U.S. National Team
DaMarcus Beasley, 32, Ends U.S. National Team Run
The veteran of four World Cups announced his retirement from international duty today after 121 appearances and 17 goals. His departure creates a void at left back, and signals the end of an era.
DAMARCUS BEASLEY'S REMARKABLE international career is officially over after the 32-year-old Fort Wayne, Ind., native announced his retirement from the United States national team today in an emotional Instagram post.
While not as celebrated as Landon Donovan, Beasley is one of the most decorated American soccer players ever and his accomplishments are groundbreaking for a player in the United States. He went out on a high note, too: Beasley is currently ranked 20th in the ASN 100.
During his prime, he was known for his speed and his ability to bounce up quickly after taking a harsh tackle. But beyond those fine attributes, he will mostly be remembered as a winner.
For the national team, he is the only American player to play in four World Cups and he advanced out of the group stages three different times. He also won the Gold Cup four times—in 2002, 2005, 2007, and in 2013 when he served as the team’s captain.
His 121 caps rank him fifth in all-time appearances for the United States, and he ends his run with 17 international goals. Beasley's most famous strike came in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico in 2005. His 58th-minute tally off a beautiful assist from Claudio Reyna gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead (sound familiar?) and clinched qualification to the 2006 World Cup.
Beasley's club career will continue with the Houston Dynamo, his most recent home that include stops in the Eredivisie, the Premier League, the Scottish Premier League, the Bundesliga, and Liga MX. In 2005 Beasley became the first American to play in the semifinals of the Champions League when his PSV Eindhoven team fell to Milan on away goals. Beasley scored four goals in 12 Champions League games that year.
Beasley played several positions during his international career but in 2013 he began his conversion to left back, a position that has plagued the U.S. for more than a generation. After an admirable performance at the 2014 World Cup, Beasley’s retirement creates a void at the position for Jurgen Klinsmann.
Along with the recent retirements of Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra, Beasley’s announcement seems highly symbolic. It signals the farewell to a generation of U.S. national team players who helped move the U.S. national team away from merely being happy to be at the World Cup to one that wanted, and expected, to succeed on the game's biggest stage.
Beasley's club career will continue with the Houston Dynamo, his most recent home that include stops in the Eredivisie, the Premier League, the Scottish Premier League, the Bundesliga, and Liga MX. In 2005 Beasley became the first American to play in the semifinals of the Champions League when his PSV Eindhoven team fell to Milan on away goals. Beasley scored four goals in 12 Champions League games that year.
Beasley played several positions during his international career but in 2013 he began his conversion to left back, a position that has plagued the U.S. for more than a generation. After an admirable performance at the 2014 World Cup, Beasley’s retirement creates a void at the position for Jurgen Klinsmann.
Along with the recent retirements of Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra, Beasley’s announcement seems highly symbolic. It signals the farewell to a generation of U.S. national team players who helped move the U.S. national team away from merely being happy to be at the World Cup to one that wanted, and expected, to succeed on the game's biggest stage.
