TUKWILA, Wash. — Clint Dempsey addressed the media on Tuesday for the first time since the Seattle Sounders sidelined him in September 2016 after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.
Dempsey, 33, was optimistic and upbeat with how his recovery process has gone, despite how difficult an ordeal it was to confront. Dempsey said the five months he spent rehabilitating was the longest he'd been away from the game — the longest stretch he had previously missed was eight weeks —so having to sit back and watch as his team made their improbable run to MLS Cup was especially difficult.
Dempsey said he was around 85-90 percent fit and is eager to begin the season as his workload continues to increase in the preseason. He played 30 minutes in a friendly against the Portland Timbers on Feb. 4 before playing a full 45-minute half against the San Jose Earthquakes on Feb. 7 in a scrimmage.
“Right now the focus is getting through this year, playing [well] again and making an impact on the field,” Dempsey said. “The minutes will keep going up and I’ll keep pushing in training.”
Dempsey said he first began experiencing problems last February. He felt fine while with the United States national team during the summer’s Copa America Centenario, but he and the Sounders’ medical staff monitored the situation before he ultimately left the team in late August to undergo a procedure. He returned briefly in September, but the complications arose again and his training stopped.
Now that Dempsey is cleared to play, he’s hoping the team can pick up where it left off last season and carry that momentum into 2017.
“How incredible to win an MLS Cup,” Dempsey said. “It was fun to watch. The guys really battled like warriors and brought the Cup home for the city, which was the main goal of the season last year.
“Hopefully we can defend that and have a good year and try and do something special.”
One of Dempsey’s goals is to get back to international duty. He is the U.S.’ second all-time leading goalscorer and has played and scored in three World Cups. Head coach Bruce Arena had originally wanted to call in Dempsey to January camp and was hoping he’d be ready for 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March, but Arena recently ruled out that possibility.
Dempsey started his career with the national team in Arena’s first stint as manager from 1998-2006, and Dempsey is eager to play for Arena and wear the U.S. kit again.
“I owe a lot to Bruce,” Dempsey said. “It’d be a dream to play in four [World Cups], not many people have gotten that opportunity… It would be great to get back in with the U.S. team, but to do that I have to do well here, and that’s the main focus.”
Battling adversity is nothing new for Dempsey. He grew up without a lot of resources in the small town of Nacogdoches, Texas, and so every opportunity he has is one for which he is truly grateful.
“The first house I lived in was a trailer house in my grandma’s backyard, so I’ve come a long way,” Dempsey said. “[To be] able to have a family, take care of my family, it’s one of the biggest blessings in the world.”
Dempsey repeatedly mentioned how much his family means to him, and how they helped him get through his recovery. He’s hoping his kids will get to see him play for a few more years.
“I’m at peace with what I’ve done in my career,” Dempsey said. “I’m married with four kids, so I got to enjoy life, and hopefully there’s more life to enjoy.”
