Texans Abroad: August 24, 2012

Texans Abroad is our recurring series that aims to track some of the best Texas born footballers as they progress through their career with their club and the US Men’s National Team.


Clint Dempsey – Nacogdoches, Texas
Club: Fulham (England – Premiership)
Position: Forward/Midfield
Born: March 9, 1983
Number: 23
Height: 6’1’’
Weight: 170
Age: 29
Recent News:  One of the biggest storylines of the Premier League offseason was the saga of Clint Dempsey as the Texan sought a trade to leave Fulham FC in hopes of joining a Champions League contender. As the start of the season neared Dempsey became more vocal about his desire not to play for Fulham, and as a result didn't train with the first team at all through preseason and was recently fined for missing the Cottagers' season opener against Norwich City. Despite Deuce's absence, Fulham won their opener 5-0 over Norwich City, and will visit Manchester United at Old Trafford Stadium this Saturday. Meanwhile, the 2012 summer transfer window closes at the end of the month, meaning if Dempsey isn't moved soon, he'll be stuck at Fulham for the remainder of the season.

Conor Doyle – McKinney, Texas
Club: Derby County (England – Championship)
Position: Forward
Born: October 13, 1991
Number: 14
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 189
Age: 20
Recent News:  Conor Doyle appears to still be waiting in the wings for Derby County, as the young Texan was an unused substitute in the Rams' first two matches of their 2012/13 npower Championship campaign. Derby County started the season with a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend before dropping a 2-0 result at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday. Doyle's next opportunity for action will be against Wolverhampton this Saturday.

Greg Garza – Grapevine, Texas
Club: Club Tijuana (Mexico – Primera Division)
Position: Defender
Born: August 16, 1991
Number: 24
Height: 5’8’’
Weight: 155
Age: 21
Recent News:  Greg Garza's Club Tijuana is five games into the Apertura 2012, with Garza making his only appearance of the campaign as a second half substitute in the club's season-opening 2-0 win over Puebla. Since then, Tijuana lost to Club Leon 4-0, beat Pumas 1-0, tied Pachuca 2-2 and beat Tigres 2-1. Garza started and played the full 90 in the Xolos'  2-1 Copa MX win over Celaya on Tuesday. The team sits in third place in the table behind Toluca and Leon, and will visit Club America this Saturday.

Jared Jeffrey – Dallas, Texas
Club: Mainz 05 U-23 (Germany – Bundesliga)
Position: Midfielder
Born: June 14, 1990
Number: 3
Height: 5’10’’
Weight: 150
Age: 22
Recent News: With the 2012-13 Bundesliga season set to kick off this weekend, midfielder Jared Jeffrey should continue to see regular action with Mainz 05's U-23 squad.

Jose Francisco Torres – Longview, Texas
Club: Pachuca (Mexico – Primera Division)
Position: Midfielder
Born: October 19, 1987
Number: 18
Height: 5’7’’
Weight: 135
Age: 24
Recent News:  Through the first five games of the 2012 Apertura, Jose Francisco Torres hasn't played a full 90 minutes for Pachuca yet. Torres has started three matches though, for a total of 191 minutes. He was subbed off in the 78th minute of the season-opening scoreless draw against Atlante, recieved a second yellow card in the 68th minute of a 3-0 loss to Atlas, and played the first 45 minutes of a 2-2 draw with Club Tijuana. With a record of 1-2-2 Pachuca sits 14th in the table with a match against Santos Laguna looming this Saturday.

Marco Vidal – Dallas, Texas
Club: Lobos BUAP (Mexico – Liga De Ascenso)
Position: Midfielder
Born: February 21, 1986
Number: 12
Height: 5’7’’
Weight: 150
Age: 26
Recent News: After seemingly falling out of favor at Club Leon last season, Marco Vidal didn't make the jump to the Primera Division with the club and remained in the Liga De Ascenso now with Lobos BUAP. Vidal has featured regularly with his new club, making four appearances and three starts through Lobos' first five matches. On Tuesday Vidal also played the full 90 in his team's 2-0 Copa MX loss to Puebla. With a league record of 1-3-2, Lobos is currently seventh in the Ascenso table with a match against Veracruz coming up this Friday.

Zak Whitbread – Houston, Texas
Club: Leicester City (England – Championship)
Position: Defender
Born: January 10, 1984
Number: 37
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 165
Age: 28
Recent News: After being released from Norwich City at the end of last season, defender Zak Whitbread signed a two-year contract with Championship side Leicester City over the summer. However, Whitbread hasn't made an appearance yet for the Foxes, who opened the season with a 2-0 home win over Peterborough before dropping a 2-1 result at Charlton on Tuesday. Whitbread's next chance at action will be this Saturday when Leicester visit Blackburn Rovers.