Rise to Success: Career Highlights of David Beckham
Discover the career path of David Beckham, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
David Beckham is a celebrated former English professional footballer, currently the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Renowned for his exceptional passing range, crossing ability, and free-kick expertise as a right winger, he's considered among the greatest midfielders of his era and a top free-kick specialist. Beckham notably won 19 major trophies and stands as the first English player to secure league titles across four countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.
July 1991: Signed Youth Training Scheme Contract
In July 1991, Beckham signed a Youth Training Scheme contract with Manchester United.
July 1991: Signed as Trainee
In July 1991, Beckham signed as a trainee for Manchester United.
April 1992: Scored in FA Youth Cup First Leg
In April 1992, Beckham scored Manchester United's second goal in their 3-1 first-leg win of the FA Youth Cup final against Crystal Palace.
May 1992: FA Youth Cup Win
In May 1992, Beckham helped Manchester United win the FA Youth Cup.
September 1992: First-Team Debut
In September 1992, Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United.
1992: First-Team Debut for Manchester United
In 1992, Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United at the age of 17.
January 1993: Signed as a Professional
In January 1993, Beckham signed as a professional for Manchester United.
May 1993: FA Youth Cup Final Against Leeds
In May 1993, Beckham started in Manchester United's 2-0 home loss in the FA Youth Cup final first leg against Leeds United.
September 1994: First Full Appearance
In September 1994, Beckham made his first full appearance in the club's first team against Port Vale.
December 1994: UEFA Champions League Debut
In December 1994, Beckham made his UEFA Champions League debut, scoring a goal in a 4-0 victory against Galatasaray.
1994: Loan to Preston North End
In 1994, Beckham went to Preston North End on loan to gain first-team experience.
April 1995: Premier League Debut for Manchester United
In April 1995, Beckham made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in a goalless draw against Leeds United.
1995: Beckham Bought House in Worsley
In 1995, early in his Manchester United career, Beckham bought a four-bedroom house in Worsley directly from the property developer, marking his first major property purchase.
August 1996: Goal Against Wimbledon
In August 1996, Beckham scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon.
September 1996: England Debut
In September 1996, at the age of 21, Beckham made his debut for the England national team.
1996: Automatic First-Choice Player
During the 1996 season, Beckham became an automatic first-choice player at Manchester United.
1996: Premier League and FA Cup Double
In 1996, Beckham helped Manchester United win the Premier League title and FA Cup double.
1996: Beckham scores from the half-way line against Wimbledon
In 1996, Beckham scored from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park, marking one of his first career milestones.
1997: Brylcreem Endorsement Deal
In 1997, Beckham signed a £4 million endorsement deal with British hair styling brand Brylcreem, launching him into the world of commercial endorsements and solidifying his status as a marketable celebrity.
1998: Aftermath of the 1998 World Cup
After the 1998 World Cup, Beckham faced immense criticism following his red card incident, but in the years that followed, he worked to rebuild his reputation both on and off the field, showcasing resilience and determination.
1998: Beckham's Red Card Incident in 1998 World Cup
During the 1998 World Cup, Beckham received a notorious red card after kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone after being fouled, leading to significant media scrutiny and criticism. This event in 1998 marked a low point in his early career.
1998: FIFA World Cup Appearance
In 1998, Beckham appeared at the FIFA World Cup.
1999: UEFA Champions League Final Win
In 1999, Beckham played in central midfield in Manchester United's win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final, assisting both goals.
January 2000: Beckham's Red Card with Manchester United
On January 6, 2000, Beckham received his only red card while playing for Manchester United during the FIFA Club World Championship match against Necaxa, adding to his disciplinary record.
November 2000: Promotion to England Captain
In November 2000, Beckham was appointed as the captain of the England team, initially by caretaker manager Peter Taylor, and he retained the role under new manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
2000: UEFA European Championship Appearance
In 2000, Beckham appeared at the UEFA European Championship.
2000: Premier League Title Retained
In 2000, Beckham helped United retain the Premier League title.
