DaMarcus Beasley's international career revival reached another milestone on Wednesday, when U.S. Soccer announced that US men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann had named him the team captain for the upcoming 2013 Gold Cup.
The three-time World Cup veteran, one of the few holdovers from the squad Klinsmann used in World Cup qualifying in June, has worked his way back into the international fold in 2013, earning the 100th national team cap of his career in a May friendly against Belgium and has started four of the USA's six World Cup qualifying matches in 2013.
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“DaMarcus is a pure giver," Klinsmann said in a statement. "When we called him in back in March, he told me he would play whatever role we asked, and he has proven his point over the last several months with some tremendous performances.
"He’s a great guy to have around the locker room. He always has a smile and brings a lot of positive energy. His leadership and experience will be very valuable in this tournament, and he can help connect some of the younger players to what we have been building.”
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The 31-year-old winger, who has played frequently at left back for the USMNT in 2013, first wore the captain's armband for a World Cup qualifier at Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 15, 2008.
“I’m honored to be named captain for the Gold Cup,” Beasley said in a statement. “I’m happy to fill in the role for Clint [Dempsey] in the moment and help out any way I can. It’s always a privilege to represent your country, and to do it now as captain will be really special for me.”
