Photo by ISIphotos.com
After turning in a dynamic year for the U.S. men's national team, Clint Dempsey being named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year should come as a surprise to nobody.
Dempsey turned in perhaps his finest year as a professional for both club and country. His three goals at the CONCACAF Gold Cup led all Americans, and he is the only multi-goal scorer of the Jurgen Klinsmann era to date, tallying in friendlies against Honduras and Slovenia.
For Dempsey, it's the second time he has won the award and the first time since 2007. Landon Donovan had won the award the past two years, while Tim Howard took home the honors in 2008.
In addition to Dempsey's honor, Women's World Cup star and veteran forward Abby Wambach was named Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year and a record-tying fifth time overall; Brek Shea took home Young Male Athlete of the Year; and Sydney Leroux won Young Female Athlete of the Year honors.
Voting consisted of 50 percent online fan voting and 50 percent voting from U.S. Soccer coaches, representatives and members of the Board of Directors along with members of the national media.
What did you think of Dempsey's year? Think all of the awards went to deserving players? Who do you see capturing the awards in 2012?
Share your thoughts below.
Why did Wambach win? She’s not sexually attractive.
Clint, Clint, Clint! Did he bag another hat trick today – yes he did!
All four are right on. Congrats to all.
Well deserved; playing the best soccer of his career I would say…
Can’t argue with that. Well done, Deuce.
Oh yeah, and who all should have been nominated?
After he choked on a wide open net during the Gold Cup, and numerous other shots, Clint Clumsey shouldn’t have been nominated.
Raise hell, Dempsey.
I’d like to see the votes of this. Has Cherundolo ever come close to placing in the top 3?
LEGEND status. how come this dude isn’t playing for a CL team?
40 league goals in 5 years in the PL. Has to have at least a dozen assists. Arguably one of the best players not playing for the top4-6 teams in the PL. Veteran of 2 World Cups.
I’m not saying he should leave Fulham, but wondering why a big team or CL team hasn’t made a move for him over the past year or 2?
He scores with his left
He scores with his right
That boy Clint Dempsey
Makes Drogba look shite
You can’t see me.
Well deserved on all accounts.