player among Americans in Europe by SoccerOverThere.com, among other sources.[74]
Dempsey was on the substitutes' bench for Fulham's first two away games of 2010–11, but became a regular starter, one of only five U.S. players in the Premier League to do so. On September 18, 2010, he scored an equalizing goal on 56 minutes with a header againstBlackburn Rovers atEwood Park in the 1–1 draw to continue Fulham's unbeaten record in the Premier League.[75]
On October 2, he scored againstWest Ham United pastRobert Green, the same keeper that he had scored against in the World Cup.[76] He continued his form by scoring two goals against Wigan Athletic on October 30 as Fulham ran out 2–0 winners.[77][78]
On January 22, 2011, Dempsey scored another double versusStoke City, putting Fulham temporarily out of relegation contention.[79]
On March 19, Dempsey became the first American player to score ten goals in a Premier League season, beatingBrian McBride's previous record of nine, also set while at Fulham in the 2005–06 season and 2006–07 season.[80]
Dempsey broke Fulham's Premier League goalscoring record by netting twice in a 3–0 victory over Bolton on April 27, 2011. He has scored a total of 33 goals for the team in the Premier League, topping both Brian McBride andSteed Malbranque, each with 32. With these goals, he scored 12 goals for Fulham in the 2010–11 season.[81]
Dempsey was voted Fulham player of the season for 2010–11 by the Fulham fans, and his 12 Premier League strikes meant he was the club's leading goalscorer for the campaign.[82]
On December 5, 2011, Dempsey scored in the 85th minute to secure a 1–0 win against Liverpool at Craven Cottage.[84] The goal propelled Dempsey to become the most prolific U.S. goalscorer in the Premier League, passing Fulham legend and fellow AmericanBrian McBride.[85] Dempsey scored his fifthPremier League goal of the campaign with a header in a 2–0 home win againstBolton on December 17, lifting his side six points clear of the drop zone.[86]
With his hat-trick against Newcastle, he became the first ever U.S. player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League.[92] Dempsey scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season, sixteenth in all competitions, in a 1–1 draw against former managerRoy Hodgson'sWest Brom on February 1, 2012.[93]
Dempsey "assisted" another goal in a 2–1 win againstStoke City on February 11, 2012. His 28th-minute shot hit the crossbar and was deflected by Stoke goalkeeperThomas Sørensen. It was therefore awarded as an own goal off the goalie. His form this season continued against Wolverhampton Wanderers where Dempsey scored twice in a 5–0 victory for Fulham.[94]
On March 8, 2012, the day before Dempsey's 29th birthday, Fulham manager Martin Jol revealed that the club had opened talks with Dempsey over a new three-year contract.[95]
Dempsey scored his fourteenth and fifteenth Premier League goals of the campaign, bringing his tally to twenty-one in all competitions, in a 3–0 away win overBolton Wanderers on April 7, the first a free kick and the second a header.[96] The strikes moved Dempsey pastLouis Saha's record of thirteen Premier League goals for the club in a single season.[97] Dempsey finished fourth on theFWA Footballer of the Year list behind the winner, Arsenal'sRobin van Persie, andManchester United pairWayne Rooney andPaul Scholes, who came in second and third, respectively.[98] Dempsey became the first American player to reach the milestone of fifty goals in the Premier League, with a free kick againstSunderland in the last home game of the season.[99]
On August 31, 2012, Fulham confirmed Dempsey's transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.[100]
On August 31, 2012, Dempsey joinedTottenham Hotspur on a three-year contract for a fee believed to be in the region of $9 million.[101]
The deal made Dempsey the highest salaried U.S. soccer player of all time.[citation needed] With the 23 shirt that he wore at Fulham and the number 8 that he usually wore on international duty unavailable, he opted for the number 2 jersey, more usually associated with the right-back, which he wore at Furman University.[102] He scored his first and the eventual match-winning goal for Tottenham in a 3–2 win overManchester United. It was the first time in 23 years that Tottenham had won atOld Trafford.[103] He scored his second goal for Spurs in the 39th minute in an away game atSouthampton in October. Dempsey's third and fourth goals were scored againstEverton in an eventual 2–1 loss and a deflected effort againstReading on New Year's Day to help Spurs win 3–1. In the FA Cup 3rd round, he scored a double againstCoventry City.[104]
On January 20, 2013, in driving snow at White Hart Lane against league leaders Manchester United, Dempsey was able to salvage a dramatic 1–1 draw for Spurs by slotting home a pass from Aaron Lennon in the 93rd minute. The goal was his fourth in four appearances in 2013. On January 27, 2013, Dempsey scored a looping header againstLeeds United atElland Road, in the FA Cup to bring the score to 2–1, however Tottenham couldn't draw level throughout the rest of the game, leaving the result at 2–1 to Leeds at the whistle.[105]
Dempsey was unable to make an impression against his old club on March 17, when Fulham came away from White Hart Lane with a 1–0 victory. On April 21, he scored the first of three goals for Tottenham in a 3–1 win overManchester City at White Hart Lane. On May 12, Dempsey scored a long range goal and added an assist while playing againstStoke City to help Spurs win 2–1, and keep them in contention for the fourth Champions League spot. On April 11, 2013, Dempsey scored two goals againstBasel in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals to send the match into extra time. Tottenham eventually lost the match on penalties and thus were eliminated from the competition.[106]
On August 3, 2013, Dempsey signed with MLS clubSeattle Sounders FC as aDesignated Player on a four-year contract, for a transfer fee of $9 million.[107] He again donned the number 2 shirt, forgoing the number 8 he usually wears for the United States and the number 23 he wore at Fulham. The previous user of the number 2 shirt,DeAndre Yedlin, moved to number 17. Dempsey made his league debut for Seattle on August 10, 2013, in a 2–1 victory overToronto. Dempsey entered the match as a 34th-minute substitute, afterObafemi Martins came off with an ankle injury.[108]
On December 24, 2013, Dempsey re-signed with Fulham on a two-month loan.[109] He made his return debut on January 4, 2014, in the Third Round of theFA Cup againstNorwich City. Dempsey played the entire game which resulted in a 1–1 draw, and subsequently took part in the replay at Craven Cottage, a 3–0 victory for Fulham.[110]
Although no announcement was made by Fulham, Dempsey appeared in the Seattle squad to faceSporting Kansas City in the season opener on March 10, 2014. Dempsey had made a return to form, scoring a hat-trick againstPortland Timbers, and recording braces againstFC Dallas and theColorado Rapids, leaving his goal tally at 8 in 5 games for 2014. He earned the MLS's Player of the Month award for April.[111] Both Dempsey's 15 goals and 10 assists were MLS career highs, as Seattle won theSupporters' Shield, but were eliminated in the conference finals of the MLS Cup by eventual championsLA Galaxy.[citation needed]
On June 16, 2015, in thefourth round of theLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup againstrivals the Portland Timbers, Dempsey was sent off for ripping up referee Daniel Radford's notebook in protest at the dismissal ofMichael Azira. The Sounders finished the match with seven men through three dismissals and an injury, and lost 1–3 at home.[112] For the incident, he was given a three-match MLS suspension and a fine, and banned from the Open Cup for two years in addition to a second fine.[113]
On July 13, 2016, Dempsey picked up his first MLS red card after putting his hands in the face ofFC Dallas midfielderJuan Esteban Ortiz, who came in with a late challenge on Dempsey. Earlier in the game, Dempsey scored and provided an assist onJordan Morris's goal.[114] On August 7, he scored a hat-trick againstOrlando City SC to capture their second road victory of the 2016 season.[115] Dempsey played his last game of the season on August 21 against Portland, picking up a brace in the 3–1 win, while simultaneously setting a franchise record for the most goals by a player against one team in MLS play, with the goals being his seventh and eighth.[116] While his absence in Seattle's next game at Houston was a scheduled rest, Dempsey was sidelined with an irregular heartbeat ahead of theirCascadia rivalry tie in Portland.[117]
After returning to training in September,[118] Dempsey was ruled out for the remainder of the season by general managerGarth Lagerwey on September 27.[119]
Although there was speculation about the irregular heartbeat ending his career, Dempsey was eventually cleared to play in time for the 2017 MLS season. During the season Dempsey tallied 12 goals in 29 regular season appearances and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year for 2017.[120]
He announced his retirement from soccer on August 29, 2018.[121]
For the national team, Dempsey has frequently lined up as astriker due to his scoring threat and aerial ability, but his preferred and more normal role is off the striker.[122]
Early career: 2005 and 2007 Gold Cups and 2006 World Cup
On May 28, 2005, he scored his first international goal on his sixth cap, a consolation in a 2–1 defeat toEngland atSoldier Field, Chicago, by heading in after a save by goalkeeperDavid James.[124] Dempsey's first international tournament was the United States' victorious2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign; he netted their first goal, equalising as they came from behind to defeatCuba 4–1 atQwest Field inSeattle.[125]
Dempsey was named to the US roster for the2006 World Cup in Germany. He was the only American player to score a goal in the tournament,[126] agroup stage elimination, with his equalizing goal in the Americans' eventual 2–1 loss toGhana. He won the highest individual honor in soccer in America when he was namedHonda Player of the Year for 2006, beating Fulham teammatesKasey Keller andBrian McBride in a poll of sportswriters. Dempsey received 237 points in voting by 207 sports journalists to claim the award.[citation needed]
