David Beckham
English former professional footballer who won league titles in Europe and North America.
Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham ( BEK-əm; 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, and is the only English player to have won a league title in four different countries: England, France, Spain, and the United States.
- Role
- Midfielder
- Affiliation
- Paris Saint-Germain (four-month stint)
- Status
- Retired
- Notable Achievement
- Ligue 1 Champion (2012–13)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
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; it was widely cited as a historic transfer for US football. 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.
In Their Own Story
The source details that following his departure from LA Galaxy, Beckham signed with Paris Saint-Germain for a short duration before hanging up his boots. This move occurred after he had already made history as the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League games and won two MLS Cups with the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. The text notes that Beckham retired in May 2013, immediately following this four-month spell at PSG where his team won the league title. This achievement capped a career defined by consistency across Europe and the United States. Unlike previous moves that lasted seasons or years, this final chapter was a fleeting but decisive period of success, allowing him to end on a high note with another major trophy in a country where he had previously only played for Real Madrid.
Reader's Guide
In international football, Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21. He was captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his tenure. He made 115 career appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006 as well as two UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004. Beckham held the England appearance record for an outfield player until 2016.
Did You Know?
- Beckham is the only English player to have won a league title in four different countries: England, France, Spain, and the United States.
- He became the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League games while a LA Galaxy player.
- Beckham was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or in 1999 and twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year (1999 and 2001).
- He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
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