David Beckham - Manchster United Legend
Well, what can you say about David Beckham that has not already been said. He's quite definately a modern day footballing phenomenon in every sense of the word. The legend that is Becks has twice been runner up for the World Player of the Year award, has captained England on more than 50 occassions, has played for arguably the three biggest football clubs on the planet in Manchester United, Real Madrid and A.C. Milan and is currently - as of 2004 - the highest payed footballer in the world, consolidating this position on 1 July 2007 when he signed for U.S. based side L.A. Galaxy in a deal reportedly to have been worth £13m per year.
Not long after, his succesful soccer schools appearance he signed schoolboy forms with Manchester United, and on 8 July 1991 signed a Y.T.S. contract with the club.
David Beckhan made his full Manchester United debut on 7 December 1994, when The Reds took on Turkish champions Galatasary in the group stages of UEFA Champions League. The game finished 4-0 to United, with the young Becks getting on the scorsheet with The Reds second goal of the game, when his powerful finish from the edge of the box fizzed past the goalkeeper. Following his blistering start to his United career, boss Alex Ferguson wanted to keep the player's feet planted firmly on the ground, so in the following campaign he sent the midfield starlet on loan to lower division Preston North End. This loan move is said to have proved vital in the development of the player and it could well be argued, that if it were not for this spell at the Lancashire club, he might not have become the phenomenon he has. During his five game spell at Deepdale, the supporters took to Beckham as he scored two goals, with one of them coming direct from a corner kick. After his succesful loan spell David Beckham returned to Manchester United, to continue his rise to stardom, and on the 2 April 1995 his was rewarded for his perseverance when he was handed his Premier League debut, in the club's 0-0 draw with fierce rivals Leeds United. As we all know, the following season would become stuff of legends amongst the Manchester United faithful, as it become known as the "You can't win anything with kids" season. The campaign took on this popular epitaph, following the proclamation by Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen, that no to team can replace established stars such as Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis and Paul Ince, with inexperienced yougsters and expect to win trophies. He came to the this conclusion after he had witnessed the humbling of The Red's in a 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa, in which Beckham scored United's solitary goal, whis proved to be his first Premier League goal for the club. However, much to the delight of everyone connected with Manchester United the team went on to win their next five matches, chalking up victories over West Ham United, Wimbledon, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Bolton Wanderers. That season David Beckham made the right-side of midfield his own, as his eight goals for the club helped the reds win a historic double double (the first club to win two League title and F.A. Cup doubles), including a vital goal in United's 2-1 F.A. Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea. That season also saw Beckham take over setpiece duties from regular Ryan Giggs. At the start of the 1996-97 season David Beckham was rewarded for his fine form when he was given the number 10 shirt by Alex Ferguson, replacing the number 24 jersey he had worn during the prior campaign. It also seemed that Beckham loved the opening day of the season, because he got himself on the scorsheet, for the second campaign running, however his latest goal would change his life forever. On warm summers day against Londoners, Wimbledon, with United leading 2-0, through strikes by Eric Cantona and Denis Irwin, Beckham received the ball just inside his own half, through a Brian McClair interception, looked up to see Scottish international goalkeeper Neil Sullivan off his line and with this in mind he shot at goal, the ball sailed past the stranded keeper into the back of the net. Legend has it that after Dutch star Jordi Cruyff had tried something similar earlier in the game, manager Alex Ferguson, told assistant Brian Kidd tah if anyone else tried it, he would substitute them. He probably didn't put it as mildly as that, but you get the gist. That goal took David Beckham out of the bracket of promising yougster, to that of wonderkid, he went on to help Manchester United secure another League title by getting on the scoresheet on 12 occassions. He was also rewarded for his exploits when his peers voted him their PFA Young Player of the Year. After the retirement of Eric Cantona at the end of the 1996-97, David Beckham's kudos grew still further when he was handed the now vacated number '7' jersey, which had been made famous by the big Frenchman, George