Manchester, Madrid, L.A., Milan, Paris.
It's fitting that David Beckham, football's most famous fashionista, should have a playing
C.V. that reads like the tagline for a designer label. From an adopted homegrown hero in Manchester,
he became an international icon of the game, one of the most famous people in the world,
and while model-good looks, a hefty dose of media savvy and being married to a Spice Girl
certainly contributed to his fame, his footballing success was built on an incredible drive and
work ethic.
Beckham grew up a Cockney Red, inheriting his father's love for Manchester United. Discovered
at a Bobby Charlton Soccer School – the United legend's branded schools were a mainstay
of youth-football culture in Britain in the 80s – he signed for his dream club as a
teenager, making the move up north to live in digs, and earn his stripes as a key member
of the Class of '92. Even before that, he had been involved in
the United culture, invited by Alex Ferguson into the dressing room for London away games
from an early age, such was his promise as a kid.
He made his senior debut for the Red Devils aged 17, on as a substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis
in a League Cup game in September 1992. Two years later he earned his first start, again
in the League Cup, and in December '94 he scored against Galatasaray in a Champions
League game.
But in early '95, Ferguson decided that the youngster would benefit from additional playing
time and sent him on loan to Preston North End.
Suitably toughened up, and forever to be cited by the Deepdale faithful as a fondly remembered,
hard-working visitor, Beckham returned to the fold at United. In the summer of '95 Ferguson
sold Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, and most relevantly to the young right-sided midfielder, Andrei
Kanchelskis. The rest was history.
By the end of the 1997-98 season he was a star for club and country. He had won a league
and FA Cup double, a further league title and a PFA young player of the year award at
Old Trafford and had also won his first England cap, awarded by Glenn Hoddle in 1996.
He had started every game in qualifying for the World Cup in France in the summer of '98
but was left out of the side for the first two group games. Thus began the most difficult
period in his professional life. He started England's final group game, a must-win clash
with Colombia, and scored a brilliant free-kick in a 2-0 win.
Then came infamy.
Frustrated by the treatment he had received at the hands of Diego Simeone in England's
second round clash with Argentina, he kicked out at his opponent. It wasn't much of a kick,
Beckham was lying flat on the ground and flicked his leg at a passing Simeone, but the referee
did not hesitate in showing him a red card.
England would go on to lose the game on penalties and the tabloid press began a hate campaign
against the young player, scapegoating him for another tournament failure.
He was too flash, they decided, too confident and brash.
"Ten brave lions, one stupid boy" read the Daily Mirror headline. The Sun published a
dartboard with his face on it. On the streets of England, most notoriously, his effigy was
hung and burned.
He had every right to be nervous about the forthcoming season. Travelling to away grounds
with opposition fans baying for his blood, he could have retreated into his shell. Instead,
backed to the hilt by Ferguson and a United support whose already ambivalent relationship
with the national team made choosing sides easy, Beckham was instrumental in United's
historic treble. Anyone who carries the belief that his international
reputation was more to do with his fame than his football should dwell on the highlights
of his late 90s and early 2000s United performances. He was highly productive, churning out goals
and assists with regularity and brilliance. His spectacular set-piece ability, both in
terms of goal threat and chance creation was matched by his ability to find teammates in
open play, or to score from range. He was clearly the man for a big moment too, scoring
in the title decider against Spurs and delivering the two corners in injury time of the 1999
Champions League final which – famously led to the two goals that won United the European
Cup and, ultimately a treble. He ended the season as UEFA Club footballer
of the year and finished the year as runner up in the Ballon d'Or voting.
Over time his relationship with England's support changed too. In temporary charge between
Kevin Keegan's brief reign and the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson, Peter Taylor handed
him the England armband, which he then held until 2006.
Of course, the moment at which his England redemption really began came on 6th October
2001.
Qualification for the 2002 World Cup had faltered and England, playing at Old Trafford, had
to draw with Greece to avoid a tricky playoff game. Beckham played like a man possessed
that day as his team laboured around him. The home side found themselves 2-1 down in
injury time. Then their captain found himself in familiar territory, standing over a freekick
at Old Trafford, just left of centre, about 30 yards out. He whipped it into the top corner
and was recasted, almost instantly, as a national hero. His goal from the penalty spot in a
1-0 group stage win over Argentina at the finals themselves capped off his remarkable
personal redemption ark.
Back at Old Trafford, he won three more league titles in the next four years as the Red Devils
continued their near-total domestic dominance. However, a high-profile falling out with Sir
Alex Ferguson – who was increasingly suspicious of Beckham's public persona – saw United
negotiate a deal with Barcelona presidential candidate, Joan Laporta, who pledged to sign
the midfielder should he win the election. Laporta did win, but Beckham refused Barca's
advances and instead he headed off for Real Madrid in 2003, to take his place in Florentino
Perez’s Galacticos project. Silverware proved harder to come by in Spain, however, and it
was not until 2007, his final season at Madrid, that he finally lifted another league title
trophy.
That season was notable for one more classic Beckham comeback – the club's hierarchy
had deemed him surplus to requirements and were not planning to renew his contract. In
response, he agreed a shocking end-of-season move to LA Galaxy in MLS in January of that
year. Then-Madrid manager Fabio Capello wasn’t
happy and publicly said that Beckham would never play for the club again. Instead, Beckham's
hard work and talent saw him reintegrated into the side and he would play a crucial
role in their successful run in. So crucial, in fact, that the Madrid leadership attempted
– unsuccessfully - to undo his transfer to the United States.
His time in LA is a fascinating period – ultimately it has to be considered a success given the
raised international profile of the league and procession of high-profile stars that
have followed in his wake. But there was some ambivalence too. He extended an off-season
loan move to AC Milan to keep himself viable for England selection, meaning he missed the
start of the MLS season and a banner in the crowd greeted his return with the invitation
to "Go Home Fraud". But, as is the case for most of his career,
he got his head down, and for the most part worked himself back into fans' affections
as he helped the Galaxy win the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012.
His time at Milan was marked by a memorable, emotional return to Old Trafford in the Champions
League, the first time he had played against United. His name had been sung on and off
throughout the game as he sat on the bench. When his impending arrival on the pitch was
announced, the crowd serenaded him – United were comfortably in the lead at this point,
so supporters were free to revel in the return of one of their own. It was an electric atmosphere.
Then he touched the ball and the whole crowd booed – an affectionate joke.
The game came during the height of anti-Glazer protests. After the match was over, Beckham
took the applause of the Stretford End and a fan threw a green-and-gold scarf, the symbol
of their protest, down onto the pitch. Beckham took it and wrapped it around his
neck. The place erupted in approval. It was either an act of genuine solidarity or a beautifully
crafted P.R. move. Or maybe it was a bit of both.
There was a final act in Beckham's career after his departure from the Galaxy. He signed
for Paris Saint-Germain in January 2013 – no label can be officially considered haute couture
unless it has a workshop in Paris, after all. He donated his salary during his time there
to a children's charity, won the league and said an emotional goodbye at the end of the
season. It was a fitting end to a brilliant career.
He finished his career with 117 international caps, many as captain, having won titles in
England, Spain, the U.S. and France. He is instantly recognisable all over the world
and won the respect of every set of supporters he ever regularly played in front of. And
he hit a dead ball as sweetly as anyone who has ever played the game.