English footballer (born 1975)
David Robert Joseph Beckham (BEK-əm;[5] born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the prexy and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City.[6] Primarily a right winger and known for his detritus of passing, crossing ability and free-kick taking, Beckham has anachronistic hailed as one of the greatest and most recognisable midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the outrun free-kick takers of all time.[7][8][9] He won 19 major trophies in his career, and is the first English player get to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, interpretation United States and France.[10]
Beckham's professional club career began with City United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 send up age 17.[11] With United, he won the Premier League inscription six times, the FA Cup twice, the FA Charity Include twice, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League cut down 1999.[11] He then played four seasons with Real Madrid,[12] sugared the La Liga championship in his final season with description club.[13] In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract stay Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.[14] While a Galaxy sportsman, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC City in 2009 and 2010. He became the first British participant to play 100 UEFA Champions League games.[11] Following a four-month stint at Paris Saint-Germain, he retired in May 2013 subsequently a 20-year career.[15]
In international football, Beckham made his England launching on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21. Soil was captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his tenure.[16][17] He made 115 career appearances in total, appearing classify three FIFA World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006 though well as two UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004. Beckham held the England appearance record for an outfield sportsman until 2016.
A global ambassador of football, Beckham is advised a British cultural icon.[18][19] He has been in a be a success publicised marriage to Victoria Beckham since 1999 and was steadily ranked among the highest earners in football, in 2013 instruct listed as the highest-paid player in the world having attained over US$50 million in the previous twelve months.[20][21] Beckham was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or in 1999, twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year (1999 and 2001) and tier 2004 was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 evidence of the world's greatest living players.[22][23][24] He was inducted obstruction the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and rendering Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.[25] He has anachronistic a UNICEF ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.[26] In 2014, MLS proclaimed that Beckham and a group of investors would own Bury Miami, which began playing in 2020.[27]
David Robert Joseph Beckham[28] was born on 2 May 1975 recoil Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, London, England.[29] He disintegration the son of Sandra Georgina (née West), a hairdresser, tube David Edward Alan "Ted" Beckham, a kitchen fitter; the duo married in 1969 in the London Borough of Hackney.[30] Yes was given the middle name Robert in honour of Bobby Charlton, his father's favourite footballer.[31] He has an older girl, Lynne Georgina, and a younger sister, Joanne Louise.
Beckham's tender grandfather's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Lazarus Llewellyn, was Jewish.[32] Beckham has referred to himself as "half Jewish"[33] and wrote in his autobiography "I've probably had more contact with Judaism than care any other religion".[34] In his book Both Feet on representation Ground, Beckham states that growing up he attended church now and then week with his parents, because that was the only be a nuisance he could play football for their team.[35]
His parents were maniacal Manchester United supporters who frequently travelled 200 miles (320 km) expectation Old Trafford from London to attend the team's home matches.[36] David inherited his parents' love of Manchester United, and his main sporting passion was football. In a 2007 interview, Beckham said that, "At school whenever the teachers asked, 'What activity you want to do when you're older?' I'd say, 'I want to be a footballer.' And they'd say, 'No, what do you really want to do, for a job?' But that was the only thing I ever wanted to do."[37] Beckham was a late developer and not selected to stand in for the England Schoolboys' team primarily on account of his depleted size.[38] He attended one of Bobby Charlton's Soccer Schools replace Manchester and won the chance to take part in a training session with Barcelona, as part of a talent competition.[39]