Best and Bryan Robson Although Beckham averaged a goal every four League games during the 1997-98 campaign he could not help Manchester United retain their English title. The Reds eventually lost out the Arsenal by a solitary point. The season was pretty much one to forget for the young midfielder, as it was his first full season he had been involved in without winning a medal. However, if the 1997-98 season was one to the forget the 1998-99 one would be defined as quite possibly the greatest in the illustrious history of Manchester United, as The Reds went on to win an incredible Treble, consisting of the Premier League title, F.A. Cup and UEFA Champions League, and in doing so became the first English club to achieve this feat. During this campaign David Beckham became a vital figure, setting up many goals for the prolific strike partnership off Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. He also scored Manchester United's opening goal in the F.A. Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park with a superb dipping shot from out side the area. However, more was to come. In the final League match of the season, The Reds went into the game with Tottenham Hotspur, needing a victory to confirm a third English title in four seasons. In a tightly fought game Spurs took a shock lead through Les Ferdinand. As the first half was about to come to a conclusion David Beckham picked up the ball on the right hand side of the opposistions box and curled a magnificent effort into the top corner, this goal gave The Reds the momentum they needed and just three minutes into the second half, Andy Cole latched onto a through ball to hand United the Laeague title. The final installment in Manchester United's season, was the club's most important game in 31 years and came in the form of the UEFA Champions League final, where The Reds would be taking on German giants Bayern Munich at Barcelona's world famous Nou Camp stadium. With the team trailing 1-0 and with the game running its final three minutes (injury time) Beckham's tenacity won United a corner. From the resulting set piece delivered by Beckham himself and the choas cause by Peter Schmeichel the ball eventually broke to forward Teddy Sheringham, who swivled, to beat Oliver Khan between the German sticks. Just 90 seconds later The Reds won another corner and with the Bavarians deflated, Beckham and the rest of his team mates sensed blood and with one swift move with his legendary right boot he delivered a beautifully flighted corner, which was flicked on by Teddy Sheringham and prodded home by the delighted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer For his exploits during that season David Beckham was runner-up in to Brazilian Rivaldo for the prestigeous European Footballer and World Footballer of Year honours. The following season David Beckham picked up yet another League title as his six goals in thirty-one matches helped United finished a staggering 18 points ahead of second placed Arsenal. During this period it had been suggested in some sections of media that Sir Alex Ferguson was becoming increasingly irritated with the way in which David Beckham conducted his affairs away from Old Trafford and the influence his wife, Victoria was having on the midfielder's footballing career. The 2000-01 season - in terms of goals - was the most prolific in David Beckham's career at Manchester United, as he notched an impressive 16 goals in 43 matches as he helped the club win their third consecutive League title. David Beckahm's last season in the red of Manchester United came in 2002-03, after the player picked up an injury during the early stages of the season, he found it difficult to break back into the first team as the deputising Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in sparkling form. It could be fair to say that it was during this period that Beckham's relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson came under increasing pressure. This pressure came to a head on 15 February 2003 after a 2-0 F.A. Cup defeat at the hands of Arsenal at Old Trafford. The United manager was so angered at the performance of the side that in temper he kicked a football boot - that was lying on the dressing room floor - which flew across the room, hitting David Beckham above the eye. After this incident the player's days at the club were numbered. However, despite this unfortunate flair up, United went on the lift the Premier League title once more. At the end of the season, after months of transfer speculation David Beckham was sold to Real Madrid in a deal worth £25m. During eight succesful seasons as a first team regular the midfield superstar made 394 appearances, scoring 85 times and picked up 6 League titles, 2 F.A. Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. Although the player left in strange circumstances he's still a massive Manchester United fan. It is this, as well as his excellent playing career at the club, that has made him Red Devil's legend.
