Birthdate: May 2, 1975
Birthplace: London, England
He's known for scoring big goals in Europe - and trying to do the same thing in America. His pinpoint kicking accuracy has made him one of soccer's biggest stars, and his movie-star status makes him one of the world's most recognizable people. Here's a closer look at David Beckham!
David Beckham: Growing Up
Soccer has always been the biggest thing in David's life. He and his dad used to play for hours when he was a kid. Because he was always kicking the ball around, David never did all that well in school. He dropped out when he was 16 and went to play soccer for Manchester United’s junior team. He played his first pro game for Manchester two years later when he was only 18 years old.
David Beckham Biography
David Beckham: Pro Career
By 1996, David was a regular with the Manchester team and one of the most popular players in England due to the fact that he helped the team win an FA Cup and a Premier Division title in the same year. David was also the FIFA World Player of the Year runner-up in 1999 and 2001.
One year later, in 2002, David helped England advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Unfortunately, David and his team lost to Brazil that year.
In 2003, David was transferred to Real Madrid in Spain for a mind-boggling $40 million. But after being plagued by injury and scandal, the English soccer star decided he needed a change in scenery. In 2007, just like Pele (aka Edson Arantes do Nascimento did in back the 1970s, David got on a plane and took his famous game to the U.S., signing an enormous five year $250 million contract to play for the LA Galaxy of the MLS. But his injuries subsisted and he missed quite a few games with the Galaxy at the start of his contract.
By the time he was healed and ready to play, it seemed like it was already too late. Despite scoring a goal and assisting his American teammate Landon Donovan, the Galaxy failed to qualify for the end of season playoffs.
In October 2008, Milan in Italy announced that David was going to join them on loan for a short while. Even though David made it clear that he was NOT leaving the MLS and would return to play in LA at the start of the 2009 season in March, the move didn’t sit too well with Galaxy fans. They were angry and didn’t seem to lake David that much – some held signs up at games saying, “Go home fraud” and “Part time player.”
Still, David decided to go play on loan with Milan for a second season. Unfortunately, while in Italy he tore his left Achilles tendon and needed surgery in March 2010. Because of his injury, he was forced to miss the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a player. In May 2010 it was announced that David Beckham would work as a mediator between management and the players and as an English member of the coaching staff for the England national football team at the 2010 World Cup.
David Beckham: Glam Life
David's personal life is just as headline-worthy as his soccer career. Since the beginning of his professional soccer career, Beckham has been the subject of paparazzi attention. That media attention skyrocketed when he married Posh Spice, the British singer for the popular group the Spice Girls. In 2002, he had the movie Bend it Like Beckham named after him - although he never appeared in the Keira Knightley flick.
David Beckham - Did U Know?
- David Beckham is a midfielder.
- David Beckham is six-feet tall and weighs 163 lbs.
- David Bechham's favorite class in elementary school was art.
- David Beckham has three sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.
- David Beckham also has two dogs named Snoop and Puffy.
- David Beckham was listed as the 15th most influential celebrity in 2007 by Forbes Magazine.
- David Beckham is very involved with charities like UNICEF and Malaria No More.
- David Beckham was searched for more than any other sports topic on Google in 2003 and 2004.
- David Beckham and his family purchased a house in Beverly Hills. Their good friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes live just down the street.
David Beckham Says...
"I'm not silly enough to think I'm going to change the whole culture... but I do have a belief that soccer can go to a different level [in America]."
