MORE SPORTS STARS DAVID BECKHAM PASSION FOR FOOTBALL

SUMMARY CHAPTER 1 ALVARO MEDINA 2º ESO A

Millions of people have admired the sporting excellence of the four people featured in
this book. Now you can discover how David Beckham, the Williams sisters (Venusáand
Serena) and Pau Gasol became four of the greatest Sports Stars in the world.

David Beckham Biography

Soccer star David Beckham has played for Manchester United, England, Real Madrid and
the L.A. Galaxy. He is married to Victoria Beckham, also known as Posh from the Spice
Girls.

Who Is David Beckham?

A phenom almost from the moment he could first kick a soccer ball, David Beckham began
playing for Manchester United, England's legendary soccer team, at age 18, and was a
starter by age 20. In 2007, he signed a five-year, $250 million contract with the L.A.
Galaxy. In May 2013, he announced plans to retire.

Early Years

Born on May 2, 1975, in Leytonstone, London, England, to parents Ted Beckham, an

appliance repairman, and his wife

, a hair stylist, David Beckham was the family's only son. A middle child between two
sisters, Beckham grew up with parents and siblings who were committed fans of
Manchester United, England's legendary soccer franchise.

At an early age, Beckham showed his own promise as a footballer, winning the coveted
Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools National Skills competition at 11 years old. His talent
soon caught the notice of Manchester United team officials, who asked him to try out
for the club's youth league. By the age of 16, Beckham had left home and was playing
for United's training division. Two years later he made the club, and by 1995, he was a
full-time starter.

World-Wide Star for Manchester United

Beckham wasted little time in making a splash on the English soccer landscape. The
talented goal scorer was named the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player
of the Year in 1997. A year later, he was one of the leading faces of England's World
Cup team. In 1998, Beckham, who'd already signed a deal with Adidas, netted $13 million
in endorsement deals.

In 1999, he led Manchester United to the Premier League title, the FA Cup championship
and the Champions League title. Thanks to a last-minute free kick against Greece in
2001, England qualified for the 2002 World Cup. That same year, Beckham signed a three-
year $22 million contract to remain with Manchester United.

But Beckham's time with United proved to be shorter than anyone thought. In 2003, he
was acquired by Real Madrid in a stunner of a deal that brought to light Beckham's
growing rift with Manchester's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
MORE SPORTS STARS DAVID BECKHAM PASSION FOR FOOTBALL

SUMMARY CHAPTER 1 ALVARO MEDINA 2º ESO A

Spanish soccer fans were thrilled to have their archrival join their team. Americans,
meanwhile, were just getting to know him with the release of the movie, Bend It Like
Beckham (2002), a movie that tells the story of a young girl who bucks her family's
traditional ways and falls in love with English soccer.

Moving to the L.A. Galaxy

America's fascination with Beckham and his decade of dominance culminated in 2007 when
the soccer great moved across the Atlantic to sign a reported five-year, $250 million
deal with the L.A. Galaxy. The relocation was as much about giving Victoria Beckham's
career a boost (she helped drive the decision to move to the States) as it was to give
America's Major League Soccer a shot in the arm. Within 48 hours of the signing, the
Galaxy sold more than 5,000 season tickets.

Beckham's career after moving to the United States, however, was been a rocky one. He
was beset by injuries, spraining a knee ligament his first season in L.A., and later
missed out on a chance to play in the 2010 World Cup because of an Achilles tendon
injury.

In 2012, Beckham furthered his success by venturing into a new commercial endeavor,
starting an underwear line for the company H&M. As part of Beckham's marketing campaign
with H&M, six 10-foot statues of the soccer star in his underwear were installed in New
York City; others were installed in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

David Beckham is still a young man the future very bright star one of the best and most talented football
players in the world today.