David Beckham

AskMen.com feature on David Beckham that includes pics, pictures, biography, video,
related news, vital stats, commentary, and cool facts.

Page 1 - INTRO
Page 2 - COMMENTS
Page 3 - BIOGRAPHY

overall rating
90

David Beckham is England's answer to the Spice Girls. He is a pop star in a soccer
uniform. Not only is he married to Victoria Adams, the Spice Girl formerly known as
Posh, but he is England's most famous and brightest soccer player. He is the pretty boy,
rock star and teen idol of the country, even though he no longer plays for the English
Premiership [England's top soccer or football league].

His career has seen a whirlwind of ups and downs, not to mention a whole lot of press.
Fans blamed his infamous red card in the 1998 World Cup in France for England's
elimination. Yet many consider his superb play during the 1998-1999 soccer season as
the reason why his team, Manchester United, enjoyed unprecedented success. Love him
or hate him, his skin is thicker than an elephant's considering all the abuse and adoration
he has received.

In June 2003, Bechkam was traded to Real Madrid -- soccer's Dream Team -- for $41
million. Despite his ability on the field, he is becoming a pop culture icon, as the
unofficial "metrosexual" poster boy.

personality & talent

87

He isn't outspoken or particularly extroverted. He does, however, have a quiet hunger to

be the best soccer player in the world. His temper is almost as famous as his hairstyles,
and has gotten him into a fair share of trouble.
Talent-wise, few can compare to him. But more often than not, he is often quoted as the
most marketable player in the world (instead of the best) because of his charisma and his
enormous fan base. Without an underlying talent though, not even the world's most
charasmatic character would have the global appeal he does.

How good is he? Well, let's just say he has a tendency to score goals from a very, very
long distance. Try 57 yards. That doesn't seem like much, but to put it in perspective,
most kickers in the NFL can't hit a ball that far, much less at a target much smaller than a
football field's goal posts... and with a goaltender.

women magnetism
92

He is a soft-spoken guy. He isn't a particularly graceful talker, but when you're a good-
looking guy, that's only a bonus to women. Whether it's his blond hair, his model looks,
or his athleticism, we're sure that quite a few women across the world became teary-eyed
when their pretty boy married former Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Adams.

But it seems that Beckham is still attracting the honeys. In 2004, his personal assistant,
Rebecca Loos, admitted that she had an affair with Beckham. Depending on who you
ask, his ability to attract women may diminish from this affair, or it may lead his female
fans to think they have a chance of being with the soccer star.

accomplishments & fame

90

Sometimes David wishes he wasn't so famous; the attempted kidnapping of his son is the
kind of event that makes you want to disappear into oblivion. His throng of fans bring
him extra publicity, but it also brings more critics, including those who attempted to
lynch him for his 1998 World Cup red card.

Despite the harsh environment, Beckham has continued to improve his play on the field.
On the international level, he is captain of the English squad. During his tenure at
Manchester United, he won 4 league titles, the F.A. Cup and the prestigious Champions
League Cup.

In June 2003, it was announced that Real Madrid, home to star players like Zinedine
Zidane, Luis Figo, and Ronaldo, would pay a tranfer fee of $41 million US for the
superstar midfielder. He has also become a part of mainstream pop culture, thanks to the
huge hit of summer 2003, Bend It Like Beckham, and his status as the poster boy for the
latest buzz word, "metrosexual."

Endorsements like his $160 million lifetime deal with Adidas and other lucrative
relationships with PepsiCo, Vodafone, Marks & Spencer, and Siemens have also thrust
Beckham constantly into the spotlight.

coolness factor
87

David Beckham has one of the coolest jobs in the world. He has played in front of some
of the world's most ardent fans, the Manchester United faithful, known as one of the
loudest and most faithful in soccer, and now plays among the brightest stars of his sport
as a member of Real Madrid.

He is also revered as a fashion icon, a heartthrob, and an all-around cool dude.

personal style
94

His wife, Victoria, was known as the most stylish of the Spice Girls, and her sense of
fashion has rubbed off on David. He has gone from a simple boy, to an icon in trendy
British magazines. Whenever he gets a new haircut, it's right there on the cover of every
paper, and it's safe to say that he can pull off any look he chooses. Now how many
athletes have become trendsetters?

That the next critic that comes along and says Beckham can't play, put some cleats on, get
on a soccer field, and put his money where his mouth is.

quote

"I have come to accept that if I have a new haircut it is front page news. But having a
picture of my foot on the front page of a national newspaper is a bit exceptional."
-David Beckham

biography

One of England's most influential football players and a tabloid favorite, former
Manchester United's midfielder, David Beckham, has become known for his talent as
well as his temperament.

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born May 2, 1975, in Leytonstone, England. As a
student in Essex, Beckham won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills Award at the age of
11, making his football talent evident at an early age.

david beckham gets his start

After being signed as a trainee July 8, 1991, the Bobby Charlton fan played as a
substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis on September 23, 1992. The game against Brighton
marked Beckham's debut as a United player.

Winner of the 1992 F.A. Youth Cup and runner-up a year later, Beckham was finally
signed as a professional United player in January 1993. The 18-year-old soccer pro
played in his first Champions League game and contributed a goal to the team's final win.

