Discover the career path of David Beckham, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
David Beckham, a celebrated English former professional footballer, is currently the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Renowned for his exceptional passing range, crossing skills, and free-kick expertise, Beckham is recognized as one of his generation's best players and a Premier League icon. His distinguished career includes 19 major trophies, highlighted by being the first English player to secure league titles in four different nations: England, Spain, the United States, and France. His career solidified him as an all-time great.
On July 8, 1991, David Beckham signed a Youth Training Scheme contract with Manchester United.
On July 8, 1991, David Beckham signed as a trainee for Manchester United and was coached by Eric Harrison.
On April 14, 1992, David Beckham scored in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final against Crystal Palace.
In May 1992, David Beckham helped Manchester United win the FA Youth Cup.
On September 23, 1992, David Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United as a substitute in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
In 1992, at the age of 17, David Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United.
On January 23, 1993, David Beckham signed as a professional with Manchester United.
In May 1993, David Beckham played in both legs of the FA Youth Cup final against Leeds United, which Manchester United lost 4-1 on aggregate.
In September 1994, David Beckham made his first full appearance for Manchester United's first team against Port Vale in a League Cup fixture.
On December 7, 1994, David Beckham made his UEFA Champions League debut, scoring a goal in a 4–0 victory against Galatasaray.
In 1994, David Beckham was loaned to Preston North End to gain first-team experience.
In 1994, Sir Alex Ferguson brought youth team players into United, including Beckham.
On April 2, 1995, David Beckham made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in a goalless draw against Leeds United.
On August 17, 1996, David Beckham scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon, leading to widespread recognition.
On September 1, 1996, David Beckham made his debut for the England national team at the age of 21.
During the 1996-97 season, David Beckham became an automatic first-choice player at Manchester United and helped the team retain the Premier League title.
In 1996, David Beckham scored a goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
In 1997, David Beckham secured a £4 million endorsement deal with Brylcreem, a British hair styling brand, which led to his appearance in UK commercials.
In 1998, David Beckham stayed at Manchester United despite speculation about leaving England.
In 1999, David Beckham played in central midfield in Manchester United's win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final, providing crucial assists from corners.
In 1999, David Beckham won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United.
In 1999, there were discussions about David Beckham potentially transferring to Juventus in Italy, but the transfer never materialized.
On 6 January 2000, David Beckham received a red card while playing for Manchester United in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship against Necaxa.
On November 15, 2000, Beckham was promoted to team captain of England by caretaker manager Peter Taylor, following Kevin Keegan's resignation as manager in October. He then kept the role under new manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
In 2000, David Beckham played a key role in helping Manchester United retain the Premier League title, winning by an 18-point margin. Beckham scored five goals in the final 11 league games, including a goal against Tottenham Hotspur.
In 2000, David Beckham played at the UEFA European Championship.
In 2000, David Beckham was a key player in Manchester United's third successive league title. He scored nine Premier League goals and had the most assists in the league with 12.
In 2000, the relationship between Alex Ferguson and David Beckham began to deteriorate due to Beckham's fame and commitments. Ferguson fined Beckham for missing training to look after his son Brooklyn, after Victoria Beckham attended London Fashion Week. Beckham still contributed to United winning the Premier League that year.
The 2001 season was one of David Beckham's best seasons as a United player; he scored 16 goals in all competitions, the best of his career.
On April 10, 2002, David Beckham sustained an injury during a Champions League match against Deportivo de La Coruña, breaking his left foot. He signed a three-year contract with Manchester United in May 2002, becoming the highest-paid player in the world.
Following an injury early in the 2002 season, David Beckham was unable to regain his place on the Manchester United team.
On June 13, 2003, David Beckham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to football.
David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid was formally completed on July 1, 2003. Following a medical on July 2, Beckham was unveiled at the club's basketball facility, wearing the number 23 shirt in honor of Michael Jordan. Adidas reported high sales of Beckham merchandise.
In late July 2003, Real Madrid went on a tour of the Far East for pre-season training and to capitalize on Beckham's marketing appeal in Asia. The tour included games in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Bangkok, resulting in financial success for the club.
In late August 2003, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup over Mallorca, with David Beckham scoring the final goal in a 3–0 win. Beckham settled in quickly, scoring five times in his first 16 matches.
David Beckham left Manchester United in 2003.
