David Beckham
- Profession: Footballer
- Place/Date of Birth: 02 May 2020
- Associated with: Victoria Beckham
"I’m always disappointed when I can’t play," the 32-year-old told the Associated Press after yesterday’s game. "But I’m working hard so I’ll be able to play again soon."
Alexi Lalas, president of LA Galaxy, added: "When you buy a ticket to see the LA Galaxy play, it says the LA Galaxy on the ticket. It doesn’t say David Beckham. I’m not naive to the fact that there are a lot of people out there who want to see David Beckham. They will get their opportunity. But he is not a robot. He is a human being and he will go through injuries and this won’t be the only injury he goes through. But he is here for the next five years and we don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardise his ability to play next week, next month, next year.
"It’s disappointing to a lot of people. I’ll tell you that he’s as disappointed as anybody else."
Becks ’Honoured’ by LA Galaxy Debut - Aug 10 2007
David Beckham has said he was "very honoured" after making his long-awaited Major League Soccer debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy as a 72nd minute substitute.
The handsome football star - who has moved to LA with his wife, former Posh Spice Victoria, and their three sons - admitted he was delighted to finally get on the pitch.
The England midfielder was unable to prevent a 1-0 Galaxy loss to DC United, but Becks created opportunities with a couple of fine passes and showed no ill effects from the ankle injury that has delayed his debut.
After the match he said: "It was a good night, but it was also a bad night. Obviously, there’s been a certain amount of pressure because everyone is talking about how I’ve come to MLS and not played yet. But I don’t feel pressure in that sense. I feel pressure in myself to get fit and to get back playing again.
"It’s not nice to disappoint people who have paid a lot of money to come and see you, so it was good to get on the pitch tonight."
He added: "Stepping out there and seeing the reaction, it was great. I feel very honoured. It was great for me to be on the pitch and to kick a soccer ball around."
Becks turns down Simpsons appearance? - July 30 2007
David Beckham has turned down the chance to appear in an episode of The Simpsons - because he is reportedly still angry about an episode which refers to his alleged affair with Rebecca Loos.
The 32-year-old was asked to appear in the show after he joined LA Galaxy this month.
Matt Groening, the show’s creator, told the Daily Telegraph he used Ronaldo, one of the footballer’s former team mates at Real Madrid, instead.
"Beckham didn’t want to take part but, never mind, we invited Ronaldo, who did want to put his voice to the part and the problem was solved," he said.
The affair was mocked by the popular animated family during an ’alternative’ Christmas Speech on British TV network Channel Four in 2004 - a move which upset the Beckhams.
During the Christmas Speech, Marge Simpson compared her relationship with husband Homer to that of Victoria and David, telling viewers,
"Our union is as solid as the union between your David and Posh Spice. Oh, he did that? With his assistant? That’s so sad, OK, moving on."
Becks has no regrets about LA - July 23 2007
Beckham has no regrets about his move to LA, despite some calling his new side a ’pub team’.
David says in a new TV documentary: "For me it was a decision that wasn’t taken lightly and I didn’t rush into it, it was just at the time for the right [reasons] and it is now."
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Victoria Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on 2nd May 1975 and despite being a renowned national and international footballer, is probably more famous for his marriage to ‘Posh’, aka Victoria Beckham, their bizarrely named children and continued coverage in the gossip press.
Beckham’s football career began its steady climb when he first signed a trainee’s contract with Man U in 1991, making his league debut in 1995.
His contribution at Man U saw the team climb the ladder that is the English Premiere League and by 1998 he had also established himself on the international scene.
In 1998 Beckham was part of the England squad at the World Cup, but received a red card in the quarter final, for kicking out in anger at Argentian player Diego Simeone. England lost the game on penalties and David’s on-pitch behaviour became the object of much criticism on his return to England.
Despite his instrumental part in Man U claiming the Treble, Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, in the 98/99 season, Beckham’s real rise to fame didn’t start until 2000 when he was promoted to captain the England team.
In 2001 his performance in a qualifying match against Greece saved the day for the England team and shortly afterwards he was voted Sports Personality of the Year. In 2002 his leadership saw an unprecedented 5-1 defeat of Germany in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. The team went on to knock Argentina out of the cup on penalties, before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual winners Brazil.
Relations at home with Man U were strained during this time. A number of injuries left their star player incapacitated, whilst his growing celebrity status appeared to cause friction with teammates and manager alike.
In 2003 we all heard about the infamous ‘boot’ incident, when apparently, following a defeat against Arsenal, manager Alex Ferguson kicked a football boot at Beckham, it struck his eye causing a gash that required stitches.
In the summer of 2003 Beckham surprised fans by announcing a move to Spanish dream team Real Madrid, with whom he signed a four-year contract. During his time in Spain he split his time between the Spanish capital and his family who had remained at their home in England.
Despite winning over the fans in Spain and scoring well in the first season, the team itself didn’t perform well and were knocked out of both the Spanish and Champions League. It wasn’t until his fourth season in 2006/7 that the team won the Spanish Le Liga title, Beckham’s first since his arrival at the club.
During his time in Spain Beckham spent as much time in the papers as he did on the pitch, when accusations of an affair with personal assistant Rebecca Loos were printed in the tabloid press. His wife’s refusal to move to Spain fuelled yet further accusations that the marriage was on the rocks.
His career as England captain also seemed to be strained at this time, when during the 2006 World Cup he was substituted, a move that saw him weeping on the sideline. Shortly after this incident Beckham took the bold step of standing down from his position as captain and was subsequently dropped from the squad all together.
At the beginning of 2007 Beckham announced his swift departure from Real Madrid, in order to cross the Atlantic and join Los Angeles Galaxy.
2007 has seen the whole family move Stateside, with the Beckham’s continuing their domination of the world media in an attempt to ‘conquer’ the USA.
David and Victoria married on July 4th 1999 and have three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz
Updated July 2007
November 2007