David Beckham, the former England captain and arguably the most famous soccer player on earth, has brought down the curtain on a glorious career in Europe as a champion.
After four largely barren years with the world?s greatest club ? Real Madrid ? he finished up a winner, when the Spanish giants secured the coveted La Liga title this past Sunday with a victory over Real Mallorca. Madrid finished in a tie with arch-rival Barcelona but gained the championship with a better head-to-head record.
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The denouement of a remarkable season and renaissance in the fortunes of Beckham has been compared to a Hollywood plot by some commentators, who now despair at his move to what is considered the inferior U.S. soccer scene and a place on the L.A. Galaxy roster.
Some have urged the 32-year-old to rethink his decision and stay in Europe, and last week Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon tried to do just that. But Beckham was not swayed.
He gave his commitment to Major League Soccer when he signed a five-year deal in January, worth around $250 million, and he has every intention of honoring it. Whether he would have made that decision now, though, is debatable.
Beckham chose to be the biggest star in the Galaxy after being judged surplus by Madrid?s great Italian coach Fabio Cappelo. In the wake of being told he was no longer wanted for England?s national team by new coach Steve McLaren, experts wrote him off as washed up.
But in the months since announcing his move to the MLS, he was restored to Real Madrid?s starting lineup and regained his place on England?s international team.
The player who reached the heights with Manchester United of England, winning six Premiership titles and a European Champions League title, was back.
This personal achievement should not be underestimated. Beckham was written off, in some quarters gleefully. He has proven them all wrong, and former England coach Sven-Groan Eriksson, a confidante of Beckham, hinted that the player might have made a different decision after his recent successes.
Beckham was wanted by European champion AC Milan of Italy and its city rival, Internazionale.
But this week, Beckham insisted he was heading to California for a new challenge, not only to do his best for the L.A. Galaxy but also to lead a grassroots revolution in U.S. soccer by encouraging youth participation.
So what will L.A. Galaxy and the MLS get from Beckham?
Foremost, he is easily the biggest name to play in the league since it was formed in 1996, and the publicity and glamour of the dashing Brit with the pin-up wife ? Victoria Adams, more famously known as “Posh Spice” of the pop music group Spice Girls ? will help raise the sport?s profile.
But Beckham is much more than a cute face and a disarming personality. He will bring the skill and passion of a truly top player. Forget the doubters who focus on what he can?t do.
It is true he has little pace and lacks the trickery to beat players one-on-one. But revel in one of the game?s greatest passers, and you will not be disappointed. His crosses ? passing both short and long ? and his accuracy from free kicks on goal have made him one of the greatest players of his generation.
Doubters should consider that in 1999 and 2001 he was runner-up for Fifa World Player of the Year as voted by the top soccer coaches on the planet. He earned those votes because he is one of the best ? not because he?s a “pretty boy” or hangs out with Tom Cruise.
The L.A. Galaxy and the MLS have a genuine star to behold, a true champion who is still one of the best.
Enjoy, U.S. soccer fans, enjoy.
THE BECKHAM FILE
» Full name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
» Age: 32 (birth date, May 2, 1975 in Leytonstone, London)
» Mr. Posh: Married Victoria Adams ? “Posh Spice” of the Spice Girls ? July 4, 1999. Three sons: Brooklyn Joseph (born 1999), Romeo James (2002) and Cruz David (2005).
» England forever … well, almost: Captain of the English national team from 2000 to 2006 when he resigned. Two months later, he was dropped from the team.
» Comeback: Back with the English national team this year, Beckham just completed a four-year run with Real Madrid by helping that team win its 30th La Liga title.
» He must be good: Twice, in 1999 and 2001, he was voted runner-up for the FIFA World Player Of The Year award.
» Family body art: The names of his three sons are on his back and a Hindi “Victoria” design on his left arm.
» Other notable tattoos: Latin “Perfectio In Spiritu” (“Spiritual Perfection”) on his right arm, and “Ut Amem Et Foveam” (“So That I Love And Cherish”) on his left arm; a winged cross on his neck; and an angel with “In The Face of Adversity” on right arm.
» Nowhere but up: Beckham?s new team ? the L.A. Galaxy, which is owned by the Phil Anschutz Entertainment Group ? is anchored in fifth place of the MLS?s Western Division (2-4-3). Only winless Real Salt Lake is keeping the green-and-gold out of the cellar.
» Beckham in Baltimore? Not quite. But the L.A. Galaxy is scheduled to play in Washington Aug. 9 (7 p.m.) against D.C. United.
Gordon Robertson is a Scotland-based freelancer, who writes about European soccer for several international publications.
