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Clint Dempsey has been named US Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year.

In doing so, the attacking midfielder/striker has become only the third player to take the title three times alongside ex-Spur Kasey Keller and LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan, the only player to win it on four occasions.

He's also only the second player (with Donovan) to win the award back-to-back, having won in 2011.

Clint led the goalscoring for the USA in 2012 with six goals, including five goals in round three of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup Finals. The fourth and final round - a round-robin group of six teams - begins in February.

His sixth goal on the international calendar clinched a memorable friendly victory against Italy in Genoa in February and with 30 in total, he is tied with Brian McBride on the all-time USA goalscoring list. Eric Wynalda is next on 34 with Donovan on 49.

Clint joined us from Fulham on transfer deadline day and has two goals for us so far, including the winner in the 3-2 win at Old Trafford in September.

The US Soccer Athlete of the Year award is the highest honour awarded to soccer players in the United States. Online votes registered on US Soccer’s Facebook Page counted for 50 per cent of the total votes, while the other 50 per cent was represented by votes compiled from members of the national media and US Soccer representatives, including National Team coaches and members of the US Soccer Board of Directors.