DaMarcus Beasley, 1 of the Best Players in USMNT History, Retires From International Play

DaMarcus Beasley quietly retired this afternoon from the U.S. men's national team in his typical understated fashion: he let fans know about it by posting a very heartfelt message on his Instagram page. He was the first American to play in four World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) and I think the most impressive part of his 121 CAPs (5th all-time) including 11 in the World Cup (2nd all-time) is that he successfully reinvented himself from an outside midfielder to a fullback in his last few years which is almost unheard of (at least going smoothly).

At age 32, Beasley kept himself in great shape since he started in all four World Cup matches for the U.S. last summer in Brazil. During his 14-year career (he debuted in 2001), he won four Gold Cup titles (2002, 2005, 2007, 2013). Since they are from the same generation and ironically are retiring at the same time, it's hard not to compare him a little bit with Landon Donovan. While the latter always got the lion's share of the attention for his goal-scoring and flashy moves, you could argue that Beasley was more consistent throughout his national team duties. What's more, he outlasted Donovan on the U.S. which has to mean something.

Finally, while Donovan mostly failed in his first few business trips to Europe, Beasley became one of the best American exports we've ever seen. He was the first American to score goals for two different clubs in the Champions League (Rangers, PSV Eindhoven) and he holds the USMNT record for Champions League appearances (22). He won two Dutch League championships at PSV and two Scottish titles at Rangers. The guy is a winner and that all-important trait seemed to follow him wherever he went.

He had two stints in MLS: with Chicago and Houston. Beasley is pretty tiny and he was never super skilled but he still put up decent goal (17) and assist (13) totals for the U.S. More importantly, he was extremely low-key and never brought the drama or unnecessary attention upon himself (ahem Landon). He is going to remain with the Dynamo but it will be weird not to see him in a U.S. uniform anymore. Just writing this and thinking about his career made me realize that Beasley was one of my all-time favorite U.S. players. What's not to like about him?

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Where will Jozy Altidore end up?

Following up the good news about Cherundolo, we catch up with one of the U.S.' biggest disappointments from the 2010 World Cup: Jozy Altidore.

We all know that Jozy didn't not have one capable partner up front so it's not all his fault that he scored a grand total of zero goals but considering the chance against England that hit the post and the countless other opportunities, that wasn't good enough.

Looking ahead, Altdiore appears likely to transfer from Villarreal after his stint with Hull in the EPL last season.

Ajax, Besiktas and Fenerbahce have shown interest in acquiring him in addition to Premier League clubs, and a loan and permanent transfer both are possibilities for the 20-year-old American forward.

Like all the U.S. national team players, our hope for Altidore is that 1) wherever he goes he plays and 2) he plays against the highest caliber of opponents that he possibly can. Altidore has the potential to be one of the greatest players and top goal-scorers in U.S. history if he properly develops.

He is due to start preseason training with Villarreal on Aug. 3.

"A lot of the top clubs around Europe have been in touch, and we're just looking at what's the best for Jozy's career at this point," his agent, Lyle Yorks, said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "It's important to find a home for himself where he's going to get games, continue to develop and really show his abilities."

The European transfer window remains open through Aug. 31, but the Premier League opens Aug. 14 and La Liga on Aug. 28.

'We're not trying to rush into anything at this point," Yorks said. "There are advantages to getting it done early because you obviously have a longer preseason to get into the team, but it's important to get the right fit."

Yorks said he had had discussions with two Premier League clubs he wouldn't identify. Fulham also has held discussions about Altidore, pending a decision on hiring a manager to replace Roy Hodgson, who left the Cottagers to become Liverpool's manager.

Altidore was acquired by Villarreal from Major League Soccer and the New York Red Bulls in June 2008 for about $10 million. He became the first American to score in La Liga but played just six matches before he was loaned to second-division Xerez at midseason. He didn't get into another game that season, then was loaned to Hull for 2009-10.

"If it's a full transfer, then the transfer would have to be agreeable with Villarreal," Yorks said. "They spent quite a bit to get him. If it's a loan, then the pressure's off a little bit."

Yorks appears to be the Scott Boras or Ari Gold of American soccer players as he also updated the contract situations of Clint Dempsey, Oguchi Onyewu, DaMarcus Beasley, Benny Feilhaber and Clarence Goodson.

Clint Dempsey, another client, reported back to Fulham following the World Cup, where he scored the U.S. goal in the 1-1 tie against England. Fulham said last August it had extended Dempsey's contract through the 2012-13 season but the 27-year-old may have options to consider.

Yorks said since the World Cup there had been inquiries about Dempsey from fairly large clubs in Italy, Germany and France, and from another Premier League team. The interest levels varied.

"He's prepared to start the season with Fulham, and if there's a right scenario that presents itself where it made sense for the club and for Clint, then he would certainly entertain that," Yorks said.

Defender Oguchi Onyewu intends to remain with AC Milan, a team he joined last summer. Onyewu was limited to one competitive game for the club last season because of a knee injury and in May extended his contract for a season until June 2013 at no extra cost.

"At this point, he's definitely set on staying there," Yorks said. "Various clubs have called regarding a loan situation, but because he missed last season, he's obviously keen to start the situation in Milan."

Yorks and his agent group also are trying to find a new club for midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who left Glasgow Rangers. Yorks said he's exploring the possibility of new deals for midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who is with Denmark's Aarhus, and defender Clarence Goodson, who plays for Norway's IK Start.

