Back from irregular heartbeat scare, Dempsey eyes more history with USMNT

Clint Dempsey returned to the national team with a hat trick after his lengthy absence because of an irregular heartbeat.

PANAMA CITY (AP) – Clint Dempsey's big, owlish eyes brightened and he smiled widely. Seven months after he was sidelined by an irregular heartbeat, he not only returned to the U.S. national team at age 34 but helped the Americans to a critical victory in World Cup qualifying with just the second hat trick of his international career.

''There's moments where you're sitting at home and you're praying and hoping things will work out,'' he said brightly in his Texan twang. ''So I'm just blessed that I can keep going. It's what I love to do, and hopefully there's some more time left.''

His career came to a sudden stop last Aug. 26 when Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders announced their star forward was being evaluated for an irregular heartbeat. After two unspecified procedures, Dempsey returned for Seattle's opener on March 4, keyed Friday night's 6-0 rout of Honduras and hopes to play a big role in Tuesday night's qualifier against Panama.

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''On big days, he's a guy that you want next to you,'' U.S captain Michael Bradley said Sunday. ''He's a guy who's going to always continue to give everything he has until somebody says he can't anymore.''

Wearing a bright red jersey, shorts and socks, a predominantly orange boot on his right foot and a lime one on his left, the bearded Dempsey scored Friday when he held off a defender and with astonishing precision controlled a chip from 18-year-old Christian Pulisic. Dempsey got his second goal when he rounded the goalkeeper following Pulisic's pass, then converted a free kick for his 55th international goal, two shy of Landon Donovan's American record.

''You know me, I'm a fighter, so I looked for the opportunity to try to get out there and show that I should be around still,'' Dempsey said.

Classic Photos of Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey

Andy Mead/Icon SMI

Clint Dempsey was drafted by the New England Revolution in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

Clint Dempsey

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Dempsey, a product of Furman University, started 23 of 24 games for the New England Revolution in his rookie campaign and found the back of the net seven times.

Clint Dempsey

Gail Oskin/MLS

Dempsey signs autographs before a game against the Columbus Crew at Gillette Stadium.

Clint Dempsey

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Los Angeles Galaxy forward Michael Umana hangs onto Clint Dempsey while battling for possession.

Clint Dempsey

Steve Grayson/MLS

Dempsey is asked "How Many Fingers Do You See?" by the team trainer after he was involved in a collision in the first-half of the 2005 MLS Cup in Frisco, Texas.

Clint Dempsey

AP

Dempsey gives his mother, Debbie, a kiss after scoring his team's opening goal in the first half against FC Dallas.

Clint Dempsey

Rich Schultz/MLS

Dempsey led the Revs to back-to-back MLS Cup appearances in 2005 and 2006, despite dropping both matches to the Houston Dynamo.

Clint Dempsey

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Dempsey dribbles the ball against Zhang Yaokun of China during an international friendly match at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. The U.S. defeated China 4-1.

Chris Young/AFP/Getty Images)

Dempsey's success with both the Revolution and the U.S. Men's National Team paved the way for an opportunity with Fulham FC in the English Premier League.

Clint Dempsey

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Dempsey scored once in 10 appearances for the Cottagers in his first season.

Clint Dempsey

Phil Cole/Getty Images

Dempsey celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a league match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage.

Clint Dempsey

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Dempsey battles with Andy Dawson of Hull City.

Clint Dempsey

AFP/Getty Images

Dempsey soon became a household name at Craven Cottage, as he celebrates a goal vs. Liverpool in front of the Fulham faithful.

Clint Dempsey

Wade Jackson/YCJ/Icon SMI

Dempsey began to assume a more vital role with the U.S. Men's National Team in 2009. He fights for a ball with Akile Edwards as the U.S. defeated Trinidad and Tobago, 3-0, in Nashville in a 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.

