Football Biography Contest - David Beckham

Being in England, there are plenty of players I could nominate with my final choice being between 2 Manchester United players - David Beckham and Marcus Rashford. Marcus Rashford's initiative to challenge the UK government into providing free school meals is incredible and at such a young age, has achieved so much. But for me, David Beckham edged it.

I'd normally put a photo here but his image rights are pretty strict so that won't be happening!

It's hard to know where to start with Beckham, a player with incredible talent, a man with incredible mental strength and a man who's given so much back to society during his life.

The Football

Beckham broke into the Manchester United 1st team in the 1995-96 season when United failed to strengthen their squad with any big money signings. They lost their 1st match 3-1 to Aston Villa with Beckham scoring the only goal. Alan Hansen famously saying on Match of the Day;

You can't win anything with kids

A challenge laid down to Alex Ferguson and his young squad (the class of '92). David Beckham was one of those kids who went on to win the Premier League (his 1st of 6) in an historic battle with Newcastle United.

I can't really remember much about that season other than Kevin Keegan having a breakdown (after Stan Collymore's dramatic late winner for Liverpool against Newcastle), my 1st real memory of Beckham however was the following season when the Premier League really sat up and took notice...

Source - Oliver de Hauteville Bell's YouTube channel

You simply didn't shoot from the halfway line in those days. And you certainly didn't score.

"Surely an England player of the future" - John Motson (commentator)

How right Motty was, the young man's prominence grew in England after that, becoming an integral part of Glenn Hoddle's 1998 world cup squad, helping us reach the round of 16 and a match against fierce rivals, Argentina.

And this is where things fell apart for him and no doubt transformed him into the mentally strong man that he was to become. At 2-2 (after a Michael Owen wonder goal) and with England on top, he did this...

Source - judgementcrematorium's YouTube channel

...and England went on to lose on penalties.

It's fair to say, the English press isn't very nice. That's an understatement. I don't know how it's perceived around the world, but the English press is a horrible, toxic, cess pit. So the reaction to Beckham's return home was predictable.

"10 heroic lions, one stupid boy" - The mirror
"Moment of lunacy that cost cup hopes" - Daily Mail

It was brutal. And that was how it remained until 2001 when this happened...

Source - ClassicEngland's YouTube channel

2 minutes to go in the last game of 2002 World Cup qualifiers at Old Trafford, England needed at least a draw against Greece to qualify and at 2-1 down with only moments to go, he redeemed himself. A free-kick that had become his trademark over the years at a time when the pressure of a nation sat on his shoulders. He more than redeemed himself, he became a national treasure again. A hero that would go on to win 115 England caps and a long list of other honours:

• 6 Premier League Titles
• 2 FA Cups
• UEFA Champions League
• La Liga
• Supercopa de Espana
• 2 MLS Cup
• Ligue 1
• Ballon d'Or Runner Up
• 2 FIFA World Player of the Year Silver Award
  ...the list goes on Source - Wikipedia

Off the Field

However distinguished his football career is, it's his off the field activity which makes him stand out and the reason he gets my vote. His marriage to popstar Victoria Beckham is well known and of little interest to me. The same can be said of his aftershaves, silly hair cuts and personal brand. I'm more interested in his charity work, the personal time he's donated and the huge sums of money he's pledged throughout his career.

Beckham's been an Ambassador for UNICEF since 2005, meeting the Prime minister at the time to promote their cause (much like Marcus Rashford is now for his own cause). He donated his entire salary whilst at Paris St-Germain to 2 French children's charities - his focus throughout has been to help children around the world escape from poverty. He's also an ambassador for the "Help for Heroes" charity which seeks to support wounded soldiers returning from global conflicts.

Not only that, he's also been an ambassador for English football, spearheading the corrupt campaign for the 2018 World Cup (hosted in Russia). And has even found time to own 2 football teams in Salford City and Inter Miami.

He's clearly a busy boy and without writing a dissertation, I'll fail to do him justice.

It's fair to say that David Beckham's career both on and off the pitch has been remarkable and well documented. The strength to get through what happened in 1998 is beyond anything we'll ever experience (I hope) and to come back stronger and achieve what he has done since is something truly special.

I rest my case m'lud.