Legends of International Football - David Beckham

Talent, dedication, charming looks. Possessing all three traits can make a man successful in any profession, none more so than football. If anyone personifies the complete package, it’s David Beckham. A league champion in four countries – the first Englishman to do so – combined with over a century of caps for England puts him alongside some of the biggest names to have graced the football pitch.

Born on 2^nd May 1975 to Sandra Georgina and David Edward Alan “Ted” Beckham in Leytonstone, London, young David was brought up to be a Manchester United fan. His parents were huge supporters of the Red Devils and would frequently travel to Old Trafford for home games. On his 14^th birthday, Beckham signed schoolboy forms with Manchester United. Two years later, he signed a Youth Training Scheme contract to be enrolled into the famous Manchester United youth academy.

Under the watchful eyes of Brian Kidd and Eric Harrison, the youth team coaches, Beckham evolved into one of the best wingers in the country for his age. He scored in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final in 1992 against Crystal Palace and that was the just the push he needed to make a break in to the first team.

Beckham’s team mates in that final were other members of the famous “Class of ‘92” including Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt. The class of ’92 was to many a reincarnation of the Busby Babes as they went on to achieve the unthinkable, The Treble in 1999 and Beckham was very much an integral part of the setup.

Beckham made his maiden appearance for the United senior team as a substitute in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. He helped the reserve team win the league in 1994. After making another substitute appearance against Galatasaray on 7^th December, 1994, he was loaned out to Preston North End for part of the season.

He showed first signs of his brilliance from dead ball situations when he scored from a corner kick. Beckham returned to United and made his Premier League debut in a goal-less draw against Leeds United and experienced agony as his team finished runners up to Blackburn Rovers by a single point.

The 1995/96 season was to be a breakthrough one for Beckham. He, along with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, guided United to their 3^rd title in four years in what was to be only the first of many trophies. This, after being 10 points behind Newcastle United at the turn of the year and the infamous Alan Hansen quote, “You’ll never win anything with kids”. Beckham scored the winner against Chelsea in the semi-final and provided the corner from which Eric Cantona scored in the final.

He produced some eye catching performances, particularly from the right wing with pin point crosses and fantastic set piece technique. By the end of that season, he had cemented his place in the United first team and made the right mid position his. The following season Beckham produced a moment of absolute magic when he beat Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from inside his own half and quite possibly the goal he is remembered for. His match winning performances did not go unnoticed that season as he was voted PFA Young Player of the Year by his peers.

As if expectations from the best young footballer in the country weren’t enough, Beckham inherited the famous number 7 shirt following the retirement of the charismatic Eric Cantona. And he did not disappoint although United missed out on the League title and the FA Cup to Arsenal. But that was just the tunnel and the light at the end of it was the 1998/99 season when United conquered England and Europe by winning the Treble in most dramatic fashion.

Beckham was hugely influential by scoring some jaw dropping free kicks and also leading the assists charts. He scored a vital goal in the final league game of the season against Tottenham. United were trailing by a goal and needed a win to ensure the title. Beckham’s goal sparked a quick response and United overturned the deficit to clinch the Premier League.

His versatility was brought to the fore when he started in central midfield in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich thus showing the immense faith Sir Alex had in him. He finished runner up behind Rivaldo for FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or although many believe he was a deserving candidate for his contributions to the club in a season of dreams.

Beckham added another League title to his kitty in 2000 when United won the league with a thumping lead of 18 points. His goal return had dropped a bit but he was still very much effective as a winger and a set piece specialist.

There were reports during that time that the relationship between Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson had begun to deteriorate because of his flamboyant social life and the influence of his wife Victoria Beckham. Ferguson deemed that Beckham’s focus from football was waning. The issue was immediately silenced when United won another title in 2001, making it a hat trick and Beckham’s fifth at just 26 years of age.

Season 2001/02 was the best for him in terms of goals. He bagged 11 goals in the league and 16 in all competitions but was on the receiving end of disappointment as United could only manage second place behind Arsenal. An injury forced him out of the initial stages of the 2002/03 season and he found it difficult to demand a regular starting place as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had replaced him in the right mid position.

He still managed to score 11 goals all season in what was to be his final season in the red of Manchester United. Following a loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup, Ferguson reportedly kicked a boot that hit Beckham just above the eye causing a wound which required stitches. Reports immediately began circulating that either one of Ferguson or Beckham would quit United that season. This was confirmed when Beckham signed for Real Madrid in June 2003 for a reported fee of 35 million euro, a British record transfer then.

During the recent Wayne Rooney transfer saga, Gary Neville stated, “Once you leave Manchester United, there is only one way you go. Down.” Although Beckham’s Madrid career started brilliantly, he managed just two trophies, the Spanish Supercup in 2003 and the La Liga in 2007. He did achieve a personal honour as he became the first Englishman to make 100 Champions League appearances when he came on against Steaua Bucharest in October 2006.

Beckham announced on 11 January, 2007 that he had signed a five year deal with Los Angeles Galaxy starting 1 July, 2007. His time in the US was not a trophy laden one. He went on two loan spells to AC Milan to solidify his chances to make it to the England team. His best year in Hollywood was 2011 when he topped the assists table and helped Galaxy win the MLS Cup, thus making him the first Englishman to win a league title in three countries.

In January 2013, Beckham signed a 6 month deal with Paris St. Germain and made history by becoming the only Englishman to win a league title in four countries when PSG secured the Ligue 1 title.

He finished his club career with a glittering trophy cabinet consisting of 6 Premier Leagues, 2 FA Cups, 4 Community Shields, 1 Champions League, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Spanish Supercup, 1 La Liga, 2 MLS Cups and 1 Ligue 1.