2000: Premier League win with Manchester United
In 2000, David Beckham played a crucial role in Manchester United's Premier League title win, contributing nine goals and leading the league with 12 assists.
2001: One of Beckham's Best Seasons
The 2001 season was one of David Beckham's best seasons. He scored 16 goals in all competitions, the best of his career.
April 2002: Injury during Champions League match
In April 2002, David Beckham suffered a broken metatarsal bone in his left foot during a Champions League match against Deportivo de La Coruña, leading to speculation and preventing him from playing for Manchester United for the rest of the season. There was speculation that the injury might have been caused deliberately.
2002: Loss of place on Manchester United Team
After an early injury in 2002, David Beckham was unable to regain his place on the Manchester United team.
2002: FIFA World Cup Appearance
In 2002, Beckham appeared at the FIFA World Cup.
July 2003: Completed Transfer to Real Madrid
In July 2003, David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid was completed. He was unveiled and handed the number 23 shirt, due to Raul owning the number 7 shirt, his previous number for Manchester United and England.
July 2003: Real Madrid's Tour of the Far East
In late July 2003, Real Madrid, with David Beckham, embarked on a tour of the Far East as part of pre-season training, capitalizing on Beckham's marketing appeal in Asia, drawing comparisons to Beatlemania in China.
August 2003: Won the Spanish Super Cup
In late August 2003, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup against Mallorca, with David Beckham scoring the final goal, marking a successful start to his Real Madrid career.
2003: Transfer to Real Madrid
In 2003, David Beckham joined Real Madrid for €37 million after Manchester United appeared keen to sell him to Barcelona. He became part of the Galácticos era at Real Madrid.
January 2004: Beckham's Red Card in Copa del Rey
On January 21, 2004, while playing for Real Madrid, Beckham received a red card in a Copa del Rey match against Valencia in Madrid, contributing to his disciplinary record with the club.
2004: UEFA European Championship Appearance
In 2004, Beckham appeared at the UEFA European Championship.
2004: Second in the league
In 2004, Real Madrid finished the season in second place.
December 2005: Third Sending Off of the Season
In December 2005, David Beckham received his third red card of the season during a league match against Getafe. A day later, Vanderlei Luxemburgo was sacked as head coach.
2005: Established football academies
During the 2005 season, David Beckham established football academies in Los Angeles and east London, and he was named a judge for the 2006 British Book Awards.
2005: David Beckham Academy Founding
In 2005, Beckham founded the David Beckham Academy, a football school operating in London and Los Angeles, aimed at nurturing young talent and promoting football education.
January 2006: Pérez resignation as president
In January 2006, Florentino Pérez resigned as president of Real Madrid, marking a change in leadership at the club.
June 2006: 2006 World Cup Performance
In June 2006, during the World Cup, Beckham's free kick led to an own goal in England's match against Paraguay. He also provided an assist in the game against Trinidad and Tobago and was named Man of the Match.
2006: FIFA World Cup Appearance
In 2006, Beckham appeared at the FIFA World Cup.
2006: World Cup 2006
In 2006, Since the 2006 World Cup, this match was the first time that Beckham had skippered England.
2006: Turbulent time for Real Madrid
The summer of 2006 marked a turbulent time for Real Madrid with presidential elections held and Ramón Calderón becoming the new president.
January 2007: Signing with LA Galaxy
In January 2007, David Beckham announced that he had signed a five-year deal to play for the LA Galaxy, starting in July 2007.
January 2007: Real Madrid announces Beckham will not remain at Real Madrid
In January 2007, Real Madrid's sporting director announced that David Beckham would not remain at Real Madrid after the end of the season. He later claimed that he was mistranslated and that he actually said that Beckham's contract had not yet been renewed.
January 2007: Confirmed to be leaving Real Madrid for LA Galaxy
In January 2007, it was confirmed that David Beckham would be leaving Real Madrid in six months to join the LA Galaxy, ending speculation about his contract renewal in Madrid.
February 2007: Return to Real Madrid team
In February 2007, David Beckham rejoined the Real Madrid team after being allowed to by Fabio Capello, scoring a goal in his first match back.