Beasley leaving Rangers, JUST LIKE WE SAID

Question: How good does it feel to be right about something? Answer: excellent.

Just as Shimer and I predicted, DaMarcus Beasley is done with Rangers. I'd like to say it was great reporting on our part but just reading the short story from the Associated Press and strange quote from Beasley, it was clear that he was leaving.

Of course, this leads you to ask where will Beasley head next? Sorry but that's a question for another day. For now, we just care about the 2010 World Cup and getting Beasley on that roster.

The 27-year-old from Fort Wayne, Ind., joined Rangers for the 2007-08 season. He left Major League's Chicago Fire to sign with PSV Eindhoven for 2004-05, then spent 2006-07 on loan to Manchester City before signing with Rangers.

"Yes, I'm leaving, for everyone that asked," Beasley wrote on Twitter on Sunday. "Will never forget my time at Rangers."

He had two goals in nine league appearances this season and two goals in 14 games overall, scoring in December against Dundee United and Motherwell.

Beasley, who hopes to be invited to U.S. training camp ahead of the World Cup, wrote Monday he was heading to Miami.

I'm gonna venture a guess that he won't be training the whole time he's in Miami. Something about models all over the place and great weather leads me to believe that he's getting some partying in before he's in lockdown mode at Princeton. Have fun DaMarcus, see ya next week bud.

I'm calling BS on Beasley

As Rich wrote in his latest post just minutes ago, everything is just peachy in Glasgow for U.S. DaMarcus Beasley these days...

Yea all that except for the fact that like Rich rightly noted he only started nine games in all competitions for Rangers — Scottish Premier League, Champions League, Scottish Cup, and Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.Not to mention the little incident that happened back in February when his car was set on fire and he tweeted "someone blew up my car, glad that no one got hurt."

Did I further mention its not the first time his car has been broken into/vandalized while playing for Rangers, he was one of four Rangers players whose cars were broken into in December of 2008.

And lastly like Rich also mentioned he is out of contract and is willing to make less money to stay, but the club has not even made contact with him about negotiating an extension or new deal. As Beasley essentially said the writing is on the wall. Rangers won the Scottish Premier League by a comfortable eight points over bitter Glasgow rival Celtic, but Beasley really was not in the picture scoring just two goals and four assists on the season.

So according to Beasley, the ideal perfect location is a club whose fans blow up your car or break into it on a regular, a place where you get little to no playing time, and a place where management thinks you aren't worth their time to even make a phone call to let you know one way or another if they want you back for another year. Come on DaMarcus, don't piss on my leg and telling me it's raining too, everything you just said is utter horse shit - except for the fact you still want to play in Europe.

To be perfectly honest, Rangers is a great spot for Beasley or any other potential American international. They always compete in Europe whether it is the Champions League or Europa League, and therefore those players get great European experience.

And the players that will make up the U.S. roster this 2010 World Cup and for the foreseeable World Cups down the road will be based out of European teams.

If Beasley can't play for Rangers, he probably can't play in the English Premier League or any other legitimate league in Europe. If he can't play for Rangers or Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, he might as well not play in that league because simply the rest of those teams are like MLS teams, they aren't quality enough competition. And if he can't play in Europe he can't play for the U.S. he knows it and that's why he wants to stay despite getting treated like dog shit his last and final year.

Beasley is no dummy, he knows how this process works.

Will you play for a kilt and a plate of haggis?

Showing all the signs of a man that knows he's about to be relegated to the MLS or another subpar league, Rangers and US (fingers crossed) midfielder DaMarcus Beasley said today that he'd be willing to take a pay cut to stay in Glasgow, that miserable industrial city in Scotland.

He is one of six players that have contracts running out this summer. Apparently Beasley hasn't heard from the club officials yet which is always a good sign.

The 27-year-old Beasley says "you can put two and two together and make your own conclusions, but never say never."

Beasley told yanksabroad.com that his life is "perfect" in Glasgow.

Beasley started just six of Rangers' 37 league matches this season. The club hosts Motherwell on Sunday in its last match.

He joined Rangers in 2007 from PSV Eindhoven. His career has been stuck in neutral (and that's being nice) since he burst on the international scene with the 2002 US national team. Here's hoping that he can find his game in Princeton at the US training camp and that'll carry over to South Africa.

At his best, Beasley is still one of our most talented players. For the US, guys with his speed and technical ability don't come around too often.

The U.S. injury report-mostly good news edition

Since there was so much stuff in the last few days about injured U.S. players, I figured I'd group it all in together.

The good news: Clint Dempsey is expected to be back playing for Fulham before the end of the Premier League season.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=743151&sec=americansabroad&cc=5901

Maurice Edu returned to action with Rangers and played all 90 minutes in their 1-0 win over St. Mirren today. Club and U.S. teammate DaMarcus Beasley played against Hibernian on Sunday but he was left off Wednesday's squad.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/wires/02/17/2050.ap.soc.rangers.edu.0195/index.html

The bad news: my boy Benny Feilhaber will be out indefinitely with that ankle injury I mentioned on Monday. His Danish team AGF Aarhus said the injury he sustained was worse than they originally thought.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/wires/02/16/2050.ap.soc.aarhus.feilhaber.1st.ld.writethru.0475/index.html