Clint Dempsey will not captain the United States National Team in this month’s Gold Cup, USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced. Klinsmann said the captaincy will go to midfielder Michael Bradley.

On U.S. Soccer’s official website, Klinsmann participated in a Q&A, and he was asked how a talk with Dempsey went after arriving at camp.

Dempsey found himself in a bit of trouble last month for his actions during a Seattle Sounders US Open Cup match on June 16. Dempsey, upset with a decision made by the referee, slapped the official’s notebook to the turf before picking it up and tearing it apart.

Dempsey was suspended three games by Major League Soccer, a ban which he has served, and he also received a suspension from the US Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel, who announced last week he had been handed a six-match ban or a two-year ban, whichever is greater.

Bradley, 27, will lead the US into Tuesday’s opener against Honduras. 

Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey is no longer the captain of the national team. (USATSI)