David Beckham

David Beckham Vital Stats

Birth Name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Birth Date: May 2, 1975
Birth Place: Leytonstone, London
Height: 5’11½”
Romantic Link: Victoria Beckham

David Beckham Interesting Facts

In January 2006, David signed a 4-year deal worth $41 million (US) to play for Real Madrid.

David wears a new pair of soccer shoes for every game he plays at an estimated cost of $500 a pair.

The $250 million that David Beckham stands to earn as part of the Los Angeles Galaxy is actually an estimated total of his salary and endorsements.


David Beckham Biography

Born in Leytonstone, London on May 2, 1975, David Robert Joseph Beckham seemed destined to play soccer. His mom, Sandra West, was a hairdresser and his father, Ted Beckham, was a gas fitter’s assistant, and David was raised with two sisters, Lynne and Joanne, one was older, the other younger.

Growing up, David would watch games in which his dad would participate and spent the better part of his childhood begging his father to let him play on the team. Of course, his dad forbade the then too young David to compete against grown men.

Beckham loves Manchester United

A huge Manchester United fan, due in part to his father, David’s grandfather (Ted’s dad) was a huge fan of the Man U. rival Arsenal. And although his grandfather consistently tried to sway him, David stuck to his guns and remained loyal to Man U.

Growing up, David played a host of sports, including baseball, basketball and rugby, but nothing came close to making him as passionate as he was about playing soccer. And it was at age 8 that David got the opportunity to display his talents as a soccer player.

Upon joining the Ridgeway Rovers of the Enfield District League, David quickly became the club’s most impressive player, as he controlled the ball and his movements with ease.

At age 11, Beckham signed up to play in a nationwide competition called Bobby Charlton's Soccer Skills Tournament. David came out on top by scoring the most goals ever in the competition and his prize was a 2-week trip to the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, with English Soccer Manager Terry Venables.

Beckham plays for Man U.

Doubtless, as Beckham neared adulthood, soccer clubs got into a fierce recruiting war over the budding star, but his heart remained with Manchester United, who came knocking when Beckham was all of 12 years old.

Every year up until he was 16, Beckham spent his summers practicing with Manchester. In 1991, David Beckham signed with Man U. as a trainee.

As part of Manchester’s junior team, Beckham and his team earned the FA Youth Cup in 1992. And although they came close to landing the Cup again in 1993, it wasn’t meant to be that time around.

In 1994, Beckham was loaned out to Preston North End, a third-division club, and after proving how fantastic he was in four games with the team, Manchester U. quickly recalled him.

Beckham finally got his chance to take the field with Man U., and although the team didn’t do well that year, Beckham felt as though he had finally “arrived.”

Beckham wins FA Cup in 1996

Impressing everyone in his 1995-1996 season, Man U. managed to make its way to the league title and win the FA Cup, despite claims that it would be a terrible season for the team.

1996-1997 was an even greater season for Beckham, as he was named the Young Player of the Year and solidified his position on England’s national team. It was that season in March that David met Victoria Adams (a.k.a. Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice). The two hit it off and were married during a lavish $800,000 ceremony on July 4, 1999, and have since had three sons together (Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz).

With much more media glare thanks to his newfound relationship and multi-million dollar endorsement deals (most notably from Adidas), David Beckham looked like he was really enjoying the spotlight. And for diehard fans of the sport, it seemed like his on-field talent had begun to dissipate.

Beckham’s World Cup mistake

Things went from bad to worse when, during the 1998 World Cup in France, Beckham was red flagged for kicking an Argentinean player and his team ultimately lost the game. When Beckham began his 1998-1999 season back home, his once adoring fans heckled him for messing up at the World Cup.

It was during this season, however, that Beckham and his team managed to snag the Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup. But even after he was voted Best Midfielder and Most Valuable Player, fans still wouldn’t let his World Cup mess up go.

It was in the 1999-2000 season that the heckling had begun to take its toll on Beckham; he was fined for two weeks for partying the night before a game, he shaved his head, and he and manager Alex Ferguson began feuding.

Beckham becomes highest paid

After being quickly eliminated from the 2000 Euro Cup, Beckham, who was now the captain of the England team, returned for the 2000-2001 season with a more positive attitude. Opponents took notice and began to target David during play, which resulted in his having many scoreless games.

By the end of 2001, Beckham felt he had proven himself worthy of a raise and became the highest-paid player in The Theater of Dreams (Old Trafford). Of course, considering his fan base all over the world, there was no doubt that Man U. made their money back in spades.

During his 2001-2002 season, Beckham broke a bone in his left foot and doctors were worried that he wouldn’t heal in time for the 2002 World Cup. Luckily, Beckham healed in time to play and although England didn’t bring home the cup, Beckham returned a hero in his fans’ eyes once again.

Beckham joins Real Madrid

And Beckham rode this adoration into the 2002-2003 season when he helped his team win the league. But it was as this season wound down that speculation about where Beckham would head next that really grabbed headlines.

In 2003, Real Madrid’s club president Florentino Perez set his sights on the media sweetheart and in June, the announcement was made: David Beckham would be making the move to the super club that already had Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo, at a transfer fee of $41.3 million dollars.

Unfortunately for Beckham, critics would not accept him easily and he was forced to prove himself worthy of such a steep price tag. And Beckham did just that by playing his heart out throughout the 2003-2004 season, even though his club finished fourth.

David Beckham & Rebecca Loos

In April 2004, the media began reporting that Beckham was having an affair with his kids’ nanny, Rebecca Loos. Soon, another woman, model Sarah Marbeck, also came forward making the same claim. This had a profound effect on David, and the man who was once open to taking photographs and signing autographs had now begun to shy away from the paparazzi and fans.

Although Beckham did his best to focus on the 2004 Euro Cup, his team succumbed to losses against France and Portugal. And his 2004-2005 season with Real wasn’t so hot, either; they finished second behind Barcelona.

His 2005-2006 season wasn’t much better, as Beckham was sent off the field more often than ever, and during the qualifying rounds for the 2006 World Cup, Beckham became the first English captain ever to be sent off the field.

Beckham resigns as captain

Unfortunately, Beckham was injured during the quarter-final game against Portugal, in which England was eliminated. The day after the loss, Beckham officially resigned as England’s captain, but still plans to remain part of the team.

With the pretty penny David Beckham has made via soccer and sponsorship deals, he has bought multi-million dollar homes in Britain and The Palm in Jumeirah (Dubai). The couple also own 10 cars, which include Bentleys, Aston Martins and four Ferraris.

Beckham became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in January 2005, because he supported the charity for a number of years.

Beckham joins Los Angeles Galaxy

After living outside London with his family in what has been dubbed “Beckingham Palace” with their two dogs, Snoopy and Puffy, Beckham signed a 5-year, $250 million deal to play for the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy and moved to Los Angeles indefinitely with his family.

Resource:
IMDb.com - David Beckham