In 2003, David Beckham joined Real Madrid for €37 million on a four-year contract, becoming the latest Galácticos signing by club president Florentino Pérez.
In 2003, David Beckham signed a US$160 million lifetime contract with Adidas, earning nearly half the money upfront and continuing to earn percentages of profits on branded Adidas products.
On 21 January 2004, David Beckham received a red card in a Copa del Rey match against Valencia while playing for Real Madrid.
On October 9, 2004, David Beckham admitted to intentionally fouling Ben Thatcher in an England match to get himself booked. He was later sent off in a league match for Real Madrid against Valencia, though the suspension was cancelled on appeal.
By Christmas of 2004, García Remón was dismissed from his position, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo became the new head coach for the team.
In 2004, David Beckham participated in the UEFA European Championship.
In 2004, David Beckham's Adidas television commercial "Kicking it", featuring Jonny Wilkinson, was recognized as one of the best British commercials of the year.
On December 3, 2005, David Beckham was sent off for the third time that season in a league match against Getafe. A day later, Luxemburgo was sacked and replaced by Juan Ramón López Caro.
During the 2005 season, David Beckham established football academies in Los Angeles and east London and was named a judge for the 2006 British Book Awards.
In 2005, David Beckham became a UNICEF ambassador.
In 2005, David Beckham founded the David Beckham Academy football school, operating in London and Los Angeles.
In 2005, David Beckham played a critical role in bringing the Olympics to London in 2012 by traveling with the British delegation to Singapore for the host city selection.
In January 2006, Pérez resigned as president of Real Madrid, and Vicente Boluda was named as replacement on an interim basis.
During the 2006 World Cup, on June 10, 2006, Beckham's free kick led to an own-goal by Carlos Gamarra as England won 1–0 against Paraguay. On June 15, 2006, Beckham's cross led to a Peter Crouch goal, which put England into the lead 1–0 against Trinidad and Tobago, and he gave another assist to Steven Gerrard. He was named Man of the Match by Budweiser.
On August 11, 2006, Beckham was dropped completely from the England national team selected by new coach Steve McClaren, who wanted to go in a different direction with the team.
In 2006, Lloyd's of London insured David Beckham's legs for £100 million, highlighting their value and significance to his career.
The summer 2006 off-season was turbulent as the club's presidential elections were held, and Ramón Calderón became the new Real president. Beckham started few games at the beginning of the season.
In January 2007, it was confirmed that David Beckham would leave Real Madrid after six months to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy, ending speculation about his new contract in Madrid. An official press conference was held in conjunction with the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
On January 10, 2007, Real Madrid's sporting director Predrag Mijatović announced that David Beckham would not remain at Real Madrid after the end of the season.
On January 11, 2007, David Beckham announced that he had signed a five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy, starting July 1, 2007.
In February 2007, Fabio Capello allowed David Beckham to rejoin the Real Madrid team for the match against Real Sociedad on February 10, 2007. Beckham scored the equalising goal.
On March 7, 2007, David Beckham made his final UEFA Champions League appearance for Real Madrid, who were knocked out of the competition by Bayern Munich.
On May 26, 2007, Beckham was recalled to the England squad by McClaren for the first time since stepping down as their captain. Beckham started against Brazil in England's first match at the new Wembley Stadium and set up England's goal converted by captain John Terry.
On 17 June 2007, Beckham played his final match for Real Madrid, a 3–1 victory over Mallorca, securing the La Liga title. He was replaced by José Antonio Reyes due to injury, and Reyes scored twice. Beckham's family and celebrity friends were present as Real Madrid clinched their first title since Beckham joined, marking a turnaround for him.
David Beckham's five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy started on July 1, 2007.
In August 2007, David Beckham appeared on the cover of W magazine alongside his wife Victoria, further solidifying their status as fashion icons.
In 2007, Alex Ferguson speculated that David Beckham's increasing celebrity status, following his relationship with Victoria, had a negative impact on his playing career.
In 2007, David Beckham received an option to buy a MLS expansion team for US$25 million as part of his contract with the LA Galaxy.
In early 2007, despite a strained relationship with management, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón and manager Fabio Capello praised David Beckham for maintaining his professionalism and commitment to the club.
In January 2008, David Beckham trained with Arsenal for three weeks before returning to the LA Galaxy for pre-season training.
