By IVES GALARCEP
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named veteran DaMarcus Beasley as the U.S. captain for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Beasley, who recently surpassed 100 caps, heads into the Gold Cup after a strong run in the June World Cup qualifiers, and he will now be counted on to lead a team with a mix of veterans and national team newcomers.
“DaMarcus is a pure giver,” Klinsmann said. “When we called him in back in March he told me he would play whatever role we asked, and he has proven his point over the last several months with some tremendous performances.
“He’s a great guy to have around the locker room,” Klinsmann added. “He always has a smile and brings a lot of positive energy. His leadership and experience will be very valuable in this tournament, and he can help connect some of the younger players to what we have been building.”
A veteran of four previous Gold Cups (2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007), and a starter in the 2005 and 2007 Gold Cup finals (both won by the U.S.) Beasley brings a wealth of experience in the competition, and he enters having played excellently at left back for the U.S. in World Cup qualifying wins vs. Jamaica and Panama in June, as well as in March qualifiers vs. Costa Rica and Mexico.
The selection might come as a surprise to some given the presence of Landon Donovan on the roster, but it makes plenty of sense to make Beasley the captain considering he was actually on the team for most of the U.S. team’s matches this year.
What do you think of the selection of Beasley as Gold Cup captain? Surprised? Impressed? See Beasley having a big tournament? Think he can win his fourth Gold Cup title as a player?
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