Retirement for Clint Dempsey?

U.S. and Seattle Sounder's soccer superstar Clint Dempsey is going to be out of action for an indefinite amount of time due to a "irregular heartbeat".  The now 33 year old striker has played in 17 MLS games, scoring 8 goals, and 2 assists this season.  The Sounders who just lost to rivals Portland Timbers 4-2 clearly miss the superstar forward as well as his leadership.  Last encounter against Portland, in which Dempsey played, the Sounders won 3-1 with two goals from the striker.  Meanwhile the U.S. National team had a great game against St. Vincent, winning 6-0 with a stand out performance from Bobby Wood and Christian Pulisic. 

With only 8 games left in the regular season for the Sounders, and still in the hunt for a playoff berth, no doubt that Dempsey is missed for the club.  Especially with some tough fixtures coming up against the L.A. Galaxy on the 25th of September and Western Conference leaders FC Dallas on the 16th of October the goal scorer is very much needed.  Seattle Sounders have said that Dempsey will be undergoing further medical evaluations and as the medical process unfolds and information is gathered internally, no other details are being made publicly available at this time.

The main question is if Clint will comeback.  Being 33 years old in a sport of constant running, and throw in a irregular heart beat, the real question is if he will even return to the fields or possibly retire.  Earlier in July when interviewed by Taylor Twellman, Dempsey said that he would love to retire as a Sounder, possibly hinting at a retirement this year.  No doubt that Dempsey has had a great career both for club and international team.  Most recent was his stellar performance in this summer's Copa America Centenario where he led the U.S. team with three goals and three assist in 460 minutes, also with 20 shots on goal that added up to be 64 percent of the American total.  The U.S. made it all the way to the 3rd place game where they fell to Colombia 1-0.

Here's hoping that he makes a speedy recovery, and that we see him back on the fields in now time.  I would love to see Clint retire on his own terms and not forced because of something like this.  But, if this is the end, he's had a hell of a career and has accomplished so much.  Feel better 'Big Deuce".