Clint Dempsey and 10 Americans Who Excelled Overseas
Three years ago this week, Clint Dempsey became the top American scorer in the English Premier League with a game-winning strike in Fulham's 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Dempsey handed the Cottagers the victory in the 85th minute against a 10-man Liverpool side, who saw Jay Spearing sent off in the 71st minute of the match at Craven Cottage.
The man they call "Deuce" is now back on American shores plying his trade with the Seattle Sounders, but he left a major impact on the European game during his time with Fulham and Tottenham.
Here's a look at Dempsey and 10 other Americans who achieved a ton of success overseas.
Clint Dempsey
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Before he departed England for his return to Major League Soccer, Dempsey totaled 57 league goals for Fulham and Spurs.
His two most prolific seasons in England were his final two at Fulham, as he scored 12 goals during the 2010-11 campaign and 17 the next year in league play for the Cottagers.
The most memorable moment Dempsey had at Fulham came during the 2009-10 season, as he helped the London club make an improbable run to the UEFA Europa League final.
Before he had the chance to become the first American to appear in a major European club final, Dempsey scored the game-winning goal against Juventus in the round of 16.
Brian McBride
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Before Dempsey etched himself into Fulham lore forever, Brian McBride did the same during his time at the club.
In five seasons at Craven Cottage, the physical McBride scored on 33 occasions in league play, including 10 during the 2005-06 season.
Due to his performances in his last two seasons at Fulham, McBride was named the club's player of the year on two occasions. Even though he has not made an impact as a player at the club in a while, McBride is still active at Fulham, as he was a part of the latest coaching search.
Carlos Bocanegra
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Carlos Bocanegra accompanied McBride as part of the Fulhamerica movement at Craven Cottage from 2004-08.
The center back was a staple at the back for the Cottagers during his five-year span, as he made 118 appearances in all competitions. His and McBride's presence at the club paved the way for the likes of Dempsey and now Emerson Hyndman as Americans at the London club.
Unlike McBride, Bocanegra remained in Europe after leaving Fulham. He went on to play for Rennes and Saint-Etienne in France as well as Rangers in Scotland.
Everything went great for most of Bocanegra's time overseas, but he never found a true home after Rangers were relegated to the third division in Scotland, which forced them to sell most of their stars, including Bocanegra.
Tim Howard
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One of the current American stars in England is goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The 35-year-old, who had a terrific World Cup this past summer, is in his ninth year at Everton, who currently sit in 10th place.
Howard started his tenure at Goodison Park on loan from Manchester United during the 2006-07, and he impressed the club enough to earn a permanent switch the next season.
Ever since then, Howard has been manning the space in between the pipes for the Toffees in the Premier League and in the UEFA Europa League on a few occasions.
Kasey Keller
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Kasey Keller helped set the terrific reputation of American 'keepers playing overseas.
The winner of 102 caps for the United States started his adventure in Europe in 1992 with Millwall. He went on to play for seven different clubs in three countries before he moved back stateside in 2008.
Keller became the first-choice 'keeper at every club he signed with, but it was at Millwall where he earned the most appearances in net.
The three-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year had stints at Borussia Monchengladbach, Rayo Vallecano, Leicester City, Tottenham and Fulham before he left to join hometown side Seattle in MLS.
Brad Friedel
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During the same time in which Keller was impressing across Europe, Brad Friedel was starring for Blackburn Rovers.
The current Tottenham man made his name in Europe with Blackburn over the course of eight seasons after he secured a move to the club from Liverpool in 2000.
After his long spell at Ewood Park, Friedel started in goal for three seasons at Aston Villa before another American, Brad Guzan, took over his job.
Friedel is also one of the few goalkeepers in the Premier League to score a goal, as he found the back of the net in 2004 late in a match against Charlton Athletic.
Earnie Stewart
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Earnie Stewart never played in the Premier League, but he still made a major impact on the game overseas as an American player.
Stewart, who earned over 100 caps at the international level, plied his trade in the Netherlands for the majority of his career.
His most successful spell came from 1996-2003 with NAC Breda, where he scored 50 times in league play in 199 appearances.
After his playing career, Stewart transitioned into the front office as a technical director with NAC Breda. He now holds the position of director of football at AZ Alkmaar, which is where Jozy Altidore found success in the past.
Steve Cherundolo
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Steve Cherundolo was one of the few one-club men during his career at Hannover.
The consistent full-back appeared in over 300 matches for the German side from 1999-2014 before he retired due to nagging injuries earlier this year.
"The Mayor of Hannover" spent the early part of his career in Germany's second division, but the club finally earned promotion to the Bundesliga in 2002.
In the years following the promotion, Cherundolo was always a consistent figure in the starting 11, which helped him land a key role in the 2006 and 2010 United States World Cup squads.
Alexi Lalas
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Alexi Lalas may not have spent a ton of time on European soil playing professionally, but he left a mark on the perception of American players in the 1990s.
Lalas became the first American to sign in Serie A in 1992, when he earned a spot in the Padova squad.
The defender, who scored three goals in the 1994-95 campaign, earned the move to Italy after his showing on home soil during the 1994 World Cup.
Although his spell with Padova lasted just two years, Lalas' signing with the club made an early statement that American players could thrive overseas.
Michael Bradley
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One of the few Americans to follow Lalas' footsteps into Serie A was Michael Bradley, who played for Chievo Verona and Roma over the course of three seasons.
Before he earned his move to Italy with Chievo Verona in 2011, Bradley bounced around at a few clubs in a few different countries.
The current Toronto FC player found early success with Heerenveen and Borussia Monchengladbach, which earned him a chance to prove himself in the Premier League with a loan move to Aston Villa.
Unfortunately, Bradley did not get a fair shake with the Villains, but he did not let that slow him down as he went on to have a few more strong seasons in Europe before coming back to MLS.
Jay DeMerit
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Jay DeMerit's name is not the first you think of when discussing successful American players in Europe.
However, the center back did have a strong six-year spell at Watford before he also moved back to MLS with Vancouver in 2011.
DeMerit was a defensive stalwart for the Hornets during their time in the Championship and Premier League.
During his time at Vicarage Road, DeMerit played over 200 games, including 32 in the 2006-07 Premier League campaign in which Watford were relegated.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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