Clint Dempsey

Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images

Dempsey beats goalkeeper Iker Casillas to give the United States a 2-0 lead over Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Clint Dempsey

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Having snuck behind an unaware Sergio Ramos at the six-yard-box, Dempsey slid home the insurance tally.

Clint Dempsey

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The result would ultimately hold, catapulting the U.S. to one of their biggest victories in history and setting up a date with Brazil in the Confederations Cup final.

Clint Dempsey

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Dempsey is mobbed by teammates after striking again just four days later to give the United States an early 1-0 lead over Brazil.

Clint Dempsey

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Dempsey celebrates Fulham's opening goal in a league game vs. West Ham United.

Clint Dempsey

Phil Cole/Getty Images

Dempsey secured his Fulham legacy after an iconic volley helped to lift Fulham past Juventus in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

Clint Dempsey

Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Dempsey celebrates his goal during a World Cup warm-up match against Turkey in Philadelphia.

Clint Dempsey

Simon Bruty/SI

Dempsey, shown here in a photo shoot with SI, became one of then-United States head coach Bob Bradley's go-to players ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Clint Dempsey

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Dempsey battles with English captain Steven Gerrard as the United States pulled out a 1-1 draw with England in a group stage match at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Clint Dempsey

Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics/Icon SMI

Dempsey fends off England defender Glen Johnson.

Clint Dempsey

Back Page Images/Icon SMI; AFP/Getty Images (inset)

A now-infamous gaffe by English goalkeeper Robert Green allowed a left-footed shot by Dempsey to trickle past him for the equalizer.

Clint Dempsey

AFP/Getty Images

Dempsey fires a free kick against Algeria in the United States' final match of group play.

Clint Dempsey

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Needing a win over Algeria to advance to the knockout stages, a go-ahead goal seemed elusive.

Clint Dempsey

Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon SMI

Dempsey had his shot rejected by goalkeeper Rais Bolhi in stoppage time before teammate Landon Donovan cleaned up the rebound and sent the United States to a 1-0 win over Algeria and the top of Group C.

Clint Dempsey

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Dempsey and Ghana's Hans Sarpei challenge for a loose ball in the Round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup.

Clint Dempsey

AFP/Getty Images

Dempsey during a 2010 World Cup match against Ghana in which the U.S. was sent home after Asamoah Gyan scored three minutes into the first period of extra time as Ghana held on to win 2-1.

Clint Dempsey

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Dempsey surpassed the double-digit scoring mark for the first time in his career, netting 12 times for Fulham in the Premier League in the 2010-2011 EPL season.

Clint Dempsey

J. Meric/Getty Images

Dempsey frustrated with the referee during a Gold Cup vs. Panama match at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Clint Dempsey

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Dempsey celebrates with Landon Donovan after Dempsey's goal helped lift the U.S. past Canada, 2-0, in the 2011 Gold Cup at Ford Field in Detroit.

Clint Dempsey

Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Dempsey battles with Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini.

Clint Dempsey

Mark Goldman/Icon SMI

Dempsey takes the field prior to the United States' match against Brazil at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C. Brazil defeated the U.S., 4-1.

Clint Dempsey

Tony Quinn/Icon SMI

Dempsey appears on the video screen prior to the United States' match vs. Brazil.

Clint Dempsey

Tony Quinn/Icon SMI

Dempsey clashes with Jonathan Lopez (23) as the ball finds its way past goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez for the United States' second goal of a 3-1 win over Guatemala at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City.

Clint Dempsey

Scott Bales/YCJ/Icon SMI

Dempsey celebrates his goal with Jose Francisco Torres as the United States defeated Antigua and Barbuda, 3-1, in a COCACAF semifinal round World Cup Qualifier.

Clint Dempsey

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Dempsey finished the 2011-2012 EPL campaign with 17 league goals -- and 23 across all competitions -- to finish 4th in the Premier League goals race.

Clint Dempsey

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Dempsey's success with Fulham drew the attention of fellow London side Tottenham, where Dempsey signed in 2012.