On May 11, 2008, Capello included Beckham in his 31-man England squad to face the United States at Wembley. On May 28, 2008, Beckham received an honorary gold cap from Bobby Charlton and assisted John Terry on the match-winning goal. The pro-Beckham crowd booed when he was substituted.
On June 1, 2008, Capello handed Beckham the captaincy for England's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. The match marked a dramatic turnaround for Beckham, who had gone from being dropped completely from the England squad to being reinstated as England captain.
On 30 October 2008, AC Milan announced that David Beckham would join them on loan from 7 January 2009 to maintain match fitness for World Cup qualifying matches.
On 20 December 2008, David Beckham was unveiled at Milan's training facility and chose the number 32 shirt. On 21 December, he was introduced to the fans at the San Siro before a match against Udinese, where he proclaimed "Forza Milan."
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony, David Beckham, Jimmy Page, and Leona Lewis represented Britain during the handover segment for the 2012 Olympics. Beckham rode a London double-decker bus into the stadium, and Page and Lewis performed "Whole Lotta Love".
On February 11, 2009, Beckham drew level with Bobby Moore's record of 108 caps for an English outfield player, coming on as a substitute for Stewart Downing in a friendly match against Spain.
On March 28, 2009, Beckham surpassed Moore to hold the record outright when he came on as a substitute in a friendly against Slovakia, providing the assist for a goal from Wayne Rooney in the process.
In November 2009, after the end of the 2009 MLS season, David Beckham's return to Milan for a second loan period, beginning in January 2010, was confirmed.
On 22 November 2009, the LA Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final after a penalty shoot-out. David Beckham scored in the shootout, but Galaxy was defeated.
David Beckham's 10-year collaboration with PepsiCo, which started in 1999, expired in 2009, marking the end of his endorsement deal with the company.
In 2009, David Beckham became a founding member of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council and helped launch the charity with Andy Murray at Wembley Stadium.
In 2009, David Beckham had an opt-out clause in his contract with the LA Galaxy, allowing him to leave the club after completing three years of his five-year contract if he chose to do so.
In late 2009, it was announced that both the London and Los Angeles locations of the David Beckham Academy would close.
On 6 January 2010, David Beckham made a winning return in a Milan shirt, playing 75 minutes of a 5–2 victory over Genoa.
On 16 February 2010, David Beckham played against Manchester United for the first time since he left the club in 2003. He played 76 minutes of the match at the San Siro, which ended 3–2 to Manchester United.
In March 2010, Beckham's ruptured Achilles tendon ruled him out of selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
On 10 March 2010, David Beckham returned to Old Trafford, playing against Manchester United. He came on as a substitute and received a positive reception. After the match, he wore a green-and-gold scarf, seen as a symbol against club owner Malcolm Glazer, but Beckham stated that protests are not his business.
In May 2010, David Beckham visited Afghanistan to boost the morale of British troops fighting the Taliban insurgency. His appearance, along with other British officials, reportedly prompted a Taliban attack on Kandahar airfield.
On August 11, 2010, Capello unveiled a new England team with Beckham unavailable for selection, leading Capello to suggest Beckham may not play competitive matches for England again.
On 11 September 2010, David Beckham returned to the game as a substitute in the Galaxy's 3–1 win over Columbus Crew, after recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.
In 2010, David Beckham wanted a permanent transfer to Milan, in a bid to sustain his England career through the 2010 World Cup.
On March 25, 2008, Capello hinted that Beckham had a long-term future in his side, ahead of crucial qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
On 20 November 2011, David Beckham won his third MLS Cup with the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Houston Dynamo, joining an elite group of players to have won league titles in three countries.
On 31 December 2011, David Beckham's five-year contract with the LA Galaxy expired, but he stated that he did not intend to retire.
On 18 January 2012, the LA Galaxy announced that David Beckham had signed a new two-year contract to remain in Los Angeles.
During the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, David Beckham carried the Olympic flame to the stadium by speedboat, marking a significant contribution to the event.
Following his decision to retire at the end of the 2012–13 season, Beckham was given specially designed boots in the colours of the Union Jack to wear in his final game. These boots had the names of his wife and children stitched on them.
In 2010, Beckham's agent released a statement reiterating Beckham's position that he had no desire to retire from international football, and would always make himself available for selection for England if fit and if needed.
