By RYAN TOLMICH
After 121 appearances and four World Cup appearances, DaMarcus Beasley is ready to close the curtains on his international career.
The U.S. Men’s National Team left back took to Instagram Monday to announce his retirement from the international game. Beasley finishes his international career fifth all-time in appearances for the USMNT, while his 17 goals are the ninth-most in team history.
“Honestly, I never thought this day would come, representing my country has been the greatest thing I’ve done in my career,” Beasley wrote in his Instagram post. “Every time I’ve pulled on OUR colors I tried to represent myself, my family and my country with the utmost respect. With that being said, I have officially retired from the U.S. Nat’l team. I’ve been blessed to be a part of the USSF family for 17 yrs.
“To all my coaches and teammates, I just want to say thank you, thank you for making me the player I am and the man I will be in the future. I will never forget all the games, friendships, memories we all shared. One thing I hope you all will say about me is that I was a good teammate and always left everything on the field when I played. And lastly I want to thank ALL the fans that have supported me and the U.S. Team, without you guys we wouldn’t be where we are today! Thank you all!” (sic)
Beasley, along with Landon Donovan, Oguchi Onyewu and Kyle Beckerman, was a part of the famous U.S. U-17 class of 1999 that featured at U.S. Soccer’s residency program in Bradenton, Florida and finished fourth at the 1999 U-17 World Cup.
A veteran of every World Cup between 2002 to 2014, Beasley retires as the only American to play at four separate World Cup tournaments.
Beasley, who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo, recently conceded his place in the USMNT starting lineup to Club Tijuana’s Greg Garza. The 23-year-old defender has put in strong performances this past fall and could be the future long-time left back of the USMNT, while Fabian Johnson, Alfredo Morales, and Timmy Chandler are all able to play that position as well.
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What do you think of this news? Surprised he’s decided to retire from international soccer? What’s your favorite memory of Beasley with the U.S.?
Share your thoughts below.
Put his stamp on the game against Portugal in WC2002 and never looked back. Doesn’t know the word quit. Pure class. We will miss you!
Love Bease so much. One of the greatest players this country has ever produced, no doubt about it. No US player who developed over here has ever come close to what he’s done in the Champions League. Already sad that he won’t be wearing the red, white, and blue again.
I still remember getting up at 4 AM to watch the US v Portugal opener and Beas giving Luis Figo and all the Portugese wingers fits with his darting runs. I’ve been a huge fan ever since. Congrats on fantastic career. Big shoes for the upcoming generation to fill. Thanks DMB for your service. You will be missed!
huge part of the generation of US players who took us out of irrelevance and made it regular to beat arch rival Mexico and change the landscape here in CONCACAF, make it the way it is today
saw him play live in the uniform numjerous times over the years, loved cheering for him
thank you DeMarcus, cheers!
Wonder if it was really his idea or if he was told he wouldnt be getting called anymore?
Mille addii, Jitterbug!
In M.O.P. voice: “SALUTE!!!!”
What an incredible career!
I hope he continues to serve US Soccer in some capacity.
Thanks for all the memories DMB. You will be sorely missed.
the one two punch of donovan and beasley will be sorely missed!
man they made such an impact when they started with the National Team both fast both exciting both clutch when we needed them.
thanks for the memories.
the next generation will have huge shoes to fill.
Thanks to one of the Nats greats. Took his talents as far as he could, challenged himself overseas.
Sadly, that was our Golden Generation
Thank you for your service DaMarcus!
US Legend; all over the world and all over the pitch.
top 10 in caps, goals and assists (soccer (LD)-triple crown)
Although I was not a teammate, I can say, from a fan’s perspective, is that he was a good teammate and always left everything on the field when he played.
Respect to Beasley. The man had a great career.
Thank you, Mr. Beasley.
Really great that he was able to change the narrative on his USMNT career. Would have been a shame if he was remembered for the run he had up and during the Confederations Cup when he was out of form and still battling injuries. He was able to get back in the picture and leave the team on his terms with fan support…
I remember sitting in a bar in 2002 during the WC and mentioning to a friend how exciting it is that two of our best players are only 20 years old. What a long trip it’s been since that point. Both guys are true USMNT legends. thanks Bease
US Legend is right! Sad to see him go, but I’m glad he made the call on his own terms. Young US players have big shoes to fill! Thanks, DaMarcus!
Oh man. I’m extremely grateful to DMB for how honorably he represented the sport and our country. Truly admirable career.
Truly the Beas Knees.
Its been a pleasure to root for Beaz ever since his days at the Fire.
He’s had a great career.
Thank you Beasley!!
Dude has played EVERYWHERE. Germany, England, Holland, France, Scotland, Mexico, MLS. What am I forgetting?
England–for Manchester City
I think he covered England when he said “England”.
Hahah, no doubt.
Actually, the list was so long I forgot he mentioned it by the time I reached the end.
Congrats Demarcus on a great international career!!!
One of the symptoms that tell me that US soccer fans are still ignorant in our youth is that we still underestimate players like Beasley. We still don’t know what seminal players look like.
If DMB had a dollar for everyone who wrote off his international career (myself included after the 2009 Confederations Cup) he would have a nice chunk of change by now. His perseverance and ability to reinvent himself should be admired by all.
I was right there with you after the tournament – but he came back with a vengeance and finished strong.
Thanks for the memories Run DMB
Beasley was one of the major reasons that the US team has been so successful over the past four cycles. He always showed up to play. Fantastic player. US LEGEND.
Thanks for all those years Beasley!
Congratz on a great career Run DMB! You will be missed.
I still remember a year or 2 period where you were looking like the best American player out there, capped by that great goal in the Dos a Cero in Columbus to qualify for the ’06 WC.
+1
I flew from Cali to see that game… That play and that goal off the set piece was amazing…
Complete respect Beaz…
Always one of my favorite players. So cool that he could reinvent himself as a defender and play in yet another World Cup.
Always prepared.
Always willing to play anywhere.
Always willing to start or come off the bench.
Always had a great attitude.
Always a great teammate.
Not surprising, that lead to this remarkable stat: the only American to play at four separate World Cup tournaments.
Well earned. Sad day.
Got nothing but love for DMB!!!
Thanks a lot for everything, Playah!!!
That one hit me in the feels
How about Dempsey does too 🙂 all I’m saying is that we need new blood.
^Yeah, because we have so many dudes ready to step into that spot… 🙂
What’s the point of new blood if they’re not better than what we got?
Sad Day. I knew it was coming soon but still sad. Beasley has been a true professional on and off the field. He will be missed.
+1 One of the best, did everything that was asked of him very well. And still the only American to really make a difference in the Champions League.
Top 10 all-time US goals list too…..!!…….