SPORTS PERSONALITY
David Beckham
Since Winning the EMMA Award
David Beckham OBE is a former professional footballer from England. In 2007, David signed a record-setting deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. David was held back by injuries after spraining a knee ligament during his first season and missing out on a chance to play in the 2010 World Cup due to an Achilles tendon injury.
In October 2008, Beckham signed to play with Italian football powerhouse AC Milan during the 2011 MLS off-season. He helped the Galaxy of Major League Soccer win an MLS Cup title. Galaxy won a second MLS Cup title in 2012, and David left the team at the end of the season. In 2013, he joined the French first-league team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and PSG won the French domestic title in his one season with the team. David retired from football soon after winning his championship with PSG.
In 2014, he and other investors announced plans to create a new MLS team in Miami. The team officially launched as Inter Miami CF in January 2018 and played its first game in March 2020. David Beckham is a fashion icon who has worked with several global brands such as H&M, Pepsi, Armani, Gillette and Tudor watches. His own company, DB Ventures, handles most of his post-football career, including his deals with Adidas, the Tudor watch brand and David’s whiskey brand, Haig Club.David worked for various charities, including the African Wildlife Foundation, Comic Relief, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Mothers2mothers, and has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005.
Background (Before 2004)
David Beckham was born in Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, London, to hardworking parents: a kitchen fitter father (David Edward Alan Beckham) and a hairdresser mother (Sandra Georgina Beckham). David attended one of Bobby Charlton’s Soccer Schools in Manchester as a child and won the chance to take part in a training session with Barcelona.
David played for a local youth team called Ridgeway Rovers and was a Manchester United mascot for a match against West Ham United in 1986. David signed schoolboy forms at Manchester United on his 14th birthday, and on 8th July 1991, he also signed a Youth Training Scheme contract. A few years later, he began playing with the professional team in league competition.
During the 1995–1996 season, he helped Manchester United win the league title and the FA (Footballer’s Association) Cup. David attracted national attention in the UK in August 1996 when he scored a goal from the halfway line, a football feat which is the rough equivalent of a golfer’s hole-in-one. In 1997, Manchester United successfully defended its league title, and David was voted Young Player of the Year.
In the 1998–1999 season, Manchester United won the league title, the FA Cup, and the European Cup, and David was named best midfielder and Most Valuable Player. In 2000, David was made captain of the England team. David was quickly recognised as one of football’s elite players. He is best known for his free kicks and crosses.
David helped Manchester United win another three league titles in 2000, 2001, and 2003. He left the team in 2003 to join the Real Madrid Spanish football club. David was furious about the increasing racism, as shown during a match against Macedonia during Euro 2004 qualifying match, stating “It has been cut out of the game for years, but it has started to creep back in some countries”, referring to the abuse faced by Emile Heskey.