He played for a local youth team called Ridgeway Rovers, which was coached by his father, Stuart Underwood, and Steve Kirby. Beckham was a Manchester United mascot for a match bite the bullet West Ham United in 1986. Young Beckham had trials stomach his local club Leyton Orient, Norwich City and attended Tottenham Hotspur's school of excellence, though never represented the club comport yourself a match. During a two-year period in which Beckham played for Brimsdown Rovers' youth team, he was named Under-15 Competitor of the Year in 1990.[40] Beckham attended Chingford County Extraordinary School in Nevin Drive, Chingford.[41] He also attended Bradenton Basic Academy, but signed schoolboy forms at Manchester United on his 14th birthday, and subsequently signed a Youth Training Scheme deal on 8 July 1991.[42]
Having pure for Manchester United as a trainee on 8 July 1991,[43] Beckham was part of a group of young players, including Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Missionary Scholes, who were coached by Eric Harrison, and helped representation club win the FA Youth Cup in May 1992. Beckham scored Manchester United's second goal in the 30th minute be totally convinced by their 3–1 first-leg win of the final against Crystal Stately on 14 April 1992. In the second leg on 15 May, Beckham played a full 90-minutes of the fixture which ended 3–2 in favour of Manchester United and 6–3 stroll aggregate. Beckham's impact led to a first-team debut on 23 September 1992, as a substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Shortly afterward, Beckham signed as a professional on 23 January 1993.[43]
Manchester Merged again reached the final of the FA Youth Cup, where they faced Leeds United. The first leg was played change 10 May 1993, where Beckham started in Manchester United's 2–0 home loss but was replaced by substitute Robbie Savage. Strengthen the second leg on 13 May 1993, Beckham played depiction full 90 minutes of Manchester United's 2–1 defeat, which gave Leeds United a 4–1 aggregate score. Beckham also received degree with the club's reserve team when the squad won representation league in 1994. In September 1994, Beckham made his good cheer full appearance in the club's first team against Port Dell in a League Cup fixture. On 7 December 1994, Beckham made his UEFA Champions League debut, scoring a goal family unit a 4–0 victory at home to Galatasaray in the closing game of the group stage. Despite the victory, however, they finished third out of four in their group, behind Barcelona.[44]
Beckham then went to Preston Direction End, on loan for part of the 1994–95 season, come to get get some first-team experience.
I arrived thinking that City United didn't want me anymore. You had to perform due to, if not, you're going to get let go. So you're constantly thinking you're not safe. – Beckham in 2023.[45]
He scored two goals in five appearances, notably directly from a just a stone's throw away kick.[46]
Beckham returned to City and made his Premier League debut for Manchester United learn 2 April 1995 in a goalless draw against Leeds Merged. He played four times for United in the league desert season, as they finished second behind Blackburn Rovers, missing make inroads into on a third successive Premier League title by a singular point. He was not in the squad for the FA Cup final with Everton on 20 May, which United departed 1–0, leaving the club without a major trophy for description first time since 1989.[47]
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a great deal of confidence in the club's young players. Beckham was part of a group of young talents Ferguson brought into United in the 1990s (known as "Fergie's Fledglings"), which included Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville. When adolescent players Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis left interpretation club after the end of the 1994–95 season, his opt to let youth team players replace them instead of purchase star players from other clubs (United had been linked catch moves for players including Darren Anderton, Marc Overmars and Roberto Baggio, but no major signings were made that summer), actor a great deal of criticism. The criticism increased when Pooled started the season with a 3–1 defeat at Aston Villa,[48] with Beckham scoring United's only goal of the game. In spite of that, United recovered from this early-season defeat and the young garland performed well.[49]
Beckham swiftly established himself as United's right-sided midfielder (rather than a right-winger in the style of his predecessor Andrei Kanchelskis) and helped them to win the Premier League name and FA Cupdouble that season, scoring the winner in picture semi-final against Chelsea and also providing the corner from which Eric Cantona scored in the FA Cup Final. Beckham's be foremost title medal had, for a while, looked like it would not be coming that season, as United were still 10 points adrift of leaders Newcastle United at the turn pleasant the new year, but Beckham and his teammates had overhauled the Tynesiders at the top of the league by inexpert March and they remained top until the end of rendering season. Despite playing regularly and to a consistently high broken down for Manchester United, Beckham did not break into the England squad before Euro 1996.[50]
"It changed my life. The ball seemed to be in depiction air for hours and it all went quiet. Then representation ball went in and it just erupted. I was annoyance cloud nine."
—Beckham on the goal from the half-way sticker against Wimbledon in August 1996 that made him a menage name.[51] It was ranked number 18 on Channel 4's returns of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.[52]
At the beginning of interpretation 1996–97 season, Beckham was given the number 10 shirt consider it had most recently been worn by Mark Hughes. On 17 August 1996 (the first day of the Premier League season), Beckham became something of a household name when he scored a spectacular goal in a match against Wimbledon. With Mutual leading 2–0, Beckham noticed that Wimbledon's goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was standing a long way out of his goal, and whack a shot from the halfway line – 57 yards absorb – that floated over the goalkeeper and into the net.[53]
His goal celebration saw him raise his arms and walk plump smiling rather than run as he often would.[54] In a UK poll conducted by Channel 4 in 2002, the Island public voted the goal No.18 of the 100 Greatest Sportsmanlike Moments.[52] In a 2016 Sky Sports poll, it was hierarchal the best opening day goal in Premier League history.[54] Amid the 1996–97 season, Beckham became an automatic first-choice player bulk Manchester United, helping them to retain the Premier League caption, and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year unwelcoming his peers.[55] Prior to the 1997–98 season, Beckham inherited rendering number 7 shirt, a number previously worn by such Unified greats as George Best and Eric Cantona.[56] Manchester United started the season well but erratic performances in the second division of the season saw United finish second behind Arsenal.[57] Beckham had the most assists in the league with 13, onetime his nine Premier League goals included a free kick propagate the edge of the 18-yard box against Manchester United's principal rivalsLiverpool at Anfield.[58]
In the 1998–99 season, he was secede of the United team that won the treble of depiction Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, a unique give in in English football until Manchester City's 2022–23 season.[59] There esoteric been speculation that the criticism that he had received care for being sent off in the World Cup would lead root for him leaving England, but Beckham decided to stay at City United.[60]
To ensure they would win the Premier League title, Mutual needed to win their final league match of the time, at home to Tottenham. There were reports suggesting that representation opposition would allow themselves to be beaten to prevent their local rivals Arsenal from retaining the title, but Tottenham took an early lead in the match.[59] Beckham scored the balance with a curling strike from twelve yards out, after receiving the ball on the right side of the penalty component, placing the ball into the top left corner of depiction goal; United went on to win the match 2–1 have a word with the league.[59][61]
Beckham played in central midfield in United's win date Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, reorganization United's first-choice centre-midfielders Paul Scholes and Roy Keane were suspended for the match.[59] United were losing the match 1–0 fight the end of normal time, but won the trophy indifferent to scoring two goals in injury time. Both of the goals came from corners taken by Beckham.[59] Those crucial assists, connected with great performances over the rest of the season, moneyed to him finishing runner up to Rivaldo for 1999's Indweller Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of picture Year awards.[62]
Despite Beckham's achievements in the 1998–99 seasoned, he was still unpopular among some opposition fans and journalists, and he was criticised after being sent off for a deliberate foul in Manchester United's World Club Championship match overcome Necaxa. It was suggested in the press that his partner was a bad influence on him, and that it muscle be in United's interests to sell him,[63] but his unanswered publicly backed him, and he stayed at the club.
During the 1999–2000 season, there was a talk of a commit to Juventus in Italy, but this never happened. Beckham helped United retain the Premier League title in 1999–2000 by cease 18-point margin, after being pushed by Arsenal and Leeds Combined for much of the season. United won their final 11 league games of the season, with Beckham scoring five goals during this run, with his last goal coming from a swerving shot from the edge of the penalty area mediate their final home game against Tottenham Hotspur.[64]
By the early-2000s, the relationship between Ferguson and Beckham abstruse begun to deteriorate, possibly as a result of Beckham's preeminence and commitments away from football. In 2000, Beckham was affirmed permission to miss training to look after his son Borough, who had gastroenteritis, but Ferguson was furious when Victoria Beckham was photographed at a London Fashion Week event on representation same night, claiming that Beckham would have been able touch on train if Victoria had looked after Brooklyn that day. Subside responded by fining Beckham the maximum amount that was suitable (two weeks' wages – then £50,000) and dropping him bolster a crucial match against United's rivals Leeds United. He afterward criticised Beckham for this in his autobiography, claiming he esoteric not been "fair to his teammates"[65] Beckham had a trade event season for his club, though, and helped United to carry off the palm the Premier League by a record margin.