In his first season in Spain Real Madrid could only manage a fourth place finish in the League, but despite this poor showing David Beckham was immediately taken to hearts of the Los Blancos faithful after he scored on his League debut. He went on to score six times on forty-three matches during his debut season. During the 2005-06 season although David Beckham had been sent off three times in the first three months of the campaign, he would finish top of La Liga's assists table. Although the midfielder could be relatively happy with his performances, Real Madrid were again left wanting in the League as they finished second to run away leaders Barcelona, by a margin of twelve points, and were knocked-out of the UEFA Champions League by Arsenal at the Last 16 stage. In the course of the 2006-07 it was clear that David Beckham's career in Madrid was coming to an end as he fell out of favour with coach Fabio Capello. These sentements were compounded on January 10 2007 when Real's Sporting Director Pedrag Mijatovic announced that the midfielder would not be wearing the famous white jersey, the following season. And the very nex day, at a press conference, Baeckham announced he had signed a lucrative five year deal with MSL outfit L.A, Galaxy. In an initial statement, by Fabio Capello, relesed on 13 January 2007, which the Italian later reubuked it was said that David Beckham had played his last game for Spanish giants. However, by the time 10 February 2007 came around, the England midfielder had impressed Capello so, much with his attitude and his dedication to training, that he was re-introduced to first team football in a League game against Real Soiciedad, and repayed the new faith shown in him by the manager, by finding the back of the net. Beckham saw more and more first team action and was inspirational in Real Madrid winning their first Spanish title in four season. Although Madrid had a less superior goal difference to arch rivals Barcelona, in second place, they won the League virtue of their better head-to-head record against the Catalans. So going into the final game of 2006/07 La Liga season against Real Mallorca they just needed a victory, match or better Barcelona's result to win the title. Beckham was handed a start by Capello, but soon limped out of the game with an injury, However, the midfileder's replacement Jose Antonio Reyes, scored a brace, to lift Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory. Such was Beckham's wow factor Real Madrid tried to cancel his move to L.A. Galaxy, but the Californian's refused to listen to their demands and the play left the club.
On 21 July Beckham played his first game for L.A. Galaxy against recognisable opposition in the form of Chelsea, with the Londoners running out 1-0 victors. The midfielder made his competetive debut for the Galaxy two weeks later, when he came on as substitute in a League game against D.C. United on 9 August. The following week David Beckham was named captain for the SuperLiga semi-final against the same opposition and was inspirational in the match which saw the Galaxy win 2-0, with Becks providing a trademark assist and a stunning free-kick, to put the game beyond doubt. They were now through to final against CF Pachuca. In the SuperLiga final on 29 August 2007 against Puachuca, David Beckhem injured his knee and was immediately ruled him out of action for six weeks, but managed to return to first team football for the last game of the season in a 1-0 defeat by Chicago Fire. The midfielder finished the campaign with 8 appearances, 1 goal and 3 assists. The following season would be Beckham's first full one in the U.S.A. however the Californian's struggled in the league and cups, with the England star finishing with a disappointing six goals in thirty-two appearances, however he did score one of the goals of the MSL season when he scored a stunning 70 yard goal in Galaxy's 3-1 victory over Kansas City Wizards.
The loan took effect from 7 January 2009, with Beckham making his full debut four days later in a 2-2 draw against Roma.Two weeks later on 25 January he scored his first gaol for Milan in a 4-1 Serie A victory over Bologna. In the following game Beckham scored again, to take his tally to two goals (and a few assists) in four games, which made him an instant hero in the red half of Milan. Such was David Beckham's impact, A.C. Milan were reportedly ready to splash the cash to make the move permanent one. However. Galaxy's valuation of $15m for the player, left negotiations in limbo. On 2 March 2009 it was announced that Beckham would stay at A.C. Milan until July. It was also put into the public domain that both sides had struck some kind of timeshare deal, where the midfielder would play L.A. Galaxy from mid-July to the end of the Major Soccer League season.
