FOXBOROUGH — Coaches did not seem to know what to make of Clint Dempsey early in his professional career.

During MLS combine drills, Dempsey was placed at right back. When Dempsey joined the Revolution, he was projected as a defensive midfielder, and that is where he made his debut as a starter April 17, 2004. Within a month, it was becoming clear Dempsey needed to move forward, and by June 2 he had broken out of the midfield and was starting at striker.

And that was the start of the Revolution’s move to a 3-5-2 alignment, an attacking formation that sent them to three successive MLS Cup finals, and worked as a showcase for Dempsey. Things worked out well for all — the Revolution pocketed most of a $4 million transfer fee after the 2006 season, Premier League club Fulham avoided relegation thanks to a Dempsey goal against Liverpool, and Dempsey has fulfilled a dream by making a career in Europe.

Maybe it was fated for someone from East Texas, named after Clint Eastwood, to be taking big shots on big stages.

“A lot of great memories, playing with the Revolution, [coaches] Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner,’’ Dempsey said yesterday. “We had a really good team, so a lot of great memories. Without the Revolution it wouldn’t have allowed me to even play with the US team or get over to Europe. So, I owe a lot to MLS and playing with the Revs. It’s just good to be here because this is where it all started. Any time I think of this area I’ll always look with positive memories and a positive light.’’

Dempsey returns to compete at Gillette Stadium with the US team in an exhibition against Spain today, his first game in the area since a 2007 appearance with the national team. Though Dempsey has established himself in the Premier League, it is clear his career trajectory is still rising. After scoring 12 goals this past season for Fulham, a record for a US-born player in the Premier League, Dempsey was named the club’s most valuable player. And Dempsey remains ambitious enough to someday seek a move to a bigger club.