Nov. 12, 2004 – Clint Dempsey named MLS Rookie of the Year
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
Several teams had a chance to select Clint Dempsey in the MLS draft before Revolution coach Steve Nicol made the call with the eighth pick. Dempsey had trained with Dallas, considered his hometown team, but apparently had not impressed. Nicol credited former Revolution coach Thomas Rongen, who had guided Dempsey on the U.S. U-20 team, with the recommendation.
Dempsey celebrated his 21st birthday (b. March 9, 1983 in Nacogdoches, Texas), immediately fitting in when the Revolution began pre-season training in the Azores, matching the physicality and skill of opposing midfielders. Dempsey began in a holding role, but soon moved forward. Dempsey made his debut as an 84th-minute substitute for Daouda Kanté in the ’04 season opener, a 3-2 loss to the LA Galaxy. Dempsey scored his first Revolution goal in a 1-1 draw with the MetroStars at Giants Stadium on April 25, 2004.
With Taylor Twellman absent, Dempsey moved into a forward role alongside Pat Noonan, who completed a hat trick in a 3-2 win at Kansas City on June 2, 2004. Dempsey scored seven goals in 27 matches, playing at least three games with a broken jaw, in ’04. Dempsey had scored a goal in a 3-1 win over Chicago on July 14 and another in a 1-1 draw at Columbus (Kyle Martino equalized in the 45th minute), then complained of a sore jaw (“Right now, my jaw hurts from where C.J. Brown kneed me,” Dempsey said before a July 21, 2004 U.S. Open Cup match in Ludlow – after which he sat out five matches). Dempsey made his U.S. debut in a 1-1 draw with Jamaica at Crew Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 17, 2004.
TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY