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Beckham is Coming to America

Former England captain David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal for MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy, he told Reuters on Thursday.

"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," Beckham said. "After discussing several options with my family and my advisers to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join L.A. Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

Beckham, 31, who joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began in 1996.

He is also the biggest name player to move to club soccer in the United States since the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League in the 1970s and early '80s.

"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said on the Galaxy's' Web site. "The addition of David Beckham represents another significant step forward for the MLS and the sport."

"[Beckham's] enormous success as a player and team leader will serve as an inspiration to millions of soccer players and fans in this country" and help boost MLS and American soccer in general, Garber said.

Beckham's deal is reported to be one of the biggest in global sport, worth more than $250 million over an undisclosed amount of time.

Beckham has soccer academies in London and Los Angeles. His wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, was recently photographed househunting in Los Angeles.

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

The news ends months of speculation about the future of the midfielder, whose contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.

A starter since he joined Real Madrid, Beckham lost his place following the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello. He has started only five of Real's 16 league games this season and was known to be frustrated with his lack of opportunities in the first team.

The former Manchester United player said he was inspired by the challenge of cracking the American soccer market.

"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own," he said.

But he insisted he would be giving his all for Real Madrid until the end of the season to try to win the major trophy that has eluded him since he joined the club in 2003.

"For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100 percent to my coach, teammates and fans, and I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve," he said.

Beckham joined Real Madrid in 2003 after a successful run with Manchester United, where he won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title. But Beckham did not win a single major trophy with the Spanish club, and his spell coincided with Madrid's worst slump since the early 1950s.

Real Madrid has had six coaches and three club presidents during Beckham's stay, but the club has made a fortune -- in part because of the star's position as a cultural icon for soccer fans and non-fans alike.

His marketability was emphasized by the hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham," even as his skills deteriorated with age.

Beckham's contract included a clause in which half his image rights would go to Real Madrid. That helped earn the club millions, allowing the Spanish team to overtake Manchester United as the biggest earner in world soccer.

Beckham led England to the quarterfinals of the World Cup last summer, scoring from a free kick in the second round to beat Ecuador 1-0. But he was taken off the field early in the second half against Portugal with ankle and Achilles tendon injuries, and then watched as his team was eliminated in a penalty shootout.

A day after the game, Beckham stepped down as captain of the team -- a post he had held for 58 of his 94 international appearances. Then, on Aug. 11, England coach Steve McClaren dropped Beckham from the team altogether, signaling the end of his international career.

Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 65&cc=5901

I hope soccer gets popular here, I'd love to be into the sport that is loved around the world man...

This is good news - even if I would consider Beckham as entering the twilight of his career, he will draw in more spectators. More spectators = more money = higher spend on other quality players, etc.

He could give the MLS the lift they need to start that upward spiral that has thus far eluded them.

I love this sport and would love to see it continue to grow and become successful.

Yea, it's more than just a great move by LA. It's a great move for MLS as a whole. Like both of you said, hopefully this starts a huge swing in popularity of the sport

Beckham Benched by Real Madrid

David Beckham won't play again for Real Madrid after announcing his departure at the end of the season for the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS.

"He is not going to play any more. He will practice, but he is not going to play," coach Fabio Capello said Saturday at a news conference.

Beckham announced this week he will not extend his contract with Real Madrid when it expires in June and is instead leaving for the Galaxy and a five-year deal.

"The player's decision is to go to Los Angeles. He has always been a great professional, but a player who has such a major contract with another team ... we cannot count on him," Capello said. "I think one cannot have the same drive if one is already with another team."

Beckham's spokesman, Simon Oliveira, said the 31-year-old midfielder would "continue to give his full commitment and professionalism to the club."

"David is surprised at the quotes from Fabio Capello, as nobody from the club has informed him of their intentions," Oliveira said. "As far as David is aware, he has a contract for the remainder of the season and he remains dedicated to the club and its supporters."

Beckham, who joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2003, has said he plans to leave Real Madrid after his contract expires June 30 and to join the Galaxy in August.

The Galaxy did not immediately respond to phone messages early Saturday morning in Los Angeles.

Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 49&cc=5901

Personally. I am not a big fan of soccer. I'm proud as an American that he simply ignore the "world's greatest sport" and focus on the sports in which we invented and focus on more. Why should Americans be hard pressed to try and become good in Soccer? We don't like Soccer, because the game is not as exciting.

There is a reason Basketball and Football are the top two sports in this country. Excitement, and alot of scoring. Soccer, is low scoring, and not very exciting, like baseball, and the NHL.

Of course, this is all my opinion. But the numbers don't like. NOBODY watches the NHL, MLS, or MLB as NEARLY as much as the NBA and the NFL.

However, soccer DOES do a great deal for women's sports, at least at the college level. For many Universities, soccer is the scholarship option of choice for many young ladies in liu of football. It becomes the football equivelant. The more popular the sport becomes, the more scholarship dollars that become available...
..and since I have a daughter that plays in the youth competative leagues - this is very important to me... LOL

Like I said - I think Beckham's play is past his prime, but he will be good for soccer in America.

On the professional level, I don't think women and sports mix very well. They just don't do it as well, and they don't sell tickets. Men play sports better. Period.

Collegiately, I was not aware that soccer was suffering. Soccer is actually pretty big at my university. I guess it will give a boost to females, but men play soccer better anyway.

Co-Ed sports don't exist for a reason. It's not because they don't like women. It's just that Men will always be chosen over Women, so they designate a league just for Women to keep them included.

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QUOTE(Supergirl @ Jan 18 2007, 06:35 PM) On the professional level, I don't think women and sports mix very well. They just don't do it as well, and they don't sell tickets. Men play sports better. Period. I'd still rather watch women mud wrestle than men... trust me, in some sports women are better...or at least, much more fun to watch...! LOL

QUOTE(Supergirl @ Jan 18 2007, 06:35 PM) Collegiately, I was not aware that soccer was suffering. Soccer is actually pretty big at my university. I guess it will give a boost to females, but men play soccer better anyway. There is maybe only one college in the entire state of Texas with a decent men's soccer program....but there are dozen's with women's soccer. On the flip side, we got plenty of football down here.... you might not have known that...lol I agree that men's soccer is funner to watch, but it is not a difference in skill so much as aggression. Men attack the ball and the goal... women tend to move and pass much, much more. My daughter's team plays against boy teams specifically because her trainer would like them to develop more of the attack mentality. Sadly he is an exception. Trust me when I tell you that part of why there is such a difference in playing style is not so much gender, as coaching based on gender. There are too many men coaching young girls and trying to protect them... it flows from the bottom to the top and ultimately the sport suffers for it. ... just my opinion but one based on experience.

QUOTE(Supergirl @ Jan 18 2007, 06:35 PM) Co-Ed sports don't exist for a reason. It's not because they don't like women. It's just that Men will always be chosen over Women, so they designate a league just for Women to keep them included.I'm not arguing this point - I simply said that DB will be good for soccer in america, IMHO. It's just an opinion. One that I hope will be true because it will ultimately benefit my daughter.


Regarding brains post... I think he has once again demonstrated his lack there of...