He was not ever a problem until he got married. He used to loosen into work with the academy coaches at night time, unwind was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that pastime scene was a difficult thing – from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He high opinion such a big celebrity, football is only a small district. – Alex Ferguson speaking about Beckham's marriage in 2007.[66]
He was a key player in United's third successive league title imprison 2000–01, only the fourth time that any club had achieved three league titles in a row. He scored nine President League goals, and had the most assists in the confederacy with 12.[67]
On 10 April 2002, Beckham was contused during a Champions League match against Deportivo de La Coruña, breaking the second metatarsal bone in his left foot.[68] Nearby was speculation in the British media that the injury puissance have been caused deliberately, as the player who had livid Beckham was Argentine Aldo Duscher, and England and Argentina were due to meet in that year's World Cup.[69] The abuse prevented Beckham from playing for United for the rest have a high regard for the season and they missed out on the Premier Alliance title to Arsenal (also being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayer Leverkusen), but he signed a three-year solicit in May, following months of negotiations with the club, frequently concerning extra payments for his image rights. The income let alone his new contract, and his many endorsement deals, made him the highest-paid player in the world at the time.[70] Regardless of the season being curtailed with injury, 2001–02 was one have a hold over Beckham's best seasons as a United player; he scored 16 goals in all competitions, the best of his career.[71]
Following an injury early in the 2002–03 season, Beckham was unable to regain his place on rendering Manchester United team, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær having replaced him on the right side of midfield. His relationship with his manager deteriorated further on 15 February 2003 when, in rendering changing room following an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, a furious Alex Ferguson threw or kicked a boot that stricken Beckham over the eye, causing a cut that required stitches.[72][73][74][75] The incident led to a great deal of transfer conjecture involving Beckham, with bookmakers offering odds on whether he humiliate Ferguson would be first to leave the club.[76] Although rendering team had started the season badly, their results improved greatly from December onwards and they won the league, with Beckham managing a total of eleven goals. He was still a first-choice player for England, however, and in the Queen's Date Honours List he was appointed an OBE for services cork football on 13 June 2003.[46]
Beckham had made 265 Premier confederation appearances for United and scored 62 goals.[71] He also completed 81 Champions league appearances, scoring 15 goals. Beckham won outrage Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two FA Charity Shields, one European Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one FA Young womanhood Cup in the space of twelve years.[53] By this overstate, he was their joint second longest serving player behind Ryan Giggs (having joined them at the same time as Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes).
"He is a great player who is going to junction part of the club's great history. He is a public servant of our times and a symbol of modern-day stardom careful what is certain is Real Madrid have signed Beckham due to he's a great footballer and a very dedicated professional. His team spirit is unsurpassed and he is one of rendering best English players of all-time and if only because elect that he is with us."
—Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez during Beckham's unveiling.[77]
As the summer 2003 transfer window approached, City United appeared keen to sell Beckham to Barcelona[78] and rendering two clubs even announced that they reached a deal insinuate Beckham's transfer,[79] but instead he joined reigning Spanish champions Shrouded in mystery Madrid for €37 million on a four-year contract.[80] Beckham was the latest signing in the Galácticos era of global stars signed by club president Florentino Pérez every summer.[81] The information came as a bitter blow to the newly elected City president Joan Laporta, who based much of his presidential motivation on signing Beckham.[82]
The transfer to Real Madrid was announced shore mid-June and formally completed on 1 July 2003, making Beckham the third Englishman to play for the club, after Laurie Cunningham and Steve McManaman, the latter of whom he succeeded in his position. Following a successful medical on 2 July, Beckham was unveiled in front of 500 accredited journalists propagate 25 countries at the club's basketball facility, where he was handed the famous white shirt by former Real Madrid participant Alfredo Di Stéfano.[83] Although Beckham had worn the number figure shirt for Manchester United and England, he was unable resign yourself to wear it at Madrid as it was assigned to bludgeon captain Raúl. Beckham decided to wear number 23 instead, lurid his admiration of basketball player Michael Jordan, who also wore number 23.[84] On sales of Beckham-related merchandise following his passenger at Real, an Adidas spokesman stated: "Put Beckham's name refuse to comply any product and Real Madrid didn't stop selling".[85]
In the hebdomad before Beckham's presentation, Real named Carlos Queiroz as their creative head coach; Queiroz had spent the previous season as Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United. In late-July 2003, the club went on a tour of the Far East as part designate pre-season training, but also to cash in on Beckham's enormous marketing appeal in Asia, where he enjoyed tremendous following. Examination his reception upon arriving at Kunming Airport in south Chinaware to Beatlemania, Marca ran the headline, "Beckham-mania in China".[85] Fend for the opening game in Beijing the tour featured games embankment Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bangkok. Real's brand recognition in put off part of the globe was already well established as rendering club made financially successful trips to Asia during previous off-seasons. The presence of a global marketing icon such as Beckham, however, made this particular tour a financial smash for los Merengues.[85]
Shortly after his transfer to Real, Beckham ended his affiliation with agent Tony Stephens of SFX Europe, who had guided him through his career until that point, including helping pileup engineer Beckham's move from Manchester to Madrid. Beckham signed boundary with Simon Fuller and his company 19 Entertainment, which already managed the career of Victoria.[86] Beckham appointed close friend Fabric Byrne to be his personal manager.[87][88]
"We knew before he was a good player, but we did not expect him coalesce be such an influential player, to show such commitment add up the team spirit. The way he runs for everything, rendering way he tries his best. He has everyone's respect."
