Clint Dempsey's Premier League Success Inspires All American Soccer Players, Landon Donovan SaysClint Dempsey's success at Fulham FC has made him American soccer's "Big Thing" of the moment. Chief among his legions of fans is the one-time "Golden Boy" of the game in this country, Landon Donovan.
Donovan thinks Dempsey's goal-scoring exploits make him an inspiration to American players, according to ESPN. "He's been incredible and, I think, take myself kind of outside of being a player and just watching as a fan from abroad, it's really fun to watch,"
Donovan said. "I think it's inspiring for all of us to see someone do that at that level, and now when he scores, you don't even bat an eye anymore, it's to be expected almost.
I don't think an American has ever had that. We're all proud of him, and he has an infinite hunger to succeed and it's good for all of us to see. Dempsey set a new standard for American players in Europe by scoring 23 goals (in all competitions) in the 2011-12 season. His 17 Premier League goals was the fourth-highest in the league, and his dynamism in the final third has made him a transfer target for a number of big clubs in England and in Europe.
Donovan is among the most accomplished American players in history. He is the U.S. men's national team's all-time leading scorer, and a veteran of three FIFA World Cups. But his considerable achievements at club level have gone virtually unnoticed around the world because he has played nearly his entire career in Major League Soccer.
Dempsey, on the other hand, chose to test himself in a top European league and has flourished under the pressure. Donovan's choices took him down a different path, but they did not stop him from paying the ultimate respect to his U.S. teammate. He is a big fan of the Texan's work.
Read more at:
http://www.nesn.com/2012/05/clint-dempseys-premier-league-success-inspires-american-soccer-players-landon-donovan-says.html?