Dempsey was also present as the United States defended their title at the2007 Gold Cup, again scoring their opening goal, the sole goal in a victory againstGuatemala atThe Home Depot Center; his side-footed shot fromTaylor Twellman's assist gave the nation victory inBob Bradley's first match as coach.[127]
In the United States' opening2010 World Cup qualifier, Dempsey recorded the then fastest goal in U.S. qualifying history with a chest trap and sliding shot 53 seconds into an 8–0 defeat ofBarbados. But thereafter, Dempsey experienced a dip in form leading some to doubt his first-choice status with the national team. However, Dempsey turned his fortunes around in the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the final group stage match againstEgypt, Dempsey scored a trademark diving header off aJonathan Spector cross, making the final result 3–0. This, combined with Brazil's 3–0 victory againstItaly in the other group match that was being played simultaneously, put the United States through to the semi-finals.[128] In the semi-final match againstSpain, Dempsey scored to put the U.S. up 2–0 to send them to the finals. He was named theMan of the Match for his performance.[129] Dempsey scored in his third straight game in theConfederations Cup Final againstBrazil, redirecting a similar cross from Spector in the 10th minute to open the scoring.[130]
On June 12, 2010, Dempsey became the second American (after Brian McBride) to score in more than one World Cup when he scored the equalizer goal againstEngland in the Americans' first game of the2010 World Cup after the England goalkeeperRobert Green made a major error. Dempsey's disallowed goal later in the tournament againstAlgeria in the group stage was very controversial. Dempsey was called offside, but the replay showed that he was most likely not offside. Despite this call, his teammateLandon Donovan scored a late stoppage time goal to win the game 1–0.[133]
During the2011 Gold Cup, Dempsey played a key role in helping the United States advance to the final. In the group stages he recorded a goal in a 2–0 win overCanada, and in the quarter-finals, Dempsey also scored a goal in a 2–0 win over Jamaica. In the semi-finals againstPanama, who had shockingly defeated the United States 1–2 in the group stage, Dempsey scored the only goal to advance the Americans tothe final. With a sliding touch Dempsey redirected Landon Donovan's pass into the net.[134]
On February 29, 2012, Dempsey scored the lone goal in an international friendly win against four-time World championItaly.Jozy Altidore assisted on the goal, allowing the United States to win for the first time against Italy in eleven games played since 1934.[135]
Dempsey broke his own fastest-goal record in World Cup qualifying on September 7, scoring just 39 seconds into a 2–1 defeat against Jamaica inKingston. During a qualifying match againstGuatemala on October 16, 2012, Dempsey scored his 29th and 30th international goal, tying him with Brian McBride for third most goals scored for the United States national team. The goals helped the United States advance into thefinal qualifying stage for the2014 World Cup.[citation needed]
In March 2013, Dempsey was given thecaptain's armband byJürgen Klinsmann for the important World Cup qualifying matches versusCosta Rica andMexico. On June 2, 2013, Dempsey scored two goals againstGermany in a 4–3 win. The goals were his 34th and 35th overall for the national team, surpassingEric Wynalda as secondall-time top-goalscorer for the United States. Dempsey became the 14th American to reach100 caps on September 6, 2013, netting a penalty in a 3–1 away defeat toCosta Rica in a qualifier.[136]
In 2014, Dempsey was named as captain of the 23-man United States squad ahead of theFIFA World Cup. On June 16, he scored againstGhana 29 seconds into the group play match.[12] It was the fastest goal in American World Cup history, and fifth fastest goal in all-time World Cup history. With this goal, Dempsey also became the first American player to score in three consecutive World Cups.[137] Dempsey went on to suffer a broken nose midway through the first half as the United States defeated Ghana 2–1. In the following match against Portugal, Dempsey notched his fourth World Cup goal in a 2–2 draw. This goal drew Dempsey level withBert Patenaude as the second-highest goalscoring American in the World Cup, one behindLandon Donovan.[138]
During the Gold Cup, Dempsey scored both U.S. goals in a 2–1 group stage win over Honduras at theToyota Stadium in his native Texas.[140] Three days later, at his former club ground in New England, he struck the only goal to defeatHaiti, sending his team into the quarter-finals,[141] where he scored his first international hat-trick in a 6–0 victory againstCuba.[142] In the third-place play-off, he scored his seventh goal of the tournament to equalize for a 1–1 draw againstPanama, and also netted his attempt in thepenalty shootout which his team eventually lost; he finished the tournament as its top scorer.[citation needed]