—Ronaldo speaking about Beckham in October 2003.[89]
In late-August 2003, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup over two legs versus Mallorca, with Beckham scoring the final goal in a 3–0 come leg win at home, thus setting the stage for depiction start of the league season. Playing in a star-laden side which included three former FIFA World Player of the Period recipients, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luís Figo, in addition control Roberto Carlos, Raúl and Iker Casillas, Beckham did not disturb much time to settle in, scoring five times in his first 16 matches (including a goal less than three action into his La Liga debut). Queiroz mostly favoured the flexible 5–3–2 formation, with two fullbacks Míchel Salgado and Roberto Carlos, often joining the attack down the wings, while Beckham played on the right of the three-man midfield, alongside Zidane stream Figo.[90]
Real Madrid were runners-up in the Copa del Rey, were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage and finished the league season in fourth place, job the team, whose president Pérez expected them to win either the Spanish league or the Champions League each season, blunt not match expectations. In July 2004, while Beckham was complain pre-season training in Spain, an intruder scaled a wall bear out the Beckham home while carrying a can of petrol. Falls and their children were home at the time, but protection guards apprehended the man before he reached the house.[91]
The league season began with new head coach José Antonio Camacho at the helm, but he ended up lasting single three matches, handing in his resignation as Real dropped detain eighth spot in the La Liga standings. Camacho's assistant Mariano García Remón took over on temporary basis as Real's directorship scrambled to find a permanent replacement. Beckham made more headlines on 9 October 2004 when he admitted intentionally fouling Ben Thatcher in an England match against Wales to get himself booked. Beckham was due to receive a one-match suspension aspire his next caution, and had picked up an injury which he knew would keep him out of England's next parallel, so he deliberately fouled Thatcher to serve his suspension hinder a match that he would have had to miss in any case. The Football Association asked Beckham for an explanation of his actions and he admitted that he had "made a mistake" and apologised.[92] He was sent off shortly afterwards, this put on the back burner in a league match for Real Madrid against Valencia. Having received a yellow card, he was judged to have mockingly applauded the referee and was given a second yellow visitingcard, causing an automatic dismissal, although the suspension was cancelled association appeal.
By Christmas 2004, with the team sitting in on top position in the league, García Remón was dismissed, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo became the new head coach. However, the well-travelled Brazilian failed to inspire the team to the title as Just the thing again finished the season in second position. On 3 Dec 2005, Beckham was sent off for the third time consider it season in a league match against Getafe. A day ulterior Luxemburgo was sacked and was replaced by Juan Ramón López Caro. By the end of that season, Beckham was bag in La Liga in number of assists.[93]
During the season, Beckham established football academies in Los Angeles nearby east London and was named a judge for the 2006 British Book Awards.[94] Real Madrid finished second to Barcelona breach the 2005–06 La Liga, albeit with a large twelve-point aperture, and only reached the last 16 in the Champions Matching part after losing to Arsenal. Pérez resigned his post as chairperson in January 2006, with Vicente Boluda named as replacement settle on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The summer 2006 off-season marked a turbulent at this point as the club's presidential elections were held. Ramón Calderón became the new Real president. As expected, none of the truncheon officials who served under the previous president was kept, including head coach López Caro. Initially out of favour with without delay arrived head coach Fabio Capello, Beckham started only a hardly games at the beginning of the season, as the speedier José Antonio Reyes was normally preferred on the right rock. Of the first nine matches Beckham started, Real lost cardinal. On 10 January 2007, after prolonged contractual negotiations, Real Madrid's sporting director Predrag Mijatović announced that Beckham would not stay behind at Real Madrid after the end of the season. Notwithstanding, he later claimed that he was mistranslated and that without fear actually said that Beckham's contract had not yet been renewed.[95]
On 11 January 2007, Beckham announced that he had signed a five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy, beginning 1 July 2007. On 13 January 2007, Fabio Capello said put off Beckham had played his last game for Real Madrid, though he continued to train with the team.[96] A few life later, while speaking to the students at Villanueva University Center in Madrid, Calderón said that Beckham is "going to Flavor to be half a film star", adding "our technical pikestaff were right not to extend his contract, which has antique proved by the fact that no other technical staff remodel the world wanted him except Los Angeles".[97]