Many people claim that Beckham has never shown the same promise and talent at international level. But with 115 England caps to his name, 58 of those as captain, it is hard to believe.

He made his England debut on 1^st September, 1996 in a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova. He featured in all of England’s qualifying matches and was rewarded with a place in the World Cup squad for France, 1998. He was however publicly accused by England manager Glenn Hoddle of not concentrating on the World Cup and was dropped for the first two games. He returned in the third scoring a long range free kick, his first goal for England, in a 2-0 victory against Colombia.

Fans are known to be fickle and football can aid that by turning a hero to a villain in the blink of an eye. Beckham faced this when he was sent off against Argentina for reportedly kicking Diego Simeone who went down dramatically. The match ended in a draw and England went out on a penalty shootout and Beckham, took the brunt of the abuse as journalists and fans blamed him for the team’s exit.

He also received death threats and an effigy of him burnt in London. It was during this time that his United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, publicly called for United fans to support him and they did not disappoint. They stood by him during the 1998/99 season when he was jeered at almost every away game.

Following Kevin Keegan’s resignation in 2000, Beckham was made the captain of the national team.

If football can turn you from hero to villain, it can do so the other way round as well. The match was England vs Greece, the venue, his beloved Old Trafford, at stake was a place in the 2002 World Cup. England were trailing 2-1 and needed a point at least to qualify.

With injury time looming England were awarded a free kick. David Beckham stepped up and delivered a captain’s moment by scoring a trademark curling free kick ensuring England’s spot for the World Cup. The World Cup proved to be a disappointment as England lost out to eventual winners Brazil in the quarter final courtesy of a Ronaldinho wonder goal.

Beckham stayed on as skipper and helped England qualify for Euro 2004. However, England’s tryst with agony in international competitions continued as Beckham missed a penalty in a 2-1 defeat against France and had another one saved in a shootout against Portugal resulting in them crashing out of yet another major tournament on penalties.

October 2005 saw him get another red in a friendly against Austria making him the first England captain to be sent off. The following month though he achieved yet another personal accolade when he captained England for the 50^th time in a friendly against Argentina.

The World Cup in Germany in 2006 started off well for the Three Lions as Beckham forced an own goal against Paraguay in a 1-0 win and assisted twice against Trinidad & Tobago in a 2-0 win, earning a Man of the Match award. He scored a match winner against Ecuador in the second round match and earned England a well-deserved place in the quarter final. He thus achieved a unique feat of the first Englishman to score in three separate World Cups.

The quarter final against Portugal was yet another disappointment when Beckham limped off after half time and England’s ghosts of the penalty shootout came back to haunt them as they lost 3-1. Beckham was visibly shattered during the game and soon after he made a public announcement saying he was stepping down as England captain.

He said, “It has been an honour and privilege to captain my country but, having been captain for 58 of my 94 games, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter a new era under Steve McLaren.”

Beckham was soon dropped from the English side although he made himself available to England should he be needed. It was to be a few months before Steve McLaren recalled David and started him in a friendly against Brazil in England’s first match at the New Wembley in May 2007. He repaid the manager’s faith by assisting two goals in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.

In spite of moving to MLS that year, Beckham restated his desire to play for England and became the first England player to play for the national team when playing for a non-European club against Germany in a friendly. He earned his 99^th cap in a 3-2 loss to Croatia in which he assisted one goal but the result meant that England had missed out on qualifying for Euro 2008.

This resulted in Beckham having to wait almost 5 months for his 100^th cap and he reached that milestone when the new England manager, Fabio Capello recalled him for a friendly against France in late March 2008. He received an honorary gold cap from Sir Bobby Charlton to commemorate his century of caps for England before kick off against the United States at Wembley and was picked as a surprise captain for the friendly against Trinidad & Tobago on June 1, 2008. Life had made a full circle for David as he went from stepping down as England captain to being dropped completely to reinstated as captain, albeit temporarily, in just two years.

He overtook Bobby Charlton’s appearances for England when he came off the bench against Belarus in a qualifier match for World Cup, 2010, thus earning his 107^th cap and becoming the third highest capped Englishman. On 11^th February, 2009, he drew level with Bobby Moore’s record of 108 caps for most caps by an outfield player making a substitute appearance against Spain. A month later, he made another substitute appearance against Slovakia, becoming England’s most capped outfield player at 109 caps. His last game for England was on 14^th October, 2009 as a substitute against Belarus in a World Cup qualifying game.

An injury in March 2010 ruled him out of selection for the World Cup but he still went to South Africa as part of the back-room staff donning the role of a mediator between the management and players. Although Capello suggested an inclusion of Beckham for the last friendly game, he did not feature in it but his agent reiterated that Beckham had no intention of retiring and would play for England if needed and if he was fit. He remained 10 short of Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps, the most by an Englishman for any position.

Beckham was also included in the provisional squad of Team Great Britain for the London Olympics, 2012 but did not make it to the final team list.

Overall, David Beckham finished his England career on 115 caps and 17 goals. More than 50% of his caps were as captain showing just what a wonderful leader he was. Although Beckham and the team are said to have under-achieved on the international stage, it doesn’t take away the fact that he has produced some outstanding performances down the right wing for both club and country.

Beckham’s pin point crosses, awe-inspiring free kicks and accurate corners will be used as teaching aids for many young footballers across the world. We may remember him for the audacious half-line goal, the red card against Argentina or the heroic free kick against Greece, but there was much more to David Beckham’s talent on the field. And of course, off it.