Discover the career path of David Beckham, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
David Beckham is a retired English professional footballer, now president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Renowned for his exceptional passing range, crossing accuracy, and set-piece expertise, he is widely regarded as one of the best players of his era and a set-piece specialist. Beckham notably secured 19 major trophies during his career, achieving the unique distinction of being the only English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.
In 1989, prior to Beckham's debut, Manchester United did not win a major trophy for the first time since this year.
On July 8, 1991, David Beckham signed a Youth Training Scheme contract with Manchester United.
On July 8, 1991, David Beckham signed for Manchester United as a trainee.
On April 14, 1992, David Beckham scored Manchester United's second goal in their 3–1 first-leg win of the FA Youth Cup final against Crystal Palace.
In May 1992, Beckham was part of the Manchester United youth team that won the FA Youth Cup.
In September 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, David Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United at the age of 17. He later contributed to the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League in 1999.
In January 1993, shortly after his first-team debut, David Beckham signed as a professional for Manchester United.
In May 1993, Beckham played in the FA Youth Cup final against Leeds United, where Manchester United lost 4–1 on aggregate.
In September 1994, David Beckham made his first full appearance in 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 at home to Galatasaray.
After the end of the 1994-95 season, experienced players like Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, and Andrei Kanchelskis left Manchester United.
During the 1994-95 season, David Beckham was loaned to Preston North End to gain first-team experience.
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 memorable goal against Wimbledon from the halfway line, elevating his profile significantly.
On September 1, 1996, David Beckham made his debut for the England national football team at the age of 21.
During the 1996-97 season, David Beckham became an automatic first-choice player at Manchester United, contributing to their Premier League title win.
In 1996, David Beckham scored a goal from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
In 1997, David Beckham secured an endorsement deal worth £4 million with the British hair styling brand Brylcreem, leading to his appearance in UK commercials.
During the 1998 World Cup, David Beckham received a red card after kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone, who had fouled him.
In 1998, Beckham played in all of England's qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup and was part of the squad for the finals in France. He scored his first goal for England in the third game against Colombia, a bending 30-yard free kick, securing a 2–0 victory.
In the 1998-99 season, there was speculation that criticism after being sent off in the World Cup would lead to David Beckham leaving England.
Victoria Beckham praised David in 2008, for rebuilding his reputation after the 1998 World Cup.
In 1999, Beckham contributed to Manchester United's victory in the UEFA Champions League, which was part of their treble-winning season.
In 1999, David Beckham played in central midfield in Manchester United's win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final and finished runner up to Rivaldo for European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
In 1999, there was speculation about David Beckham potentially transferring to Juventus in Italy, but the transfer never materialized.
On 6 January 2000, David Beckham received his only red card with Manchester United in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship against Necaxa.
On November 15, 2000, David Beckham was promoted to team captain for England, initially by caretaker manager Peter Taylor, following Kevin Keegan's resignation. He retained the role under new manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
In 2000, David Beckham helped Manchester United retain the Premier League title with an 18-point lead, after competition from Arsenal and Leeds United.
In 2000, David Beckham was a key player in Manchester United's third successive league title, scoring nine Premier League goals and providing 12 assists.
The 2001 season was one of Beckham's best, scoring 16 goals in all competitions.
In 2002, Beckham escorted Kirsty Howard at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she presented the Jubilee Baton to the Queen.
In 2002, following an early season injury, David Beckham was unable to regain his place in the Manchester United team, due to the rise of Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
On 24 October 2010, the Galaxy secured their first MLS Supporters' Shield since 2002.
In late July 2003, Real Madrid, including new signing David Beckham, toured the Far East as part of pre-season training, which was also an opportunity to leverage Beckham's marketing appeal in Asia.
On July 1, 2003, David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid was formally completed, making him the third Englishman to play for the club. On July 2, he was unveiled and handed the number 23 shirt, in honor of Michael Jordan.
In late-August 2003, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup against Mallorca, with David Beckham scoring the final goal in the return leg, marking a successful start to his Real Madrid career.
In February 2010, Beckham played against Manchester United for the first time since his departure from the club in 2003.
In the summer of 2003, David Beckham joined Real Madrid for €37 million on a four-year contract, after Manchester United appeared keen to sell him to Barcelona.
On 21 January 2004, while playing for Real Madrid, David Beckham received a red card in a Copa del Rey match against Valencia in Madrid.
In October 2004, David Beckham admitted to intentionally fouling Ben Thatcher in an England match to get booked and serve a suspension during a match he would miss due to injury. He was later sent off in a Real Madrid match against Valencia, though the suspension was cancelled on appeal.
In 2004, David Beckham's Adidas television commercial "Kicking It", featuring Jonny Wilkinson, was voted among the best British commercials of the year.
In 2004, Mariano García Remón was dismissed as head coach of Real Madrid, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo became the new head coach.
On December 3, 2005, David Beckham was sent off for the third time that season in a league match against Getafe. The following day, Luxemburgo was sacked and replaced by Juan Ramón López Caro.