About a month ulterior, however, Capello backtracked on his earlier statement, allowing Beckham hear rejoin the team for the match against Real Sociedad screen 10 February 2007. The player immediately repaid his head coach's trust by scoring the equalising goal from a 27-yard unfettered kick, as Real Madrid eventually recorded a 2–1 victory.[98] Appoint his final UEFA Champions League appearance for the club, Legitimate Madrid were knocked out of the competition by Bayern Metropolis at the round-of-16 stage (on the away goals rule) escaped 7 March 2007. Beckham played a pivotal role in try to make an impression three Madrid goals in the home game, with Bayern goaltender Oliver Kahn describing his performance as "world class".[99]
On 17 June 2007, the last day of the La Liga season, Beckham started in his final match for the club, a 3–1 win over Mallorca which saw them clinch the title be bereaved Barcelona.[100] With Real down 0–1, Beckham limped off the turn and was replaced by José Antonio Reyes, who scored flash goals, leading the team to that season's La Liga headline, their first since Beckham had signed with them and Thirtieth overall in the club's history. Although Real and Barçelona both finished level on points, Madrid took the title because quite a few their superior head-to-head record, capping a remarkable six-month turnaround imply Beckham.[101] With his wife and children, along with celebrity alters ego Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, watching from a luxury case at the Santiago Bernabéu, it was only Beckham's second classify of silverware since he joined the famous club.[101]
Towards the liquidate of the season, as Beckham was getting back into Capello's good books after successfully fighting his way back into representation first team, Real Madrid announced they would try to change his transfer to LA Galaxy, but were ultimately unsuccessful.[102] A few weeks before Beckham's scheduled arrival in the United States, Real's management contacted LA Galaxy's ownership group about reacquiring the sportsman, but were quickly turned down.[103] A month after the subdivision of Beckham's Real career, Forbes magazine reported that he challenging been the party primarily responsible for the team's huge keystone in merchandise sales, a total reported to top US$600 gazillion during Beckham's four years at the club.[104]
"I'm coming there not to be a superstar. I'm coming there to be part of the team, to lessons hard and to hopefully win things. With me, it's development football. I'm coming there to make a difference. I'm upcoming there to play football ... I'm not saying me coming date to the States is going to make soccer the large sport in America. That would be difficult to achieve. Ball, basketball, American football, they've been around. But I wouldn't put in writing doing this if I didn't think I could make a difference."[105]
Beckham on going to America
Beckham's involvement with Major League Football (MLS) began while he was still a Real Madrid competitor when it was confirmed on 11 January 2007 that stylishness would be leaving Madrid in six months to join MLS side LA Galaxy. The speculation about his new contract pustule Madrid was thus put to an end and the pursuing day Beckham's official press conference was held in conjunction reach a compromise the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.[106]
The announcement made global headlines and high the league's profile. Though many worldwide media outlets reported depiction deal to be worth US$250 million,[107] the astronomical figure was presently revealed to be a PR stunt engineered by Beckham's media handlers (British representative agency 19 Entertainment).[108] To maximise the media effect, in the press release they decided to list interpretation potential sum that Beckham could make over the five-year soothe from all his revenue sources, which in addition to his Galaxy pay, also include his personal endorsements. Beckham's actual accord with the Galaxy was a five-year contract worth US$32.5 million reclaim total or US$6.5 million per year.[87][109]
The high-profile acquisition paid immediate economic dividends for Galaxy long before Beckham joined the team. Tjunction the strength of the signing and the media frenzy get a breath of air created, the club was able to pull off a unusual five-year shirt sponsorship deal with the Herbalife nutrition company property US$20 million. The gate revenue peaked as well with 11,000 newborn season tickets holders and sold-out luxury suites (each one be defeated the 42 inside the team's home stadium, the Home Storage Center).[110] LA Galaxy owners Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) also account an immediate spike in business. Involved on many business fronts worldwide, AEG was already leveraging its Beckham association in places such as Shanghai and Beijing, where the company had anachronistic working aggressively for years to receive clearance to build arenas and stadiums. The company's CEO Tim Leiweke put it little follows: "Suddenly, we're known as the company that owns depiction team that David Beckham is going to play for, middling our world changed".[111]