Clint Dempsey

Marc Piscotty/Icon SMI

Dempsey & Co. defeated Costa Rica in a World Cup Qualifier, 1-0, during a blizzard at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

Clint Dempsey

Mark Goldman/Icon SMI

Dempsey celebrates his goal against Germany at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., where the United States won 4-3, in an international friendly.

Ted S. Warren/AP

Seattle Sounders fans hold up signs welcoming Clint Dempsey ahead of his debut with the club after his landmark return to MLS.

Clint Dempsey

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

With long-time captain Carlos Bocanegra currently out of the mix for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the United States boss recently appointed the captain's armband to Dempsey, who led the U.S. to a 2-1 road victory over Jamaica in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier.

Carl De Souza/Getty Images

Clint Dempsey scores in the opening minute of the USA's 2014 World Cup opener against Ghana.

He has a chance to join Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose as the only players to score in four World Cups.

''You've got to stay relevant,'' Dempsey explained. ''And you can't just say it, and that's going to happen. I have to be on the field and do it.''

Dempsey scored against Ghana at the 2006 and 2014 World Cups–the latter just 30 seconds into the match–and versus England at the 2010 tournament. Also a big-game player at the club level, his chip from the edge of the penalty area lifted Fulham over Juventus and into the 2010 Europa League quarterfinals.

A wide midfielder with pace during the first half of his career, he's played as a central striker in recent years or sometimes as a withdrawn forward on the national team behind Jozy Altidore. Twenty-four of Dempsey's international goals have been scored since he turned 30–just six of those in friendlies.

''He's a beast,'' American midfielder Alejandro Bedoya said.

Dempsey's fire has gotten him into trouble. He was dropped by U.S. coach Bruce Arena from the roster for a March 2006 exhibition at Germany following a fight during club training with New England Revolution captain Joe Franchino. Appointed American captain by coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2013, Dempsey was stripped of the armband two years later after ripping up a referee's notebook during a U.S. Open Cup match.

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Bradley puts Dempsey among the guys ''who are willing to spill everything they have into something, come in every day ready to push and do everything they can to make the group better, guys who when the lights come on, aren't afraid, who compete, who go for it.''

There remains some mystery about Dempsey's illness. He has not spoken in detail, but Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey said in mid-September that Dempsey had undergone a procedure and was cleared to resume training. About a month later, Lagerwey announced Dempsey was out for the rest of the season, and Ryan Dempsey tweeted his brother was undergoing a second procedure–and asked for prayers.

After resuming training with the Sounders, Dempsey said last month his symptoms first became apparent in February 2016 and worsened after the Copa America in June. He said he is not experiencing those issues any longer.

''There's always the possibility that you're not going to be able to come back and be at that high level,'' Dempsey said. ''You have try to work hard to make sure everything is right. It was a tough process going through that and not really knowing. But I thought the doctors did a great job.''

Dempsey went the distance in Seattle's first three matches and returned to the national team after a nine-month absence.

''Watching Clint from game 1 to game 2 to game 3 in Seattle, it was impressive the way he kept improving, and checking with his fitness coaches there, we knew he could play,'' said Arena, who replaced Klinsmann in November after the Americans opened the final round of qualifying with losses to Mexico and Costa Rica.

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Arena initially envisioned Dempsey as a substitute, but then Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris got hurt.

''We didn't have anyone else. It made it easy for me,'' the coach said.

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard noticed a subtle change in Dempsey during training camp last week, and not just a lengthy stretching routine.

''Clint's always been very steady, didn't speak a lot. He keeps to himself,'' Howard said. ''I think his situation with heart probably leads to a lot of reflection about life in general and not just football. I have no doubt it's more important now.''

Dempsey freely admits that.

''You're just grateful for every day, grateful every game that you get to play in,'' he said, ''because you never know what's going to be taken from you.''