Clint Dempsey had already played in a World Cup by the time Bob Bradley took over as coach of the U.S. national team, so there was no doubt about his ability. What was harder to see was Dempsey’s fierce competitiveness.
When the conversation ended, Dempsey went out and scored goals in three consecutive games, leading the U.S. past top-ranked Spain en route to its only Confederations Cup final.
“This part of Clint as a competitor, and as a guy who wanted to win, that’s the part I’ll always remember,” said Bradley, now coach of the Los Angeles Football Club.