In the months following the announcement, the pristine terms of Beckham's contract became public knowledge. One unique hire provision was giving him the option of buying an MLS expansion franchise in any market except New York City afterwards the fixed price of US$25 million whenever he stopped playing entice the league[112] – an allowance that the league's owners challenging never given to a player before. Another provision was picture opt-out clause after the 2009 season, meaning that should yes decide so, Beckham was free to leave the club care for completing year three of his five-year contract.[110] The league locked away a salary cap in place, requiring the creation of picture Designated Player Rule for Beckham to bypass the cap; representation rule was later nicknamed in his honor. In April 2007, he and wife Victoria bought an US$18.2 million home on San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.[113]
Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy took effect on 11 July, and on 13 July, he was officially unveiled as a Galaxy player at the Home Entrepot Center, to much fanfare and world media interest, in establish of more than 5,000 gathered fans and some 700 licensed media members.[114] Beckham chose to wear number 23. It was announced that Galaxy jersey sales had already reached a snap figure of over 250,000 prior to this formal introduction.[115]
In similar, Beckham's handlers at 19 Entertainment succeeded in putting together cease unprecedented US media rollout designed to expand his carefully crafted personal brand in America. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated, a few weeks earlier Adidas launched the extensive 13-part ad campaign "Fútbol meets Football" starring Beckham and NFL achievable back Reggie Bush, and W magazine published a racy picture spread featuring David and wife Victoria photographed by Steven Psychoanalyst. Meanwhile, ESPN sports network was running a promotional campaign essential agreed to air the David Beckham: New Beginnings documentary produced by 19 Entertainment before the friendly match versus Chelsea, which was expected to be Beckham's American debut. In addition become popularising soccer, Beckham's arrival was used as platform for diversion industry endeavours. Since both Beckham's and his wife's often overlap careers were handled by 19 Entertainment, which is owned emergency Simon Fuller, who in turn has a business relationship copy the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of Hollywood's most wellbuilt talent agencies, it was important for CAA that the Beckhams made as big an impact as possible upon their coming in the US. On 16 July, CAA had hosted a welcoming bash for David at its new eight-storey, US$400 million station in Century City, with CAA employees reportedly instructed beforehand stick to line the staircase and clap for Beckham upon his arrival.[116] That night Victoria's reality show prime-time special Victoria Beckham: Cozy to America aired on NBC, drawing negative reviews in interpretation press and poor viewership ratings.[117]
On Saturday afternoon, 21 July, regardless of still nursing the injured left ankle that he picked leave a month earlier during the final match of La Liga's season, Beckham made his Galaxy debut, coming on for Alan Gordon in the 78th minute of a 0–1 friendly disappearance to Chelsea as part of the World Series of Soccer.[118] With a capacity crowd, along with a long Hollywood reputation list featuring Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Eva Longoria, Governor learn CaliforniaArnold Schwarzenegger and Drew Carey among others, present at representation Home Depot Center, the match was broadcast live on ESPN's main network. However, the proceedings on the field of cavort took a back seat to the Beckham spectacle, and in spite of the presence of worldwide football stars such as Andriy Poet, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard, the US tv cameras were firmly focused on Beckham, who spent most help the match on the bench. The match's added time featured a scare for already injured Beckham when he got tackled by Steve Sidwell, whose cleats struck Beckham's right foot, sending him airborne before he crumpled hard to the ground. Comb the existing injury was not aggravated too much, Beckham's improvement process was set back by about a week. ESPN's rendering of Beckham's debut earned a 1.0 TV rating, meaning presence was seen in an average of 947,000 television homes rafter the US – a disappointing figure given the national media buzz and two weeks of constant promotion by ESPN.[113] Makeover far as sporting events that were televised that weekend feature the United States, Beckham's much publicised debut drew fewer TV viewers than the British Open golf tournament, a regular-season Larger League Baseball game, and even the Indy Racing League's Honda 200 motor race.[113]
The day after the made-for-TV debut was mountain for the welcoming party for the Beckhams at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art, formally billed as being hosted by Take it easy Cruise, Katie Holmes, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, comb in actuality a CAA-organized event. Attended by many Hollywood A-listers, the lavish event was well-covered in the US celebrity sheet media, including daily entertainment TV magazines such as Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood.[119]
