| David Beckham was born on May 2nd 1975 in | | | | ejected from play. England lost the match to Argentina, |
| Leytonstone, East London. He is the son of David | | | | ending their run for the world cup in the second round. |
| Edward Alan Beckham and Sandra Georgina West. | | | | Beckham received criticism and blame for his behavior. |
| His father worked as a kitchen fitter while is mother | | | | England fans blamed him for the loss against |
| worked as a hair dresser. Although born in London, the | | | | Argentina. |
| family was a strong supporter of the Manchester | | | | The 1998-99 season was one of the best for |
| United Football Club. The family quite often made trips | | | | Manchester United. They won what was known as |
| from London to Old Trafford to see the team play. | | | | the treble. This consisted of the premier league, FA |
| His career really got going in the mid 1990s. He was | | | | cup and Champion's league. This helped propel his |
| selected as a midfielder for the family's favorite team, | | | | popularity after the disaster of the Argentina match. |
| Manchester United. He was selected by Sir Alex | | | | Although the club was doing well, his relationship with |
| Ferguson in an attempt to bring new blood into the | | | | Sir Alex Ferguson was starting to become strained. |
| team. These new players dominated English football | | | | Following his marriage and birth of son Brooklyn, |
| throughout the 1990s. | | | | Beckham was given time off training to stay at home |
| He became known as a dead ball specialist. His height | | | | with his son who had contracted Gastroenteritis. |
| and body structure did not lend itself well to a blazing | | | | However, pictures later emerged of his wife Victoria |
| speed. However, Beckham did have extraordinary | | | | attending the London Fashion week. This event |
| passing and crossing abilities. He also had a very | | | | coincided with Beckham's time off. Ferguson became |
| strong work ethic, which worked highly in his favor. He | | | | furious, accusing Victoria of keeping David from his |
| was considered one of European football's hottest | | | | duties to the team. He was fined a whopping |
| assets and went on to earn numerous cups and | | | | 50.000£ over this incident, the league maximum. |
| tournament trophies. | | | | Things came to a head with the famous licking incident. |
| Beckham had some troubles is 1998. He had played in | | | | Sir Alex Ferguson kicked a ball at Beckham's head, |
| all of England's qualifying matches for the 1998 world | | | | striking him just over the eye. The injury required |
| cup. However, the team manager had different ideas. | | | | stitches and resulted in his transfer to Real Madrid. |
| He publicly accused him not concentrating on the | | | | Beckham remained a valuable player for the Real |
| tournament and refused to use him in either of | | | | Madrid team until 2007. He also was made Captain of |
| England's first two games. He did however start in | | | | the England squad, playing in both the 2002 and 2006 |
| their game against Columbia. Beckham scored a long | | | | World cups. In January 2007 Beckham announced that |
| range goal leading England to victory 2-0. | | | | he would be leaving the Real Madrid football club to |
| The game against Argentina was a public relations | | | | pursue his own American dream. He signed a 250 |
| disaster for Beckham. After being fouled by Diego | | | | million dollar deal with the LA Galaxy football club in an |
| Simone, he went and kicked him. He received a Red | | | | effort to boost the popularity of American soccer. |
| Card for this offence sending him off of the field. | | | | Beckham still however, holds his space on the England |
| Simone later admitted he intentionally tried to get him to | | | | squad, offering his high level skill and expertise. |
| react in this way with the sole purpose of getting him | | | | |