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 travelled with the British delegation to Singapore for the host city selection, playing a critical part in bringing the Olympics to London in 2012.
In January 2006, Pérez resigned as president, with Vicente Boluda named as replacement on an interim basis until the end of the season.
In June 2006, during England's World Cup matches, Beckham's free kick led to an own-goal against Paraguay, and he provided assists against Trinidad and Tobago. He was named Man of the Match for the game against Trinidad and Tobago.
On August 11, 2006, Beckham was dropped from the England national team by new coach Steve McClaren, who cited a desire to go in a 'different direction' with the team.
In 2006, June 1, 2008 marked Beckham's return as captain since the 2006 World Cup, and his dramatic turnaround from being dropped completely from the England squad to being reinstated as England captain.
In 2006, Lloyd's of London insured David Beckham's legs for £100 million.
In the summer 2006 off-season marked a turbulent time as the club's presidential elections were held. Ramón Calderón became the new Real president.
In January 2007, it was confirmed that Beckham would leave Real Madrid after six months to join the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS). The announcement ended speculation about his contract in Madrid, and 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 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, beginning July 1, 2007. Fabio Capello stated that Beckham had played his last game for Real Madrid.
Around February 2007, Fabio Capello allowed Beckham to rejoin the Real Madrid team, and he scored the equalising goal in the match against Real Sociedad on February 10, 2007.
On March 7, 2007, Real Madrid was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Bayern Munich at the round-of-16 stage. Beckham played a pivotal role in all three Madrid goals in the home game.
On 17 June 2007, Beckham played his final match for Real Madrid, a 3–1 victory over Mallorca which secured the La Liga title. Beckham left the field due to injury and was replaced by José Antonio Reyes, who scored two goals. Real Madrid won their first La Liga title since Beckham joined and their 30th overall, finishing with a superior head-to-head record over Barcelona. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were in attendance.
In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer, which was considered a historic transfer for football in America.
In July 2007, David and Victoria Beckham arrived in Los Angeles, attracting significant media attention. Victoria appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a welcoming party was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art with A-list celebrities attending.
On November 21, 2007, Beckham earned his 99th cap against Croatia, assisting Peter Crouch to tie the game at 2–2.
In 2007, Alex Ferguson speculated that David Beckham's increasing celebrity status, particularly after his relationship with Victoria, had a negative impact on his playing career.
In 2007, David Beckham received an option as part of his contract with LA Galaxy to buy a MLS expansion team for US$25 million.
In early 2007, despite strained relations with management, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón and manager Fabio Capello praised David Beckham for maintaining his professionalism and commitment to the club.
From 4 January 2008, Beckham trained with Arsenal for three weeks before returning to the LA Galaxy for pre-season training.
On May 11, 2008, Beckham was included in the England squad to face the United States on May 28, before playing against Trinidad and Tobago on June 1. Beckham received an honorary gold cap from Bobby Charlton before the game against the United States and assisted John Terry's match-winning goal.
On June 1, 2008, Capello made Beckham the captain for England's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. This marked Beckham's return as captain since the 2006 World Cup.
On 30 October 2008, AC Milan announced that Beckham would join them on loan from 7 January 2009, sparking speculation about a potential return to Europe to maintain fitness for the World Cup qualifying matches. Beckham stated that he intended to return to the Galaxy for the 2009 season.
On 20 December 2008, Beckham was unveiled at Milan's training facility, choosing the number 32 shirt. On 21 December 2008, he was introduced to the home fans at the San Siro before the league match versus Udinese.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony, David Beckham, Jimmy Page, and Leona Lewis represented Britain during the handover segment for the 2012 Olympics.
In 2008, Beckham stated his desire to continue playing for England after his move to Major League Soccer.
In January 2009, Beckham was set to join AC Milan on loan to retain match fitness for the World Cup qualifying matches.
On February 11, 2009, Beckham equaled Bobby Moore's record of 108 caps for an English outfield player, coming on as a substitute against Spain.
On March 28, 2009, Beckham surpassed Bobby Moore's record to hold the record outright at 109 caps when he came on as a substitute against Slovakia, providing an assist for a goal from Wayne Rooney.
In November 2009, it was confirmed that Beckham would return to AC Milan for a second loan period, starting in January 2010, after the end of the 2009 MLS season.
On 22 November 2009, the LA Galaxy, with Beckham as a key player, lost the MLS Cup final to Real Salt Lake in a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw. Beckham scored in the shootout.
Beckham's contract with the MLS included an opt-out clause after the 2009 season, allowing him to leave the club after completing the third year of his five-year contract, should he choose to do so.
In 2009, David Beckham is 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's 10-year collaboration with PepsiCo expired.
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, Beckham made a winning return in a Milan shirt, playing 75 minutes of a 5–2 victory over Genoa.
On 16 February 2010, 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 suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, ruling him out of selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
On 10 March 2010, Beckham returned to Old Trafford for the second leg of the tie. He came on as a substitute in the 64th minute to a positive reception. After the match, he draped a green-and-gold scarf around his neck, a symbol of protest against club owner Malcolm Glazer.
