Da id Beckham
David Beckham is a retired world-famous soccer pla er who has pla ed for si teams.
Some people consider him to be the best soccer pla er in the world. But like all great people. At
one point in his career, he had tons of people hating him. He never let that stop him though,
and even toda he is a co-owner of a soccer team called Inter Miami.
Childhood
David Robert Joseph Beckam was born on Ma 2, 1975 in Le tonstone, England, United
Kingdom. A little while after David was born, his famil moved to Chingford, England, where
there was plent of room to pla sports like soccer. He didn t do ver well in school, but he did
well with art. He was a ver good artist, and mostl drew people pla ing soccer
A G o ing Lo e fo Socce
David grew up in a house where ever one was a Manchester United fan. His father took
him to games, and bought him balls and jerse s. He pla ed with his dad ever da and
eventuall , he was pla ing against older kids, and winning more than half of the time. At age 8,
David joined an eight and under travel team called the Ridgewa Rovers. According to Who is
David Beckham? 43 kids tried out and onl eighteen made the team. David was one of them.
He pla ed for them for si ears and his dad became one of the assistant coaches. At ten ears
old, David went to his first soccer camp, called the Bobb Charlton Soccer and Sports Academ .
It was founded b Bobb Charlton, who, according to Who Is David Beckham? is one of the
greatest soccer pla ers of all time.
G o ing D eam
On David s 13th birthda , he and his parents had lunch with Ale Ferguson, the manager
of Manchester United. Scouts had been watching David pla . He got a contract to pla for
Manchester United for the ne t si ears. During the first two ears, he would onl train with
their outh teams. Then after the training ears, he would pla as a full-time trainee. Finall ,
David might be good enough to join the elite team. When he was fifteen, he moved to
Manchester full-time as a trainee. He made his first professional appearance on September 23,
1992, but his coaches thought he needed to get better. He pla ed for their 18 and under team,
and their 23 and under team for a couple of ears.
Ge ing Fame
During the 1995-95 season David began pla ing for Manchester United all the time. He
scored eight goals total, which helped the team win the championship. In the first game of the
1996-97 season, David scored an ama ing goal that caught the attention of the England
national team. The saw his incredible goal and asked him to pla for them. David was
ecstatic. This was a big deal. He said es, and began pla ing for both Manchester United and
England s national team. Later, he met Victoria Adams, also known as Posh Spice, a member
of the music group, The Spice Girls. The went on a few dates together and eventuall were a
ver popular couple. During the game of June 30, 1998, David kicked a pla er on the other
team, and the referee gave him a red card. Because of this England lost the World Cup. The
people of England hated David for the loss. But in the World Cup of 2002, he scored a goal and
the won the game1-0. Even though England lost the World Cup, David had made an ama ing
goal and most of his fans forgave him.
David went on to pla for Real Madrid, LA Gala , Paris Saint-German, Preston North
End and Milan. His love to soccer affected his whole life. He used his fame to send a message
that if ou work hard, ou can do an thing. Even when things are hard, ou can get through
them. According to Who Is David Beckham? David said, There will be other challenges, other
goals, other e citing things to look forward to. I have no doubt of that. I will alwa s be centered
b m famil , who mean ever thing. But nothing will full replace football [soccer]. How could
an thing replace football [soccer]?
GLOSSARY
Scout
Someone who looks for pla ers to be on their team
Season
Usuall ever Spring and Fall, but in this case, Aug-Ma
World Cup
Held ever 4 ears with national teams from 32 countries.
TIMELINE
1975
1988
1992
1999
2000
__ ___________ ________________ _____________________ _______________________
David is born
Signs Contract to pla for Manchester United
Pla s first professional game with MU
Marries Victoria Adams
Becomes Captain of
England s national
team
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hinderliter, John and Ellen Labrecque Who Is David Beckham? Penguin Young Readers Group,
2020