In 2012, Beckham was named in the provisional squad to represent the Great Britain Olympic football team but was not included in the final selection by manager Stuart Pearce.
In 2012, David Beckham announced that the 2012 MLS Cup Final would be his final game with the Galaxy, despite having another year remaining on his contract.
In 2012, David Beckham secured his second MLS Cup title with LA Galaxy.
In January 2013, Beckham underwent a medical with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a potential move. He signed a five-month deal and confirmed that his entire salary would be donated to a local children's charity.
On February 24, 2013, Beckham made his PSG debut, coming off the bench in a Ligue 1 home match against Marseille. This made him the 400th player in the history of the club.
In March 2013, David Beckham was appointed as the global ambassador for Chinese football to help improve the image and raise the profile of the game in China and abroad after numerous officials had been banned for match-fixing.
On 28 April 2013, David Beckham received a red card while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in a match against Evian.
In May 2013, David Beckham ended his playing career, during which he generated an estimated £1 billion in shirt and boot sales.
In May 2013, David Beckham reflected on his career, expressing his desire to be remembered as a hardworking and passionate footballer who gave his all on the pitch.
In May 2013, David Beckham retired from professional football after a 20-year career, following a four-month period at Paris Saint-Germain.
On May 12, 2013, Beckham won a fourth different top flight winners' medal, after PSG beat Lyon 1–0 to claim the Ligue 1 title.
On May 16, 2013, Beckham announced that he would retire from professional football at the end of that year's French football season. On May 18, 2013, Beckham was made captain in his final home game against Brest. PSG won the game 3–1.
From July 14, 2013, David Beckham appeared in advertisements for BSkyB, promoting their Sky Sports coverage via the Sky Go app.
In January 2014, David Beckham appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC in the U.S.
On 5 February 2014, MLS announced that David Beckham had exercised his option to buy an MLS expansion team for US$25 million.
In November 2014, David Beckham designed a Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty created by various celebrities, which were auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
In 2014, Rob Smyth of The Guardian praised David Beckham's crossing ability, calling him 'perhaps the greatest of all time'.
In 2015, Alex Ferguson claimed he had only coached four world-class players at Manchester United, excluding David Beckham from the list.
In 2015, David Beckham launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.
During the 2016 EU referendum, David Beckham voiced his opposition to Brexit, stating that for the sake of future generations, the world's problems should be faced together.
In 2016, David Beckham's England appearance record for an outfield player came to an end.
The ownership group, led by Beckham, originally hoped the Miami-based team would begin play in 2016 or 2017.
The ownership group, led by Beckham, originally hoped the Miami-based team would begin play in 2016 or 2017.
In January 2018, MLS announced that David Beckham's Miami-based team had been approved and would likely begin play in 2020.
David Beckham was announced as the new Ambassadorial President of the British Fashion Council on May 11, 2018.
Prior to the June 2018 vote by FIFA member nations for selecting the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, David Beckham endorsed the North American bid (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
In January 2019, it was announced that David Beckham was set to join his Class of '92 teammates as part owner of English non-league club Salford City, taking 10% of the club.
On 1 March 2020, Inter Miami made its MLS debut with a 1–0 away loss to Los Angeles.
In June 2020, David Beckham became a minority owner of the London-based esports organization Guild Esports, expanding his business ventures into the gaming industry.
In November 2020, EA Sports reached an agreement with David Beckham to feature him in FIFA 21, which would earn him £40 million from a three-year deal.
In April 2021, David Beckham became a global ambassador for Maserati, expanding his portfolio of endorsement deals.
In June 2021, David Beckham purchased a 10% stake in vehicle electrification firm Lunaz, investing in the sustainable automotive industry.
In 2022, David Beckham faced controversy for becoming a brand ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a country known for persecuting LGBT people. Beckham stated that the World Cup would be a platform for progress, inclusivity, and tolerance.
As of September 2023, David Beckham was ranked joint-5th all-time (alongside Lionel Messi) in goals scored from direct free kicks with 65.
In 2023, as part of Maserati's new personalisation program, "Fuoriserie Essentials", the brand unveiled its first collection with David Beckham, further solidifying his partnership with the luxury car manufacturer.
Prior to the June 2018 vote by FIFA member nations for selecting the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, David Beckham endorsed the North American bid (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
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