Despite recent reports of discord, Clint Dempsey says he wants to retire a Seattle Sounder.
The 33-year-old US international told ESPN’s Taylor Twellman ahead of Thursday’s AT&T All-Star Game in San Jose that he wants to finish his career in Seattle, who he signed with in 2013.
Dempsey and the Sounders have had an uncharacteristically difficult 2016. The club sold Designated Player striker Obafemi Martins to the Chinese Super League in February and haven’t been able to replace him, struggling to score goals – their 20 tallies are the third-fewest in the league – and currently sitting in ninth in the West with a 6-12-2 record.
The struggles came to a head on Tuesday, when the Sounders and former head coach Sigi Schmid, who had led Seattle since they joined MLS in 2009, mutually agreed to part ways.
“It was tough when we lost Oba [and lost] that attacking threat, that chemistry that me and him had,” Dempsey said. “Then you don’t replace it like for like, they didn’t go out and get another DP to bring in in his place and we tried to make do with what was there, [but it’s been] lacking in the attacking third I feel like, with me included, not being able to create enough goals.”
Dempsey reacted to Schmid’s firing in a separate interview with ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle, saying he wishes his former coach the best in the future and declining to give an opinion on his dismissal.
“I got a text earlier today about it,” Dempsey said. “He did well in his career, his record speaks for himself and what he was able to accomplish in MLS. He won some MLS Cups and he was able to also do well at the collegiate level and I wish him the best.”
“That’s not for me to decide,” he said when asked whether or not he thought Schmid should’ve been dismissed. “I just go in and try to help the team win. Whatever they feel is best moving forward you support that and try to turn things around.”
Dempsey and Seattle did get a couple of new attacking reinforcements this week, with the club announcing the signing of Uruguay international creative attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro from Boca Juniors on Wednesday before bringing back fellow Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez on Thursday.
They’ll have their first opportunity to line up for the 2016 Sounders on Sunday, when Seattle host the LA Galaxy at CenturyLink Field (4 pm ET; ESPN in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada).
