D.O.B = 02-05-75
Position = Midfielder Right/Centre
Height = 1.83m
Weight = 75kg
David Beckham plays for the most illustrious club side in the world: Real Madrid. He joined Real after a £25 million transfer was concluded between Real Madrid and his former club, Manchester United. He frequently tours the Far-East where he is mobbed by thousands of fans and he is most famous footballer in the world. He is the richest British sportsman today, his image is used to advertise various products and he is revered throughout many countries for his footballing talent. However life has not always been so easy for Mr Beckham, following his sending off in the 1998 World Cup he was probably the most despised footballer in England. The news showed effigies of him being burnt down and some even wondered if he would play for England again. Many critized for marrying a Spice Girl - Victoria Beckham and there was a lot of talk about whether he could concentrate on football, with all his advertising and touring. These criticisms again emerged after a weak Euro 2004 campaign where he infamously blazed a penalty over the bar against Portugal in the penalty shootout that England subsequently lost.
The opinion of the English public changed dramatically since 1998. He is now the
captain of the national team, his work-rate is phenomenal, he gets back and defends, he is determined to win, he is a play-maker, he can deliver
pin-point passes in the same way
Juan Sebastien Veron can and without doubt he is the best crosser of the ball in
world football.
He scored the goal which led to
England qualifying for the
World Cup, in the last minute of time no less, along the way winning the 2001
sports personality of the year proving the publics' affection for him
Incidentally he broke his foot (2nd metarasal) a few weeks before the World Cup finals, this led to uproar in public and front page news. The nation's chief conversation topic was whether he would be fit for the finals, daily updates about his foot were reported and there was general national hysteria. He made it through to the World Cup and despite being not 100% fit led the England team to the best of his abilties before they were beaten by the eventual winners Brazil. His Euro 2004 campaign was one of his poorest in recent years and again many pointed to a lack of fitness for his poor play. However a few performances after Euro 2004 and it seems that Beckham is back on form.
He also scored the greatest goal I have ever seen, I was lucky enough to have been at the match, it was the opening game of the season against my beloved Wimbledon. The goal was amazing, from a few yards in side his own half he noticed the keeper off his line and with great audacity he struck the ball and it flew beautifully into the back of the net.
Beckham is at the moment the epitomy of English football along side Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell. He is the backbone of the English side and personally I don't give a damn about his personal life, his I.Q, his taste in fashion (although the tattoo on the back of his neck is kind of grim), nor for that matter the way he speaks; he is a footballer his job is to play football.