March 2007: Final Champions League appearance for Real Madrid
In March 2007, David Beckham made his final UEFA Champions League appearance for Real Madrid, where they were knocked out of the competition by Bayern Munich, despite Beckham's pivotal role in the home game.
June 2007: Final match for Real Madrid and La Liga Title
On June 17, 2007, David Beckham played his final match for Real Madrid, contributing to their 3–1 win over Mallorca, securing the La Liga title. He limped off the field and was replaced by José Antonio Reyes, who scored two goals, leading the team to that season's La Liga title.
July 2007: Beginning with the LA Galaxy
David Beckham starts playing for the LA Galaxy in July 2007.
November 2007: 99th Cap Against Croatia
In November 2007, Beckham earned his 99th cap against Croatia, assisting a goal. Despite the loss, Beckham expressed his desire to continue playing for England.
2007: Ferguson Speculated on Beckham's Celebrity Status Impact
In 2007, Alex Ferguson speculated that Beckham's increasing celebrity status, particularly due to his relationship with Victoria, had a negative impact on his playing career, questioning the balance between fame and performance.
January 2008: Beckham trains with Arsenal
In January 2008, David Beckham trained with Arsenal for three weeks to maintain his fitness before returning to the LA Galaxy for pre-season training.
May 2008: 100th Cap Celebrations and Match Against the United States
In May 2008, Beckham was honored for his 100th cap before a match against the United States, receiving an honorary gold cap from Bobby Charlton. He also assisted the match-winning goal.
May 2008: Beckham scores goal from 70 yards out
In May 2008, David Beckham scored a goal from 70 yards out during the Galaxy's 3–1 victory against the Kansas City Wizards, marking the second time in his career he scored from his own half. The win gave the Galaxy their first winning record in two years.
June 2008: Captaincy Against Trinidad and Tobago
In June 2008, Capello unexpectedly made Beckham the captain for England's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, marking a significant turnaround after being dropped from the squad.
October 2008: AC Milan announces Beckham loan
In October 2008, AC Milan announced that David Beckham would join them on loan starting January 7, 2009, to maintain match fitness for World Cup qualifying matches.
December 2008: Beckham unveiled at Milan, chooses number 32 shirt
In December 2008, David Beckham was unveiled at Milan's training facility and chose the number 32 shirt. The day after, he was introduced to the San Siro crowd before a league match.
February 2009: Draws Level with Bobby Moore's Record
In February 2009, Beckham equaled Bobby Moore's record of 108 caps for an English outfield player, coming on as a substitute in a friendly match against Spain.
March 2009: Beckham Surpasses Moore
In March 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.
November 2009: Beckham confirmed to return to Milan for second loan period
In November 2009, it was confirmed that David Beckham would return to AC Milan for a second loan period, starting in January 2010.
November 2009: Galaxy lose to Real Salt Lake in MLS Cup Final
In November 2009, the LA Galaxy, with David Beckham, lost to Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final after a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw. Beckham scored in the shootout.
2009: Loan Spell with AC Milan
In 2009, Beckham had a loan spell with AC Milan.
2009: Closure Announcement of David Beckham Academy
In late 2009, it was announced that both the London and Los Angeles locations of the David Beckham Academy would close, ending Beckham's venture into football education and training.
January 2010: Beckham returns to Milan in victory over Genoa
On January 6, 2010, David Beckham made a winning return to AC Milan, playing 75 minutes in a 5–2 victory over Genoa.
February 2010: Beckham plays against Manchester United for first time since 2003
On February 16, 2010, David Beckham played against Manchester United for the first time since he left the club in 2003, playing 76 minutes in a match that ended 3–2 to Manchester United.
March 2010: Beckham suffers torn Achilles tendon
In March 2010, during a game against Chievo, David Beckham suffered a torn left Achilles tendon, causing him to miss the World Cup and the MLS season. Surgery was performed on March 15, 2010, in Turku, Finland.