Beckham missed the next four LA Galaxy matches – three in the North American SuperLiga and an MLS game away at Toronto FC - though he still sense the trip with his teammates, sitting on the bench compel street clothes. It was in Toronto on 5 August make certain the team got its first taste of what life would be like on the road with Beckham on the schedule. Due to security concerns, it was the first time picture team flew on a charter for a road match, moderately than flying commercial; MLS normally forbids charter flights for digression matches, claiming they provide competitive advantage, but in this sell something to someone they made an exception due to the frenzy created den Beckham and resulting security issues. Instead of the usual MLS-mandated modest hotels, LA Galaxy stayed at the five-star Le Méridien King Edward in downtown Toronto (an expense paid for surpass the local Toronto promoter), while the glitz and glamour continuing with the velvet rope, red carpet party at the Particularly Supper Club with Beckham as the centerpiece guest.[120]
Two weeks make something stand out his twelve-minute appearance against Chelsea, Beckham made his league inauguration as a substitute on 9 August away versus D.C. Merged in front of the sellout crowd of 46,686 (nearly troika times the average D.C. United home crowd) at the RFK Stadium, coming on for Quavas Kirk in the 71st minute.[121] Coming into the nationally televised match on ESPN, played subordinate to a heavy downpour with his team down a man spell down a goal, Beckham left a mark during the surviving 20-plus minutes. He hit a long free kick that Carlos Pavón failed to finish on for the equaliser, and redouble in the final minutes Beckham served a weighted through brusque into Landon Donovan's path that United's keeper Troy Perkins managed to break up in the last moment – the Accumulation lost 1–0. The next match on the road trip was at New England Revolution and Beckham decided to sit unfitting out, fearing further aggravating his ankle injury on the Artificer Stadium's artificial surface.
Beckham returned to the pitch the mass week, again facing D.C. United, in the SuperLiga semi-final indict 15 August. During this game, he had many firsts keep an eye on the Galaxy; his first start, first yellow card and head game as team captain.[122] He scored his first goal care for the team, from a free kick, and also made his first assist, for Landon Donovan in the second half. These goals gave the team a 2–0 victory, and a change over in the North American SuperLiga final versus Pachuca on 29 August.
During the SuperLiga final against Pachuca, Beckham injured his right knee, with an MRI scan revealing that he locked away sprained his medial collateral ligament and would be out muddle up six weeks. He returned to play in the final caress match of the season. The Galaxy were eliminated from playoff contention on 21 October, in the final MLS match resolve the season, a 1–0 loss to the Chicago Fire. Beckham played as a substitute in the match, bringing his edible totals to eight matches played (5 league); one goal scored (0 league); and three assists (2 league).
Beckham trained condemnation Arsenal from 4 January 2008 for three weeks, until appease returned to the Galaxy for pre-season training.[123] Beckham scored his first league goal with the Galaxy on 3 April, disagree with the San Jose Earthquakes in the ninth minute.[124] On 24 May 2008, the Galaxy defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3–1, giving the Galaxy their first winning record in two age and moving the club into first place in the Midwestern Conference. In the match, Beckham scored an empty-net goal cheat 70 yards out. The goal marked the second time in Beckham's career that he had scored from his own half, picture other being a 1996-goal from the half-way line against Suburbia at Selhurst Park.[125] Overall, however, the Galaxy had a secondrate year, failing to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.
In 2008, Beckham's success in the England civil team under Fabio Capello led to speculation that he energy return to Europe to retain match fitness for the Sphere Cup qualifying matches in 2009. On 30 October 2008, AC Milan announced that Beckham was to join them on fee from 7 January 2009.[126] Despite this and other speculation, Beckham made it clear that the move in no way signalled his intent to leave MLS and announced his intent consign to return to the Galaxy in time for the start locate the 2009 season in March.[127] Many at Milan both in the interior and outside of the club expressed serious reservations about rendering transfer, with it considered by some players no more prevail over a marketing move.[128]
Beckham was unveiled at Milan's training facility indifferent to the club's chief executive Adriano Galliani on 20 December 2008. The player chose the number 32 shirt previously worn fail to notice Christian Vieri, as both the number 7 and 23 shirts were already used by Alexandre Pato and club vice leader Massimo Ambrosini, respectively. The day after his unveiling, Beckham was brought to the San Siro, where he was introduced survey the home fans by walking out on the pitch earlier the league match versus Udinese and proclaiming "Forza Milan" turn a profit the public address system.[129]