7215_isi_bradley_usmntte061015154_(1) Thomas Eisenhuth/isiphotos.com
The Armband

Michael Bradley Named U.S. Captain for Gold Cup

Jurgen Klinsmann deserves a huge compliment for stripping Clint Dempsey of the U.S. national team captaincy and handing the armband to midfielder Michael Bradley ahead of the 2015 Gold Cup.
BY John Godfrey Posted
July 02, 2015
11:10 AM

IT HAD TO HAPPEN. And yesterday it finally did.

Clint Dempsey, 32, is out as United States men's national team captain. His replacement is Michael Bradley, 26, a midfielder who wore the armband in recent U.S. victories over Mexico, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Dempsey's behavior during a recent U.S. Open Cup match, in which the Seattle Sounder slapped a referee's notebook to the ground and then tore it to pieces, apparently factored into Klinsmann's decision.

“I had a very, very good conversation with Clint about what happened during the Open Cup, but also about how we want to approach things," Klinsmann said on the U.S. Soccer Federation's public relations site. "For the time being we thought it’s the best thing to give the captaincy to Michael Bradley and let Clint focus on what he’s all about."

"Clint is about scoring goals," Klinsmann went on to say. "We need Clint Dempsey badly with the national team. We need him in a good spirit. What happened was a mistake, but it was the first red card in his career and a lot of people went at him. I think the best thing for everyone right now is to let him concentrate really on playing and doing what he does best.

"It’s his performance on the field. It’s his delivery for the U.S. national team, and he has always delivered. He’s at 40 goals for his country and I told him I want him to score many, many more."

Dempsey is one of the most talented players in the U.S. player pool, but he was always a curious choice to be captain. Like many successful strikers, he is ruthless and, at times, selfish. His job is to fill the back of the net at all costs, and he has a tremendous track record doing so.

But he has never behaved like a team-first guy.

Does Dempsey dive in the penalty area from time to time? Is he a hothead with a singleminded focus on scoring? Does he sometimes show up teammates when he gets frustrated with poor service? Yes, yes, and yes.

Bradley, on the other hand, is a glue guy. He makes everyone around him better, and his job in the center of the midfield is to link the offense and defense, to strike the appropriate balance between attacking and defending, and to play the role of field general. When you combine that job description with Bradley's incredible commitment, work rate, and field vision, he is the perfect choice to be U.S. captain.

American Soccer Now readers will no doubt approve of the move. More than 1,700 voted in the current ASN Poll, and their support for Bradley was overwhelming.

"Hopefully in this summer’s Gold Cup he becomes the top scorer in the tournament," Klinsmann added. "We need Clint in a free spirit and that’s why we decided to kind of take that captaincy and move it over to Michael for the Gold Cup and then we’ll see."

We think this a smart decision, and long overdue. How do you feel about it? Tell us in the Comments section below. 

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now. He shares his soccer thoughts via Twitter from time to time.

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