Dempsey chosen U.S. soccer player of year
23-year-old midfielder scored 4 goals — 1 during World Cup — in 9 games
 Michael Probst / AP Clint Dempsey had four goals in nine games for the American team this year, including one in the World Cup, and finished tied for the team lead in goals. |
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LOS ANGELES - Clint Dempsey’s parents were a rather typical American soccer mom and pop, although their drive was longer than most.
Dempsey, noting that a roundtrip from his home in Nacogdoches to play with a youth team in Dallas took six hours, repaid Debbie and Aubrey Dempsey a bit on Tuesday.
Chosen as the Honda player of the year for the U.S. national team, Dempsey gave the new truck that goes with the award to his father.
The 23-year-old midfielder had four goals in nine games for the Americans this year, including one in the World Cup.
“It gives me a lot of joy. I’m proud to be with the players who have won this,” said Dempsey, who also plays for the New England Revolution. “And it’s great to have my family here. I know my dad’s truck has been breaking down.”
Two of his brothers, a sister and his parents were on hand for the award presentation.
“We started driving him from Nacogdoches to north Dallas when he was 10. It was tough at the time,” said Aubrey, a carpenter. “It was about then that it began to show that he had something special in soccer.
“I think we went through four vehicles during that time.”
Dempsey, who made his debut with the national team at the end of 2004, has scored six goals in his 23 career matches.
His goal was the only one scored by a U.S. player in the World Cup. The only other score for the Americans, who failed to advance from group play, came on an own-goal by Italy.
He recalled his elation when he scored against Ghana.
“It feels like you’re on top of the world,” Dempsey said. “Hopefully I’ll be on that stage again.”
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Dempsey received 237 points in the player of the year balloting by 207 sports journalists. Kasey Keller, who won the award in 1999 and 2005, finished second with 184 points. Brian McBride was third with 127.
Dempsey, the 2004 MLS rookie of the year with New England, said one of his goals is to help the Revolution win the MLS Cup.
He added, “And I want to play in Europe. Anywhere in Europe.”
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