By Cheval John
Clint Dempsey always had a chip on his shoulder.
He never had an entitlement like others who play the sport of soccer had during their childhood.
He grew up in a lower-middle class family in Nacogdoches, Texas where he had to fight for everything.
He carried that attitude all the way to the English Premier League, where he displayed his talent and ability to score at will for Fulham, F.C.
During that time, he played under four head coaches and each time, he had to prove himself time and time again.
That what separated him from the others as he became the first American international to score 50 career goals in the EPL and establish himself as one of the best players in the world.
Dempsey always had a knack for knowing what he wants.
He got a taste of what it was like to play in a European club competition when Fulham played in the UEFA Europa League during the 2009-10 season.
His most memorable moment came in the second leg of the match against Juventus in Craven Cottage, when he chip in a beautiful ball from outside the penalty area into the net for the game-winning goal that knocked the Italian club out of the competition.
They made it to the final that season, but lost to Atletico Madrid.
He knew that he was not getting any younger and that he made it clear that he wanted to play for an UEFA Champions League club.
To him, it was not about the money, but the very opportunity to experience the atmosphere of playing in what is arguably, the most prestigious club competitions in Europe.
Liverpool, F.C. showed interest in acquiring Dempsey during the off season.
Dempsey didn’t travel with the team for training and was determined to get out with all possible means.
The Reds wavered because they did not meet the asking price by Fulham.
By the time the 2012-13 season began, Dempsey did not report to the team, which indicated that he was done with the club.
On the other hand, Liverpool tried to make a last ditch effort by midnight on Friday before the transfer window, but to no avail.
It seemed as if Dempsey was going to remain at Fulham.
But, at the last minute, Tottenham Hotspur reached an agreement with the Cottagers to acquire Dempsey.
The Spurs are currently in the Europa League this season after being knocked out by Chelsea, who won the UEFA Champions League final last season.
Though it wasn’t the team that Dempsey wanted, he got his wish because not only is he playing for a club that came close to play in the Champions League, but he doesn’t have to move miles away from his home in London.
Some see this drama as him being selfish because he is making millions of dollars and is playing in the best league in the world.
But to others, they see a player who wants to experience the atmosphere of playing in the Champions League.
Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, one thing is certain; Dempsey will not make the U.S. National team when they play Jamaica in the qualifier matches for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that is set to begin in a couple of weeks.
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You Can’t Always Get Your Wish
By Cheval John
Clint Dempsey always had a chip on his shoulder.
He never had an entitlement like others who play the sport of soccer had during their childhood.
He grew up in a lower-middle class family in Nacogdoches, Texas where he had to fight for everything.
He carried that attitude all the way to the English Premier League, where he displayed his talent and ability to score at will for Fulham, F.C.
During that time, he played under four head coaches and each time, he had to prove himself time and time again.
That what separated him from the others as he became the first American international to score 50 career goals in the EPL and establish himself as one of the best players in the world.
Dempsey always had a knack for knowing what he wants.
He got a taste of what it was like to play in a European club competition when Fulham played in the UEFA Europa League during the 2009-10 season.
His most memorable moment came in the second leg of the match against Juventus in Craven Cottage, when he chip in a beautiful ball from outside the penalty area into the net for the game-winning goal that knocked the Italian club out of the competition.
They made it to the final that season, but lost to Atletico Madrid.
He knew that he was not getting any younger and that he made it clear that he wanted to play for an UEFA Champions League club.
To him, it was not about the money, but the very opportunity to experience the atmosphere of playing in what is arguably, the most prestigious club competitions in Europe.
Liverpool, F.C. showed interest in acquiring Dempsey during the off season.
Dempsey didn’t travel with the team for training and was determined to get out with all possible means.
The Reds wavered because they did not meet the asking price by Fulham.
By the time the 2012-13 season began, Dempsey did not report to the team, which indicated that he was done with the club.
On the other hand, Liverpool tried to make a last ditch effort by midnight on Friday before the transfer window, but to no avail.
It seemed as if Dempsey was going to remain at Fulham.
But, at the last minute, Tottenham Hotspur reached an agreement with the Cottagers to acquire Dempsey.
The Spurs are currently in the Europa League this season after being knocked out by Chelsea, who won the UEFA Champions League final last season.
Though it wasn’t the team that Dempsey wanted, he got his wish because not only is he playing for a club that came close to play in the Champions League, but he doesn’t have to move miles away from his home in London.
Some see this drama as him being selfish because he is making millions of dollars and is playing in the best league in the world.
But to others, they see a player who wants to experience the atmosphere of playing in the Champions League.
Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, one thing is certain; Dempsey will not make the U.S. National team when they play Jamaica in the qualifier matches for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that is set to begin in a couple of weeks.
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Tags: English Premier League, liverpool f c, soccer, UEFA Champions League
About Cheval John
Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency which helps small to mid-sized businesses use social media correctly to build a loyal following and in the process become more profitable. Cheval is also the host of "What's The Word?" a podcast about finding out what inspires people to choose their respective careers and how social media impacted their lives and business. He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, "8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn." He has spoken at Social Media Week Lima in Ohio and at Social Media Day Houston 2017 about topics around live streaming and podcasting. Cheval has been featured in media outlets including Ebony Magazine, Social Media Today and Forbes. He was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer (2016 and 2017) and a Twitter Top 50 Influencer by Onalytica in 2018.