David Beckham Research Paper
David Beckham is one of Britain 's most iconic athletes whose name is also an elite global advertising brand. He was captain of the English national team from 1998 to 2009, scored in three different FIFA World Cups, and played midfield for clubs in Manchester, England, Madrid, Spain, and Milan, Italy; he also won the MLS Cup playing for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. He was born David Robert Joseph Beckham on May 2, 1975, in Leytonstone, East London, England; son of Ted Beckham, a kitchen fitter, and Sandra West, a hairdresser. Beckham 's maternal grandfather is Jewish, and he has been mentioning the religion as influence; he wears a tattoo written in Hebrew from the 'Song of Songs ' in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), although
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made money from the start) and on the playing side (where Beckham and the Galaxy shook off two miserable seasons to reach the title game in three of his last four years). It was no coincidence that Beckham won the MLS Cup in the two seasons in which he finally made the Galaxy his top priority. U.S. soccer fans are savvy enough to know when they 're getting the maximum from a player, and Beckham--who at times seemed more interested in prolonging his national-team career with England, and had twice gone on loan to AC Milan--regained the full faith of L.A. supporters with his performance and commitment in 2011 and '12. "I can 't imagine there will be another player like David," said Galaxy coach and G.M. Bruce Arena, who won his record fourth MLS title. "Twenty years from now we 're still going to talk about David Beckham as the one who helped turn [this league around]." Perhaps the ultimate legacy of the Beckham era is that MLS doesn 't need him to continue growing. There are now 19 teams, compared with 12 when Beckham signed in 2007, and 15 of those play in soccer-specific stadiums. When the league kicks off its 18th season next March, it will have lasted longer than the old NASL (1968--84), which fizzled after foreign stars such as Pelé and Johan Cruyff left. MLS 's television ratings leave something to be desired, but mere survival is no longer a concern, following a season of record average attendance
made money from the start) and on the playing side (where Beckham and the Galaxy shook off two miserable seasons to reach the title game in three of his last four years). It was no coincidence that Beckham won the MLS Cup in the two seasons in which he finally made the Galaxy his top priority. U.S. soccer fans are savvy enough to know when they 're getting the maximum from a player, and Beckham--who at times seemed more interested in prolonging his national-team career with England, and had twice gone on loan to AC Milan--regained the full faith of L.A. supporters with his performance and commitment in 2011 and '12. "I can 't imagine there will be another player like David," said Galaxy coach and G.M. Bruce Arena, who won his record fourth MLS title. "Twenty years from now we 're still going to talk about David Beckham as the one who helped turn [this league around]." Perhaps the ultimate legacy of the Beckham era is that MLS doesn 't need him to continue growing. There are now 19 teams, compared with 12 when Beckham signed in 2007, and 15 of those play in soccer-specific stadiums. When the league kicks off its 18th season next March, it will have lasted longer than the old NASL (1968--84), which fizzled after foreign stars such as Pelé and Johan Cruyff left. MLS 's television ratings leave something to be desired, but mere survival is no longer a concern, following a season of record average attendance