DaMarcus Beasley

Soccer Player

DaMarcus Beasley is the American soccer player nicknamed "Jitterbug" for his quickness and elusive qualities with the ball. Like his fellow American phenom Landon Donovan, Beasley began playing internationally as a teen; he was named player of the tournament at the 1999 Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand. From 2000-2004 Beasley played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. In 2004 he moved to PSV Eindhoven in The Netherlands. Beasley played for the U.S. World Cup team in both 2002 and 2006. His World Cup biography from 2006 praised his "pace and industry down the wing."

Extra credit: Beasley is 81 days younger than Landon Donovan... Beasley was loaned to Manchester City for play in 2006, but in 2007 returned to PSV Eindhoven.

Other soccer stars of Beasley's era include England's Michael Owen and Brazil's Ronaldinho.