David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (IPA: ) (born 2 May 1975) is an England professional football (soccer) who currently plays for Real Madrid. Beckham was named as a member of Pelé's FIFA 100. In addition to his success on the pitch, Beckham has been recognized by Time (magazine) magazine as one of 2004's Time 100 (Heroes & Icons), as well as an elite global advertising brand.

Beckham is the fifth most cap (sport) English player of all time, has twice been the runner up in the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999 and 2001 and in addition to being the only Englishman to score in three different FIFA World Cup, is also the fifth player in World Cup history to score twice from direct free kicks. He was Captain (football) of the England national football team from 15 November 2000 to 2 July 2006.

Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United F.C., making his first first-team appearance in 1992, at the age of 17. While with Manchester United he played a key role in their dominance of the FA Premier League in the 1990s and early 2000s, being pivotal in accomplishing The Treble of the League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in 1999. He left the club to become only the third Englishman to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, after Laurie Cunningham and Steve McManaman.

In 2006, after England's quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Germany, he stood down as captain. He was then succeeded by Chelsea F.C. captain John Terry. Beckham was dropped from the England national football team squad selected by coach Steve McClaren on 11 August 2006.

On 10 January 2007 Real Madrid Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic announced Beckham would leave the club when his contract expires in June 2007. On 11 January 2007, Beckham agreed to a move to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Los Angeles Galaxy on a five year contract beginning on 1 July 2007, after his current deal with Real Madrid expires.

Childhood and early career

Beckham was born in Leytonstone, East London, England, the son of David Edward Alan "Ted" Beckham, a kitchen fitter and Manchester United fan, and Sandra Georgina West, a hairdresser. He regularly played football in Ridgeway park, Chingford as a child. His maternal grandfather, Joseph West, is Jewish, and Beckham has spoken of the influence the religion has had on him but is not known to practice Judaism or any other faith, though he stated in his book Both Feet on the Ground that growing up he always attended church with his parents and sisters.

His parents were fanatical Manchester United supporters who would frequently travel to Old Trafford (football ground) from London to attend Manchester United's home matches. David inherited his parents' love of Manchester United and his main sporting passion was football. He attended one of Bobby Charlton football schools in Manchester and won the chance to take part in a training session at FC Barcelona, as part of a talent competition. As a child he played for a local youth team called the Ridgeway Rovers coached by his father, Stuart Underwood and Steve Kirby.

He was Manchester United's mascot for a match against West Ham United F.C. in 1986. Young Beckham had trials with his local club, Leyton Orient F.C., and attended Tottenham Hotspur F.C.'s, which was the first club he played for, school of excellence. He also attended Bradenton Preparatory Academy, but signed schoolboy forms at Manchester United on his fourteenth birthday, and subsequently signed a Youth Training Scheme contract on 8 July 1991.

He was part of an exceptionally talented group of young players at the club who guided the club to win the FA Youth Cup in May 1992, with Beckham scoring in the second leg of the final against Crystal Palace F.C.. He made his first appearance for United's first-team that year, as a substitute in a Football League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., and signed his first professional contract shortly afterwards. United reached the final of the Youth Cup again the following year, with Beckham playing in their defeat by Leeds United A.F.C., and he won another medal in 1994 when the club's reserve team won their league.

He went to Preston North End F.C. on loan in the 1994–95 season to get some first team experience, then made his first Premier League appearance for Manchester United on 2 April, 1995, in a goalless draw against Leeds United A.F.C..

Manchester United

Becoming a first-team player

United manager Alex Ferguson had a great deal of confidence in the club's young players. When three of his first-team players left the club at the end of the 1994-95 season, his decision to let youth team players replace them instead of buying players from other clubs, drew a great deal of criticism. The criticism increased when United started the season with a 3–1 defeat at Aston Villa F.C., with Beckham scoring United's only goal of the game; however, United won their next five matches and the young players performed well. Beckham became a regular player on the team and helped them to win the Premiership and FA Cup double that season, scoring the winner in the semi-final against Chelsea F.C. and also taking the corner kick that Éric Cantona scored from in the FA Cup Final. Still, Beckham's form was not good enough to break into the England squad before Euro 96.

In August 1996, Beckham became something of a household name when he scored a spectacular goal in a match against Wimbledon F.C.. With United ahead 2–0, Beckham noticed that Wimbledon's goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was standing a long way out of his goal, and hit a shot from the halfway line that floated over the goalkeeper and into the net. Beckham was frequently mentioned in the press, and he made his first appearance for the England national football team on 1 September 1996, in a Football World Cup qualifying match against Moldova national football team.
He became an automatic first-choice player at United that season, helping them to retain their league championship, and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year by his peers.

United started the 1997-98 season well, but their performance deteriorated when several players got injured. They finished the season in second place, behind Arsenal F.C..

World Cup 1998

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