David Beckham Biography

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on May 2nd, 1975, in Leytonstone, England. He is one of the most influential and favorite football player. David Beckham is Madrid midfielder and English national team captain, widely known for his crossings, long-range free kicks and corner hits.

Making his football talent evident at an early age Beckham won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills Award at the age of 11, As a student in Essex. David Beckham was discovered by Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton and was signed as a trainee at United's Youth. He became Andrei Kanchelskis' substitute player at his debut game against Brighton in July 1992.

Winner of the 1992 F.A. Youth Cup and runner-up a year later, Beckham was finally signed as a professional United player in January 1993. The 18-year-old soccer pro played in his first Champions League game and contributed a goal to the team's final win.

David Beckham became a first team regular in the 1996-'97 seasons as a right midfielder. In 1996, not only did England get a taste of Beckham's crossing, free kick and long shot talent, but the player also won the F.A. Premier League, Cup and Charity Shield; all in the same year. 1996 was also the year Beckham made his international debut in a game against Moldova.

In the 1998 World Cup in France, Beckham made his first international goal with an incredible free kick against Columbia in England's final match. Beckham received his forth Premiership winner's medal and won a Champions League title, and an Intercontinental Cup and an English league title in the same year.

In 1999, he won another F.A. Cup, was the runner-up at the European Ballon d'Or awards and became FIFA's World Player of the Year, as well as the runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He also released David Beckham: My Story, the United Manchester midfielder's autobiography in 1998.

"To experience playing and being in the same team as these players is something that might not ever happen again - to have so many players in one team. I just wanted to be one of these stars and play in this team." David Beckham (on Real Madrid).

At the 2002 World Cup, in another tense matchup with Argentina, Beckham redeemed himself in the eyes of English fans when he converted a penalty kick that eventually gave England the victory.

Beckham became an even bigger name when the sleeper hit of 2003, Bend It Like Beckham, paid homage to the soccer player in its title. Beckham is also getting press as the poster boy for "metrosexuals" worldwide.

In the summer of 2003, Beckham was awarded an OBE (Order Of British Empire Honor) in Queen Elizabeth II's honors list. In that same year, his name was used as the title in the sleeper hit Bend It Like Beckham. Another upcoming film project is Goal, in which Beckham will have a cameo appearance. The film is about an L.A. kid who signs with Newcastle United and will be under Mel Gibson's Icon Productions.

In January 1998, Beckham became engaged to Victoria Beckham Adams (former member of the Pop group Spice Girls; born on April 17, 1975) and exchanged wedding vows on July 4, 1999. The couple now has three sons: Cruz Beckham (born on February 20, 2005), Romeo James (born on September 1, 2002), and Brooklyn Joseph Beckham (born on March 4, 1999).