Texans Abroad: September 7, 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 clubs and the US Men’s National Team.


Clint Dempsey – Nacogdoches, Texas
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (England – Premiership)
Position: Forward/Midfield
Born: March 9, 1983
Number: 23
Height: 6’1’’
Weight: 170
Age: 29
Recent News:  The saga of Clint Dempsey went down to the wire last week, as the striker finally secured his exit from Fulham hours before the transfer deadline. Dempsey signed a three-year deal to join Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately for Spurs, the side will have to wait a while before its new weapon can join training, as Deuce was called into USMNT camp for the side's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica over the weekend. It is unknown how big of a role Dempsey's will play in the important pair of matches after going months without a professional training session due to his transfer drama. His new club, meanwhile, is winless in the young season with two draws and a loss. Occupying 14th place in the Premier League table, Tottenham faces Reading next Sunday, September 16.

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 made his first appearance of the season for Derby County last weekend, playing two minutes as a substitute in the side's first win of the season in a 5-1 thrashing of Watford. In the match before, Doyle was an unused sub in the Rams' 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton. With a record of 1-3-1, Derby face Huddersfield on the road next Saturday and sits 15 in the nPower Championship table.

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 got his first start for Club Tijuana last Friday and played 67 minutes in the team's 2-0 win over Jaguares. The weekend before that win, Tijuana got a 1-0 win over Club America. Winners of three straight, Tijuana has an overall record of 5-1-1, good for second place in the Primera Division Apertura 2012 table. Club Tijuana's next match will be next Sunday on the road against Atlante.

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:  Pachuca is winless in its last four games after playing Santos Laguna to a scoreless draw two weekends ago before settling for a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul last weekend. Jose Francisco Torres started both of those game in the midfield for the Tuzos. Torres is away from his club for the time being, as he too is currently with the U.S. Men's National Team in Jamaica. He should be back with Pachuca in time for its September 14 date with Morelia. With a record of 1-3-4, Pachuca currently sits in 13th place in the Primera Division Apertura 2012 table.

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: Lobos BUAP has won two straight matches, beating Veracruz 2-1 two weeks ago before picking up a 3-1 win over Cruz Azul Hidalgo last weekend. Midfielder Marco Vidal played the full 90 in both of those matches. Lobos sit in third place in the Liga De Ascenso table with a record of 3-1-2 and face Estudiantes Tecos next 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: Zak Whitbread made his first appearance for Leicester City last week, but it was not in league action as the Texan played the full 90 in the Foxes' 4-2 Capital One Cup loss to Burton Albion last Tuesday. In league play Leicester lost to Blackburn two weekends ago before beating Blackpool 1-0 at home last weekend. The club is 10th in the nPower Championship table with a record of 2-2-0. Leicester's next match will be Sunday, September 16 as it travels to Wolverhampton.