In June 2016, Dempsey started all three group stage games of theCopa América Centenario. Against Costa Rica, he recorded his 50th international goal, and against Paraguay he recorded his 51st international goal to help the U.S. finish first in the group and advance to the quarter-finals. The U.S. were eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina. In the quarter-final win over Ecuador, Dempsey scored the opening goal and assisted on the second goal, which was scored by Zardes.[citation needed]
Dempsey's first goal during qualification for the2018 FIFA World Cup was scored in the 4–0 victory by the U.S. overGuatemala on March 29, 2016, at theMAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. He also earned an assist on the fourth goal of the evening, scored byJozy Altidore.[143]
On March 24, 2017, during the final round of qualification, Dempsey scored a hat trick in the 6–0 victory by the U.S. overHonduras, one goal from a free kick and the other two assisted byChristian Pulisic at theAvaya Stadium in San Jose.[144] Four days after that, on March 28, he scored the U.S.'s lone goal, again assisted by Pulisic, in a 1–1 draw withPanama at theEstadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City.[145]
Dempsey was not named to the 23-man roster released on June 25, but was eligible to be called up as one of six roster replacements following the conclusion of the group stage. On July 16, Dempsey was called in to replaceDom Dwyer.[147] He assistedEric Lichaj's first international goal in the U.S.'s 2–0 victory overEl Salvador in the quarter-finals on July 19, tying him withClaudio Reyna for fourth on the U.S. all-time assists list.[148] On July 22, Dempsey assisted Altidore's goal and scored a free kick to defeatCosta Rica 0–2, sending the U.S. to thefinal, and seeing Dempsey overtake Reyna for fourth place in assists with 20 and tieLandon Donovan for most U.S. goals of all time at 57.[149]
Dempsey is known for his versatility and ability to play either as a forward, winger or attacking midfielder, depending on the formation.[150] As a result, he has been categorized interchangeably as a forward or midfielder, as evidenced in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup squads where he was classified as a forward (FW) in the latter tournament[151] and a midfielder (MF) in the former.[152] During his time in Fulham, he established himself as goal-scorer who is able to score with both his head and feet, especially during important matches.[153] Critics have described him as "audacious" due to his penchant for the odd "wonder goal" and reputation as "the guy who walked onto the field and started doing backheels", leading formernational team coachBruce Arena to say of him, "He tries shit."[154][155]
His wonder goal for Fulham in the2010 Europa League [round of 16] againstJuventus, an audacious chip from the very edge of the penalty box, was a counterpoint to the narrative of American soccer players as brutish, hustling grunt workers. [H]is game was as creative, and as instinctual, as any American's of this or any other generation. Nobody was more likely to drop a back heel through traffic.
Dempsey has occasionally been prone to aggressive play including physical altercations with opponents over the course of his career, which have sometimes resulted in suspensions.[156][157][158]
Dempsey is a practicingCatholic. He grew up in a Catholic family, going to church every Sunday with his grandmother.[161] He has spoken about his faith, saying: "I play to the best of my abilities and am thankful for the many opportunities and amazing success God has given me. Through it all, I want to do right, not make mistakes, and live a life that is pleasing to Him."[162]
One of Dempsey's passions outside of soccer iship hop music. Using the alias "Deuce", he, along with fellow Texas rappers XO and the late Houston rapperBig Hawk from the Screwed Up Click, is featured rapping the song "Don't Tread" in aNike soccer advertising campaign for the2006 World Cup, with the intention to showcase both the sport's working-class roots and the United States team ahead of the World Cup.[164] The song's video is dedicated to his sister Jennifer. The video ends with a shot of Dempsey placing a flower at his sister's grave.[citation needed]
Dempsey, along with global cover starLionel Messi, was featured on the cover ofEA Sports' multi-platform video gameFIFA 15 in the U.S. and Canada.[165]
Dempsey has been sponsored by sportswear brandNike throughout his playing career.[166]
^Soccerbase's stats for theEuropa League play-off second leg match betweenFulham andDnipro Dnipropetrovsk on 25 August 2011 don't include any of the appearance data for the players that featured in that game.[174] Clint Dempsey did play in that game,[175][176] and therefore, until and unless they correct it, he should have one more appearance for Fulham than given on his Soccerbase page.[173]
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