March 2010: Beckham returns to Old Trafford
On March 10, 2010, David Beckham returned to Old Trafford, playing against Manchester United as part of AC Milan. He came on as a substitute in the 64th minute to a positive reception from the fans. He also aroused controversy for wearing a green-and-gold scarf given to him by Manchester United supporters protesting against club owner Malcolm Glazer.
September 2010: Beckham returns to the game after Achilles injury
On September 11, 2010, David Beckham returned to play after recovering from his Achilles tendon injury, coming on as a substitute in the Galaxy's 3–1 win over Columbus Crew.
2010: Second Loan Spell with AC Milan
In 2010, Beckham had a second loan spell with AC Milan.
2010: Crucial Qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup
In 2010, Capello hinted on 25 March 2008 that Beckham had a long-term future in his side, ahead of crucial qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
November 2011: Beckham wins MLS Cup with Galaxy
On November 20, 2011, David Beckham won his first MLS Cup with the Los Angeles Galaxy, defeating the Houston Dynamo 1-0. This marked him as one of the few players to have won league titles in three different countries.
December 2011: Beckham's contract with Galaxy expires
In December 2011, David Beckham's five-year contract with the LA Galaxy expired, but he stated that he did not intend to retire.
January 2012: Beckham signs new contract with Galaxy
On January 18, 2012, despite being linked with Paris Saint-Germain, David Beckham signed a new two-year contract to remain with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
January 2013: Beckham to join Paris Saint-Germain
In January 2013, David Beckham underwent a medical with Paris Saint-Germain, signaling a potential move to the Ligue 1 side.
February 2013: Beckham debuts for PSG
In February 2013, David Beckham made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain, coming off the bench in a Ligue 1 match against Marseille, becoming the 400th player in the club's history. He confirmed that his entire salary would be donated to a local children's charity.
April 2013: Beckham's Red Card with Paris Saint-Germain
On April 28, 2013, Beckham received a red card while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in a match against Evian, marking one of the few disciplinary incidents during his time with the club.
May 2013: Retirement from Professional Football
In May 2013, Beckham retired from professional football after a 20-year career.
May 2013: Beckham wins Ligue 1 title with PSG
In May 2013, David Beckham won a fourth different top-flight winners' medal after Paris Saint-Germain beat Lyon to claim the Ligue 1 title.
May 2013: Beckham announces retirement and captains final home game
On May 16, 2013, David Beckham announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the season. On May 18, 2013, he captained his final home game against Brest, receiving a standing ovation.
2013: Highest-Paid Player in the World
In 2013, Beckham was listed as the highest-paid player in the world.
February 2014: Beckham Exercises Option to Buy MLS Expansion Team
On February 5, 2014, MLS announced that Beckham had exercised his option to buy an MLS expansion team for US$25 million, which he had received as part of his contract with the LA Galaxy, marking his entry into team ownership.
2014: Ownership of Inter Miami Announced
In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami.
2014: Assessment of Beckham's Crossing Ability
In 2014, Rob Smyth of The Guardian described Beckham as a great crosser and perhaps the greatest of all time, emphasizing his unique technique with dead-ball situations and open play crosses.
2015: Ferguson Excludes Beckham from World Class Players List
In 2015, Alex Ferguson claimed he had only coached four world-class players at Manchester United, excluding Beckham from the list and sparking debate about Beckham's standing among football legends.
2015: Launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund
In 2015, Beckham launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.
2016: End of England Appearance Record
In 2016, Beckham's England appearance record for an outfield player ended.
January 2018: MLS Approves Beckham's Miami Team
In January 2018, MLS announced that Beckham's Miami-based team had been approved, with play likely to begin in 2020 after delays in securing a stadium deal, marking a significant step in establishing the franchise.
January 2019: Beckham to Join Class of '92 as Salford City Owner
In January 2019, it was announced that 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, pending Football Association approval.
March 2020: Inter Miami's MLS Debut
On March 1, 2020, Inter Miami, Beckham's MLS team, made its debut with a 1–0 away loss to Los Angeles, marking the beginning of the team's journey in professional soccer.
