Sports Person of the Week: David Beckham

David Beckham was a bit of a footballing first. The sport was, for a long time, resigned to stadiums and newspaper columns, with technology eventually zapping it in to our homes and mobile phones. You used to have to work to find out about the latest match, but now the goals and highlights are available a few taps away, before the net has even stopped shaking. It’s the sport of England, and, fan or not, it’s unavoidable.

With endless news stories about their marriages or what they had for dinner, the hair product adverts starring them, the posters plastered all over your city with their massive faces on to celebrate the new season; even if you don’t like the sport, it may seem like you can’t escape the players.

But the truth is, football players were rarely known outside of — the admittedly very large — football circles.

There would be the odd husband or wife that had to listen to their significant other rant on about their favourite player scoring another goal (our girlfriends can attest to this), but it took one player to break out of the football spotlight and into the public one.

David Beckham might have scored the goal that sent England to the World Cup, or have led Manchester United to a ridiculous amount of silverware — but his transformation from a plucky young kid grafting at Old Trafford to an international celebrity and household name was the first of its kind. Not to mention, very warranted.

The “Why”.

There’s a lot to love David Beckham for. On the pitch, his passing was a sight to behold and some would argue is yet to be bettered. The vision to pick out some passes is one thing, but to actually deliver the pass — no matter the men between his target or the distance separating them — is something different, and was something incredible. See for yourself:

Opposing defenders would live in constant fear of giving away a free kick, such was his ability at a dead ball. He might have lost his quick feet with age, but these two things stuck with him to the end.

If you ask football fans about why Beckham is so well regarded, they’ll probably mention two goals. On the opening day of the 1996/97 season, he scored what was ranked as the 18th greatest sporting moment ever in a poll on Channel 4, when he lobbed the opponents goalkeeper from the half way line. The average person would probably do well to just kick a ball that far, but he put it in the back of a net past a professional keeper. Crazy.

The second, this time in England colours, shook Great Britain like an earthquake. They needed a goal in the last few minutes against Greece to qualify for that years World Cup.

A foul was made, the ball was placed, a wall was constructed, and history was written.

You just got used to it when Beckham was playing.

Off the pitch, he also often demonstrated his good nature; becoming a UNICEF ambassador, founding multiple charities, and even donating his entire wage bill to charity while playing at Paris Saint Germain.

The “Where”.

David Beckham was born in Leytonstone, London, into a Manchester United-mad family. It obviously rubbed off on him, as he soon joined the sides youth team after his impressive potential was discovered at an early age.

He repaid the faith put in him with some incredible performances, and stayed with the club for more than a decade — eventually leaving to Spain to play for Real Madrid after a 35 million euro deal was agreed. A successful stint there was followed up with a move to Italy to play for Milan, then a move to the States to play for LA Galaxy, and finally a move to France to play for Paris Saint Germain — where he eventually retired.

The “When”.

He was born on May 2nd in 1975, and signed for Manchester United as a trainee on July 8th in 1991. He won his first silverware with United in May 1992, as he and the Class of 92 (featuring other superstars such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes) won the FA Youth Cup — a feeling he soon got used to.

Moves to foreign clubs proved fruitful, but he eventually hung up his boots while at Paris Saint Germain; the then-38 year old played his last professional game on May 18th in 2013, appropriately getting an assist and winning.

The “Who”.

After meeting at a Manchester United match, Beckham fell for Victora Adams; at the time better known as “Posh Spice” of the Spice Girls, whom he now has four children with.

It was apparently love at first sight (isn’t it always?) but not everyone was as enthusiastic about the marriage as the lucky couple.

“He was never a problem until he got married. He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time, he was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing — from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity, football is only a small part.”’ — Alex Ferguson speaking about Beckham’s marriage in 2007.

The “What”.

Instead of asking what he won, it might be easier to ask what he didn’t win.

But, deep breath, here we go…

1 Champions League: 1998–99

6 Premier League titles: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03

1 La Liga title: 2006–07

1 Ligue 1 title: 2012–13

2 MLS Cups: 2011, 2012

1 Intercontinental Cup: 1999

2 FA Cups: 1995–96, 1998–99

4 Community Shields: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

1 Spanish Super Cup: 2003

1 FA Youth Cup: 1991–92