USA's Clint Dempsey Walks The Long Road To Success

On December 28, 2008, English Premier League big boys, Chelsea, could only manage a 2-2 tie against a scrappy Fulham team. Chelsea played like the superior club that day, but Fulham's Clint Dempsey wasn't willing to let them leave Craven Cottage with a win.

Dempsey scored two goals in the game, highlighted by an 89th-minute equalizer headed past Chelsea's seemingly impregnable goalkeeper, Petr Cech.

For Fulham fans, Dempsey's goals made him the hero of that day. For other English football fans, that game put him on the map as a legitimate scoring threat in the league. But for Clint himself, the game was yet another reminder of how far he has come in what has been an arduous journey to the top.

Dempsey grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas. A small, quiet town in between Dallas and Houston. Growing up in the mecca of high school football in America, Dempsey chose soccer instead. He and his siblings would play for hours outside with local Mexican immigrant children, learning the game from a seasoned culture.

Over the years, he became quite good at soccer, catching the eye of a coach from the Dallas Texans youth club while juggling on the sidelines of a practice. Dempsey joined the club shortly thereafter and became one of the team's best players in the process.

However, money was always an issue for Clint and his family. The financial commitment of traveling to different parts of the country for tournaments and driving to Dallas for practices was overwhelming.

After all, the family lived in a trailer park in Nacogdoches, far away from an area where Clint could thrive in the sport. It was a difficult situation, so much so that he would have to stop playing club soccer.....his dream was fading.

But Dempsey was sorely missed by his team, so through a series of sacrifices, he was able to return. Parents of his teammates pooled money together to help pay for the traveling expenses.

Once this support poured in, Dempsey made it worthwhile for those who helped him.  He went on to become team captain and was one of the team's most valuable players.  

It was that feeling of support that started a chain reaction of success for Dempsey. He went on to play College Soccer for three years at Furman University in South Carolina, scoring 17 goals in 61 starts for the Paladins.

In 2004, he was selected eighth overall by the New England Revolution in the MLS Superdraft. For the Revs, Dempsey instantly became a household name, known around the league for his creativity and finishing abilities. In 2005, he was named to the MLS Best XI, giving him an official title as one of the top players in the league.

It was in that same year when something interesting happened to Dempsey.  Playing as a member of the MLS All-Star team, he suited up against English outfit Fulham. The MLS team went on to win the game, thanks in part to a Dempsey assist on the game-winner.

Little did he know, Fulham was going to be the club that would make his dream come true and bring him to the English Premier League just over a year later.

Dempsey always felt that Europe was going to give him the best chance to develop as a player. Fulham paid $4 million for Dempsey, with hopes that he could be the next American (Brian McBride was a fan favourite) to enjoy big success at Craven Cottage.

Now, we're in 2009, and Dempsey hasn't disappointed. His speed, creativity, and attacking abilities have earned him 94 first team appearances with Fulham (16 goals) and 58 caps for the national team (17 goals).

His success has been widespread. He has scored goals in the World Cup, Confederations Cup, Europa League, English Premier League, English FA Cup, and the MLS.  

In a period where American soccer is on the rise, Dempsey is at the forefront of the discussion. He has earned the respect of fans all over the world, giving maximum effort every time he steps onto the pitch. For Dempsey, working hard isn't a burden, it's what he is used to.