David Beckham

Midfield maestro and global icon who defined an era at Manchester United and beyond.

Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham (born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City F.C. Primarily a right midfielder and known for his range of passing, crossing ability and set-piece taking, Beckham is considered one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest set-piece specialists of all time. He won 19 major trophies in his career. Beckham's professional club career began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 at age 17.

With United, he won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, the FA Charity Shield twice, the Intercontinental Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He then played four seasons with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga title in his final season with the club. In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010, and became the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League games.

He returned to the Galaxy and won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012. Following a four-month stint at Paris Saint-Germain, he retired in May 2013 after a 21-year career.

Quick Facts

Birth name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Born: 2 May 1975
Birthplace: Leytonstone, London, England
Position: Midfielder
Total caps: 523
Total goals: 97

Lore & Background

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on 2 May 1975 at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, London, England. He is the son of Sandra Georgina, a hairdresser, and David Edward Alan 'Ted' Beckham, a kitchen fitter. He was given the middle name Robert in honour of Bobby Charlton, his father's favourite footballer. His parents were fanatical Manchester United supporters.

Beckham attended one of Bobby Charlton's Soccer Schools in Manchester. He played for a local youth team called Ridgeway Rovers, coached by his father. Beckham was a Manchester United mascot for a match against West Ham United in 1986. He signed schoolboy forms at Manchester United on his 14th birthday, and subsequently signed a Youth Training Scheme contract on 8 July 1991.

He made his first-team debut on 23 September 1992, as a substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. He signed as a professional on 23 January 1993. Beckham went to Preston North End on loan for part of the 1994–95 season, scoring two goals in five appearances. He made his Premier League debut for Manchester United on 2 April 1995 in a goalless draw against Leeds United.

Reader's Guide

Beckham is considered a British cultural icon. He has been in a well publicised marriage to Victoria Beckham since 1999. He was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or in 1999, twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year (1999 and 2001) and in 2004 was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. He has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005, and in 2015 he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund. In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami, which began playing in 2020.

Did You Know?

Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21, and was captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his tenure.
He made 115 career appearances for England, appearing at three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and two UEFA European Championships (2000, 2004).
Beckham held the England appearance record for an outfield player until 2016.
He is the only English player to have won a league title in four different countries: England, France, Spain, and the United States.