In May 2010, David Beckham visited Afghanistan to boost the morale of British troops fighting the Taliban insurgency. His appearance was believed to have prompted a Taliban attack on Kandahar airfield.
In August 2010, after England's poor performance at the World Cup, Fabio Capello unveiled a new team. Beckham was unavailable for selection and Capello indicated that he needed new players for the future, suggesting Beckham might be selected for one last friendly game.
On 11 September 2010, after recovering from his Achilles tendon injury, Beckham returned to the game as a substitute in the Galaxy's 3–1 win over Columbus Crew.
In March 2008, Capello hinted on March 25, 2008 that Beckham had a long-term future in his side, ahead of crucial qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
On 20 November 2011, Beckham won his fifth MLS season with the Galaxy and joined an elite group of players to have won league titles in three countries, as Los Angeles won their third MLS Cup against the Houston Dynamo.
On 31 December 2011, Beckham's five-year contract with the LA Galaxy expired, but he stated his intent to continue playing.
On 18 January 2012, despite being linked with Paris Saint-Germain, the LA Galaxy announced that Beckham had signed a new two-year contract to remain in Los Angeles.
During the 2012 regular season, Beckham helped the Galaxy finish fourth in the Western Conference. The Galaxy won the MLS Cup for the second year in a row, defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-1. Beckham announced that the 2012 MLS Cup Final would be his final game with the Galaxy.
In 2012, Beckham was named in the provisional squad to represent the Great Britain Olympic football team at the 2012 Olympics but was not included in the final selection by manager Stuart Pearce.
In 2012, David Beckham featured at the Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London, carrying the Olympic flame to the stadium by speedboat.
In August 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, with euro 2012 coming.
In January 2013, David Beckham was scheduled for a medical examination with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a potential transfer to the Ligue 1 team.
On February 24, 2013, Beckham made his debut for PSG in a Ligue 1 match against Marseille, coming off the bench in the 76th minute, making him the 400th player in the club's history.
In March 2013, David Beckham was appointed as global ambassador for Chinese football to help improve the image of the game and raise its profile both in China and abroad.
On 28 April 2013, David Beckham received one red card while at Paris Saint-Germain in a match against Evian.
David Beckham's playing career ended in May 2013. During his playing career he generated an estimated £1 billion in shirt and boot sales.
In May 2013, after a brief stint at Paris Saint-Germain, David Beckham officially retired from professional football, concluding his 20-year career.
On May 12, 2013, Beckham secured a fourth top-flight title as PSG defeated Lyon 1-0 to win the Ligue 1 title.
On May 16, 2013, Beckham announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the French football season. He played his final home game on May 18, 2013, against Brest, where he captained the team and assisted a goal. He was subbed off in the 79th minute, receiving a standing ovation.
From 14 July 2013, David Beckham appeared in adverts for BSkyB, advertising 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, David Beckham exercised his option to buy a MLS expansion team for US$25 million, a right he received as part of his contract with the LA Galaxy in 2007.
In November 2014, David Beckham designed a Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty created by various celebrities to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
In 2014, MLS announced that David Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami.
In 2014, Rob Smyth of The Guardian called David Beckham "a great crosser and perhaps the greatest of all time," highlighting his dead-ball specialization and unique crossing technique.
In 2015, Alex Ferguson claimed he had only coached four world class players at United, excluding David Beckham from the list.
In 2015, David Beckham launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.
David Beckham's ownership group originally hoped the Miami-based MLS team would begin play in 2016 or 2017.
During the 2016 EU referendum, David Beckham voiced his opposition to Brexit.
David Beckham's ownership group originally hoped the Miami-based MLS team would begin play in 2016 or 2017.
In January 2018, MLS announced that David Beckham's Miami-based team had been approved, with play likely to begin in 2020.
David Beckham was announced as the new Ambassadorial president of the British Fashion Council on 11 May 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.
In March 2019, David Beckham's former club LA Galaxy unveiled a statue of him outside of their stadium, the first of its kind in the MLS.
On 1 March 2020, Club Internacional de Futbol Miami (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.
In November 2020, EA Sports had an agreement with David Beckham to feature him in FIFA 21, in which he would earn £40m from a three-year deal.
In April 2021, David Beckham became a global ambassador for Maserati.
In June 2021, David Beckham bought a 10% stake of vehicle electrification firm, Lunaz.
In 2022, David Beckham signed a deal to become a brand ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which led to controversy due to Qatar's persecution of LGBT people. Beckham stated that the World Cup would be "[a platform for] progress, inclusivity and tolerance".
In the 1998-99 season, David Beckham was part of the United team that won the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, a unique feat in English football until Manchester City's 2022-23 season.
As of September 2023, David Beckham ranks joint-5th all time (alongside Lionel Messi) in goals scored from direct free kicks, with 65.
In 2023, as part of Maserati's new personalization program, "Fuoriserie Essentials", the brand unveiled its first collection with David Beckham.
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