Dempsey hungry for goals
HEAD coach Jürgen Klinsmann referred to him as one of the best American players in history.
It is no wonder the German legend has appointed the 30-year-old Clint Dempsey captain of the American team. And he was full of praise for Dempsey’s two-goal blitz which propelled the North Americans to a 4-3 victory over three-time World Cup champions Germany in their friendly international before a sold-out crowd of 47,359 at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC on Sunday.
Klinsmann said Dempsey has performed in every game on a very, very high level.
“He has the drive, he has the hunger. He’s not satisfied that he scored two goals against Germany because he would be more satisfied if he scores against Jamaica,” Klinsmann was reported to have said.
Dempsey’s goals in the second half moved him into second place on America’s all-time list with 35, only behind Landon Donovan’s 49.
“The only way you’re going to make it is to have a hunger for success and a will to win. That’s something that has always pushed me,” Dempsey told the media.
Drafted by the New England Revolution with the number eight overall pick in the 2004 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, Dempsey moved to the English Premier LEague with Fulham three years later for a $4-million transfer fee, and last year he changed clubs, as he moved across London to Tottenham Hotspur.
It was a productive season for him, having made 29 total English Premier League appearances, starting in 22 of the matches.
He emerged the team’s third highest goal scorer with seven strikes, only behind Player of the Year Gareth Bale and striker Jermaine Defoe, who registered 21 and 11 strikes, respectively.
He was a creator, too, serving up 33 key passes, for the second most assists on his team with four.
The Texan is also very powerful in the air, winning a number of his aerial battles.
He is by no means flashy, but he’s got the uncanny knack of getting into goalscoring positions and when he does he often finds the target.
The Reggae Boyz will remember him very well, as he found the target within 36 seconds when the teams last played here.
He tends to roam in behind the lone striker and if he’s not marshalled properly, he could make the Boyz pay dearly by hitting the target himself, or supplying the killer passes to do so.