Despite his talent, Beckham only made his full debut in April 1995. He became a first
team regular in the 1996-'97 seasons as a right midfielder. In 1996, not only did England
get a taste of Beckham's crossing, free kick and long shot talent, but the player also won
the F.A. Premier League, Cup and Charity Shield; all in the same year. 1996 was also the
year Beckham made his international debut in a game against Moldova.

david beckham in the world cup

The same summer, Beckham scored his first international goal in the June 26, 1998 game
against Colombia, although he made waves in a negative way. During the 1998 World
Cup in France, Beckham kicked Diego Simeone lightly in the back of the leg, in
retaliation for having been fouled by the player.

Needles to say, Beckham's vengeful kick basically kicked himself -- out of the game, that
is. Outnumbered by Argentina, England lost the game (at least that's what they attribute
their loss to), and Beckham's nation was unforgiving, to say the least.

The tabloids later followed Beckham off the soccer field and onto his posh wedding to
Spice Girl Victoria Adams, in July 1999. In March of 2000, the couple welcomed their
son Brooklyn Joseph to the world. Beckham's personal life has since overshadowed the
negative media stories focusing on his bad temper, shifting to stories on to his wife, who
is also a tabloid favorite.

david beckham makes news

Back to soccer though: In 1999, Beckham won another F.A. Cup, and came in 2nd in the
European Ballon d'Or awards and as FIFA's World Player of the Year. He also won a
Champions League title, an Intercontinental Cup and an English league title that same
year.

But despite the honors, Beckham's temper had not improved; something that was evident
after he received a red-card for tackling a Necaxa player at the FIFA World Club
Championships.

David Beckham: My Story, the United Manchester midfielder's autobiography, was

released in 1998.

Beckham also made headlines after his Ferrari had apparently been sabotaged, and there
were even attempts to kidnap Beckham's eldest son, Brooklyn. David and Victoria
Beckham welcomed their second son, Romeo, into the world in September 2002.

At the 2002 World Cup, in another tense matchup with Argentina, Beckham redeemed
himself in the eyes of English fans when he converted a penalty kick that eventually gave
England the victory. The red card he received four years earlier had been forgiven.

david beckham goes to real madrid

In June 2003, it was announced that Real Madrid would pay a transfer fee of $41 million
for David Beckham, who joined a team full of star footballers like Zinedine Zidane, Luis
Figo, and Ronaldo. His latest autobiography, Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground, is an
in-depth look at Beckham's rags to riches story, his career highlights with Manchester
United, and how he balances super-stardom with his life as a family man.

In entertainment news, Beckham became an even bigger name when the sleeper hit of
2003, Bend It Like Beckham, paid homage to the soccer player in its title. Beckham is
also getting press as the poster boy for "metrosexuals" worldwide.

david beckham's family affair

Lately, Beckham has been in the news for the wrong reasons. Rebecca Loos, his former
personal assistant, has admitted that they had an affair, causing speculation that his
marriage to Victoria Beckham is in trouble. The News of the World, a UK newspaper,
also published an explicit transcript of the text messages exchanged between David
Beckham and Rebecca Loos, and unidentified sources claim the pair had sex at the hotel
Beckham was living in when he first arrived in Spain to play for Real Madrid.
But everything is back to normal in the Beckham household, as Victoria gave birth to son
No. 3, Cruz, on February 20, 2005. Of course, the birth made headlines, thanks to what
the media claims is a feminine name -- at least in Spain (Cruz means "cross" in Spanish).

What else do you need to know?

David Beckham

Born:

May 2nd, 1975, Leytonstone, England

Height:

1,80 m (5’11’’)

Weight:

71 kg (157 lb)

Position:

Midfielder

National Team Debut:

1996 versus Moldova

Clubs:

2003 onwards: Real Madrid

1993-2003: Manchester United

Awards

UEFA Champions League:

1999 Manchester United

F.A. Premiership:

1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 Manchester United

F.A. Cup:

1995, 1999 Manchester United

F.A. Charity Shield:

1996, 1997 Manchester United

UEFA.com Team of the Year:

2003

BBC Sports Personality of the Year:

2001

FIFA World Player of the Year:

2001 Runner-up

Biography:

Seemingly chosen for success from an early age, David hit the pitch running and hasn’t
stopped since. David’s father spent hours on the field training his son in the skills that
have made him the most famous footballer in the world.

The English Captain has never lost this drive and work ethic and it is visible every time
he steps on the pitch. The FA Premier Cup…done. The FA Premier League
Championship…done. The UEFA Super Cup…done. The UEFA Champions League
Championship…done. The Spanish League treble, UEFA Euro 2004™, and FIFA World
Cup 2006™…are just ahead.

David Beckham is the epitome of hard work, dedication and skill. All these attributes
have culminated in a player that does the impossible, as anyone lucky enough to see one
of his incredible free kicks can attest. This is why David Beckham’s skill and the
Predator® football boot have been a combination that has changed the game of football.
The Predator® boot that’s made to give better swerve and power combined with David’s
ability to miraculously control the ball produce some of the most magical moments in the
game of football.

DAVÝD ROBERT JOSEPH BECHKAM...