TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey has been named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year after a heart condition put his career in jeopardy.
Dempsey was the choice after scoring 12 goals in the regular season and leading Seattle to a second-place finish in the MLS Western Conference in the regular season. The Sounders will face Houston in the Western Conference finals beginning next week.
Federico Higuain of Columbus and Erick Torres of Houston were the other finalists.
Dempsey’s career was sidetracked a year ago by an irregular heartbeat that forced him to the sideline during Seattle’s run to its first MLS Cup title.