Although Beckham played in all of England's qualifying games for the 1998 World Cup, he was left out of the starting line up for their first two group matches after a spat with manager Glen Hoddle. Rumour has it that Hoddle had suggested, in front of the whole squad that the midfielder was not good enough, to perform his (Hoddle's) specially devised free-kick, which the player took exception to. However, needing a win against Colombia in order to progress, to the last 16 knock-out stage, Beckham was given his first start at France '98. The youngster silenced his critics when he scored a stunning free-kick in a 2-0 victory, which was his first goal in an England shirt. Unfortunatley the good times were about to come to an abrupt halt. in the following match against rivals Argentina, with the scores level at 1-1 Beckham was given a straight red card by referee Kim Morten Nielsen for kicking out at Argentine Diego Simeone, later on in the game England were eliminated from the 1998 World Cup in a tense penalty shoot-out. Needless to see the British press sensed blood, with pictures appearing in many publications of a hanging effigy of the player outside a London pub. The Daily Mirror went as far as printing Beckham's face on a dartbord, for readers to take out their anger. The abuse given to player continued for more than two years and came to head during England's 3-2 defeat by Portugal at Euro 2000. After the team had squandered a 2-0 lead, with Beckham setting up both goals. He was continuosly barracked by a section of his own fans. He responded by giving them a one finger salute. Quite bizarrely the very tabloid newspapers who had castigated the player, now called for their readers to stop harrassing him. Just a few months later, an amazing turnaround had taken place, when after the resignation of Manager Kevin Keegan, David Beckham was named captain, by caretaker-coach Peter Taylor in England's 1-0 friendly defeat in Italy on 15 November 2000. When Taylor was replaced by permanent coach Sven Goran Eriksson, Beckham kept the captain's arband. This new responsibility seemed to galvanize the player, as his levels of performance began to dramatically improve. In the last qualifying game of the 2002 World Cup against Greece at Old Trafford, England needed a victory to assure automatic qualification, otherwise they'd had to try their luck at the dreaded play-off. With the team trailing 2-1 and heading deep into second half injury time, England won a free-kick 35 yards from goal. With the weight of the nation on his shoulders David Beckham stepped up and curled a beautiful shot int to top corner, to put his side through. The miraculous transformation from villan to hero was now complete. Needless to say, Beckham was picked for England's 2002 World Cup Squad in Japan and consolidated his new found hero status by scoring the only goal of the game in the second group match against fierce rivals Argentina, a goal, which knocked them out of the World Cup. England were eventually knocked-out of the World Cup in the Quarter-finals by eventual winners Brazil. During Euro 2004 David Beckham played in all of England's matches, but the tournament was rather a disappointing one for the player as he missed a penalty in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of France and also missed a penalty in England's penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of hosts Portugal in the quarter-finals. After England had qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany David Beckham became the frst England player to score in three World Cup Finals, when he scored a 59th minute free-kick against Ecudor in a 1-0 victory, which put his side through to the next round. Unfortunately, as with the three previous major tournaments,and the second in a row, England were knocked-out in the quarter finals by Portugal on penalties. The day after the tornament an emotional David Beckham announced that he would be stepping down as England captain, saying "It has been an honour and privilege to captain my country but, having been captain for 58 of my 95 games, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter a new era under Steve McClaren". Although the player was laying down the captain's armband he reiterated his desire to continue playing for the national side. However, although he was still committed to the England cause David Beckham was omitted from the squad on 11 August 2006 by new manager Steve McClaren, who suggested he wanted to take the team in a new direction and that Beckham wasn't included in his plans. On the 26 May 2007 Steve McCaren backtracked and announced that he would be including David Beckham in his squad for the friendly game against Brazil and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia. In the game against Brazil, which hailed the official opening of the new Wembley Stadium, Beckham put in an impressive performance as England were held to a 1-1 draw. In the match against Estonia Beckham set up goals for Peter Crouch and Michael Owen in a 3-0 victory. On 22 August 2007 he became the first player to play for England whilst on the books on a non-European club when he starred in a 2-1 defeat by the old enemy in a friendly match. On 20 March 2007 in Paris in a game against France David Beckham acheived the remarkable feat of appearing in his 100th game England and in doing so became only the 5th player to do so. A few months later In a strange twist of fate and after declaring that he had stepped down as England captain, two years earlier he was given the skipper's armband by Fabio Capello for the friendly agianst Trinidad & Tabago. On 28 March 2009 against Slovakia David Beckham became the second highest appearance holder for England when he supassed Bobby Moore's 107 and promptly set up Wayne Rooney to score England's 4th in a 4-0 victory. In fact, in playing in the match Beckham became his country's highest capped outfield player. David Beckham Honours Manchester United Real Madrid David Beckham Personal Honours PFA Young Player of the Year: 1997 From David Beckham, to Manchester United Football legends History of Manchester United Manchester United Fans Site home |
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