David Beckham

English association football player

David Beckham is a legendary English footballer who played for top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy. He’s known for his exceptional passing, crossing, and free-kick abilities, and has won numerous trophies in his illustrious career. Beckham is also a global ambassador for football and a well-recognized British cultural icon.

Table of Contents

About the David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Primarily a right winger and known for his range of passing, crossing ability and free-kick taking, Beckham has been hailed as one of the greatest and most recognisable midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the best free-kick takers of all time. He won 19 major trophies in his career, and is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States and France.

Beckham’s professional club career began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at age 17. With United, he won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, the FA Charity Shield twice, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He then played four seasons with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club. In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010. He became the first British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games. He retired in May 2013 after a 20-year career.

In international football, Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21. He was captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his tenure. He made 115 career appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006 as well as two UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004. Beckham held the England appearance record for an outfield player until 2016.

A global ambassador of football, Beckham is considered a British cultural icon. He has been in a well publicised marriage to Victoria Beckham since 1999 and was consistently ranked among the highest earners in football, in 2013 being listed as the highest-paid player in the world having earned over $50 million in the previous twelve months. Beckham was runner-up in the Ballon d’Or in 1999, twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Yearand in 2004 was named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. He has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund. In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami, which began playing in 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

David Beckham is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.

David Beckham won a total of 19 major trophies during his professional football career.

David Beckham was primarily a right winger, known for his range of passing, crossing ability, and free-kick taking.

David Beckham made a total of 115 career appearances for the England national team, including three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.

David Beckham is the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer club, and a co-owner of Salford City.

David Beckham’s professional club career began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at the age of 17.

David Beckham was runner-up in the Ballon d’Or in 1999, twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year, and was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.

24 Quotes by David Beckham

  1. 1.

    I am happier now than I have ever been.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  2. 2.

    Alex Ferguson is the best manager I’ve ever had at this level. Well, he’s the only manager I’ve actually had at this level. But he’s the best manager I’ve ever had.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  3. 3.

    Tom cruise, he’s a lot more famous than me.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  4. 4.

    We stay as a team. I might be England captain, but that doesn’t mean I get treated differently.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  5. 5.

    We’ve been asked to do ‘Playboy’ together, me and Victoria, as a pair. I don’t think I’ll ever go naked, but I’ll never say never.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  6. 6.

    Nothing amazes me anymore.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  7. 7.

    I love little kids looking up to me, young players looking up to me, respecting me.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  8. 8.

    I have got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line, or everything has to be in pairs.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  9. 9.

    Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  10. 10.

    I love scoring goals for England and playing for England. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t retire – I love playing for my country.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  11. 11.

    There’s room for boys’ and girls’ football in the world-that’s what I believe.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  12. 12.

    I’ve felt a little tired, but I’m only 24. I love playing football. That’s my job and that’s what I love doing.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  13. 13.

    I don’t think I’m really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  14. 14.

    With United, we’d all grown up together, we all wanted to win the biggest trophy in football. We did it togther.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  15. 15.

    I still look at myself and want to improve.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  16. 16.

    I like nice clothes, whether they’re dodgy or not.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  17. 17.

    The buzz is still with me. I get goose bumps.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  18. 18.

    When you have kids you do grow up. I have just started realising it now-it changes the world, having children.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  19. 19.

    Being at a club that supported me meant a lot.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  20. 20.

    I wasn’t as fit as I would of liked to have been, going to the World Cup, but I’m not sure what difference that made.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  21. 21.

    Every situation has changed me as a person.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  22. 22.

    My private life is perfect. If your private life and your life outside football is good, then it is good on the field for you.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  23. 23.

    Everyone’s been so quick to say that I’m really thick or I haven’t got a brain. People will think whatever they want to think.

    David Beckham

    English association football player

  24. 24.

    My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7.

    David Beckham

    English association football player