[ MADRID (Reuters) - David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish season and sign a five-year deal for U.S. side Los Angeles Galaxy worth $1 million a week, the biggest in world sport.
"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) from August this year," Beckham told Reuters. ]
I thought Football and Baseball players made a fortune - to bad when I was playing there weren't in Pro teams in the U.S.
It looks like they are trying to instill Soccer (Football to the rest of the World) in the U.S. again - they tried before with Pele. The sport is real popular with the youth, but the Pros haven't been able to draw the constant big crowds that (American) Football has.
Great deal for Beckham. Unfortuanetly he was always an overated player, and is now nowehere near his best, so it was the best move for the Behcam brand. Non of the top clubs in England would have been interested in him, and that would have serioursly damaged his brand image.
This is a perfect example of getting famous because your famous/the rich getting richer - Beckman is famous in the U.S. from his marriage to a Spice Girl, from the movie "Bend it like Beckman" and various other stories/events. He is just not a media centered celebrity they want to make him. It's to bad Fox's going to push more rubbish on the Public.
David Beckham and Victoria Beckham are reportedly considering an offer to star in their own reality TV show in the US. The series is being modeled on The Osbournes , which featured rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his family, and could help the couple become more well-known in America. The pair, who are due to move to Los Angeles later this year, are said to be considering the offer from US network Fox. David recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and the show would follow the couple as they adjust to their life in the US. A source tells American publication People that the show, tentatively titled Living With The Beckhams, would give the couple a big publicity boost. The source explains, "At the moment, neither David nor Victoria are very famous in the States, but starring in their own show on one of America's biggest channels would catapult them to instant stardom."
I came across this new item:
"WASHINGTON (TICKER)-- With the interest in soccer continuing to grow in the United States, the U.S. Soccer Federation is planning to launch a bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
David Beckham's impending arrival to the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS and the upcoming launch of the league's 13th franchise in the Canadian city of Toronto caused the federation to form an organizing committee for the bid during its annual meetings in Los Angeles this weekend.
While the aim is to capture the 2018 nomination, the USSF will also market itself to FIFA as an alternative for the 2014 event if a South American country is not ready."
While soccer is getting more popular in the US, I think using Beckham as a force to focus on a World Cup bid is ridiculous. If he's playing in 11 years, he would be a force to contend with. I think they need to build soccer all around - not just one or two players, it didn't work with Pele - it won't work with Beckham.
He's certainly past his best, but more importantly he is a team player. If he doesn't have quality players around him to read his passes, then what worked in Manchester & Madrid will fail in LA.
I think that they are both just looking for a new brand for when his career is finished. This is just a swansong
But isn't this sarka ??:back_to_topic:.
I saw this news item (below in part):
"
David Beckham's quality performances for Real Madrid have forced England coach Steve McClaren to recall him. Now the former World Cup captain hopes he won't be left on the bench.
Beckham, who will move to the MLS with the LA Galaxy next month, was selected in England's 26-man squad Saturday for the first time since last year's World Cup in Germany.
After being overlooked for England's last nine games, Beckham could play in the exhibition with Brazil at Wembley on June 1 and a 2008 European Championship qualifier at Estonia five days later.
"We've got a very big game in Estonia coming up that we have to win and I've got to pick a squad capable of doing that," England coach Steve McClaren said. "That's why I've picked David. "
What I can't understand - If they bypassed them the last nine games, why do they think he can make a difference now? Even if he does, he's gone in a month.
Let me see if i understand this: good enough for a European Championship qualifying match but not for league play. Boy, are you guys picky.