COVER STORY THE BEST YOU ON THE BALL OFF THE PITCH With David Beckham’s announcement that he is to retire from professional football, The Best You looks at the life and achievements, of this hero of The Beautiful Game, on-pitch and off. 8 | WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO Sandra, his dad and extended and put coins in a meter that family allowed that passion to was in a cupboard just inside flourish. the changing room door.” Ted also planted the His dad’s coaching was dream of being a professional unrelenting: “After everybody footballer. Both parents loved else had finished and was in Manchester United and they the social club, I’d stand on the often took him to Old Trafford edge of the penalty area and to watch United games. No chip a dead ball towards goal. surprise that from an early age, Every time I hit the bar was David was telling everyone, worth 50p extra pocket money “I’m going to play football for from my dad that week. And Manchester United.” just as important, a pat on the As a boy David played back.” football above his level with Also at the club, David kids twice his age at Chase joined in the five-a-side Lane Park, near his school. sessions his father played in “I don’t know if it was - meaning that again he was because I was good or because playing above his level. This ne of the they could kick me up in the air instilled resilience as well as MAIN PICTURE world’s greatest and I’d come back for more, but enthusiasm. With smouldering footballers, they always turned up on the “I was so excited to be out good looks and a fashion icon, sex very talented right doorstep after school.” there playing with the rest of symbol, “Golden foot, Beckham His dad recognised them – these grown men – that OBalls”, England football team makes success his talent and when David I took whatever I had coming. look easy captain, half of Posh and Becks, was around 8 years old, he Dad warned me that I had to be loving father and all round sacrificed his own playing to prepared to get a bit roughed decent guy, David Beckham coach his son, taking David for up now and again. If he’d been has had a massive effect on the midweek training at Wadham running around telling people world far beyond his home turf Lodge, a neglected old ground not to tackle me all evening, it of football. near his home. David recalls: would have been pointless me The association of his “...the changing rooms were being there in the first place.” iconic brand with a product pure Sunday League: mud on His dad made sure David guarantees to raise its profile, the floor, really dingy lighting enjoyed the play, and allowed and it’s no surprise that clubs and the water dribbling out of him to develop his style. This have clamoured to sign him cold showers. Then there was is an important factor - David as much for his effect on their the smell of the liniment that loves football because it is balance sheets as his particular players used to rub on their associated with that great brand of on-pitch magic. legs. It would hit you as soon emotional reward - of being Counting Tom Cruise, Katie as you walked in. There were able to be who you truly are. ABOVE AND BELOW Homes and Elton John among floodlights – just six lamps on All the while David kept his friends, Beckham remains David Beckham has top of poles – but at least once his eyes focussed on what he had loads of a loving family man, dedicated experience in front every session they’d go out and wanted. “What kept me going to the happiness and safety of of the camera somebody would have to run was the idea that, eventually, his wife and four children. He is a truly international figure and is often called the world’s most famous footballer. So how did he achieve this amazing life? And where did he come from? Born in 1975 in Leytonstone and growing up in Chingford, David Beckham had a very ordinary beginning. His dad, Ted, a heating engineer, instilled in him his passion for football. “As soon as I could walk,” David says, “he made sure I had a football to kick.” Growing up happy and safe with his hairdresser mum WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO | 9 At their wedding, David was terrified of giving he groom’s speech, and he describes himself as “shy” when younger I’d get the call I’d been waiting Thornley and Chris Casper. He ABOVE got to play in the last 17 for ever since I’d first kicked the had no idea that the youth team David is as much of a minutes of a first team match. ball” – to play for Manchester was special, but Alex Ferguson family man as he is a “I was so excited I jumped off fotballer United. did, saying: “If we don’t get a the bench and cracked my When the call came, David first-team player out of this lot, head on the roof of the dugout: was ready. He was talent we might as well all pack up BELOW a great start to a first-team scouted by Manchester United and go home.” David and his boys career.” at 14 years old. It was a dream David was now among in LA Galaxy gear In 1994 he scored his come true. players as excellent as himself. first goal for the club in In Manchester he was Manchester United won the an international against surrounded by exceptional Youth Team Cup in 1992, and Galatasaray. With humour fellow players, including was runner up to Leeds in and modesty he recalls that Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, 1993. Eric Cantona came over to Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ben Aged 17, Beckham finally congratulate him. “He was having to fight me off in the end. I just wouldn’t let go of him. I’ve scored a goal and I’m celebrating with Eric Cantona.” When my In 1996 he was on the foot struck team that won the FA CUP and that ball, finished top of the league, making Manchester United the it kicked only team to win the Double open the twice. door to the Then, something special rest of my happened. At the opening of the 96 / 97 season, Beckham life at the scored his famous 60 yard same time. goal against Wimbledon from his own half. For him, years of learning to strike the ball hard meant this was just an “ordinary” kick, but it propelled him to stardom. He says of the fame it brought him, “When my foot struck that ball, it kicked open the door to the rest of my life at the same time.” Beckham’s life since has been fascinating. His marriage to Victoria Adams aka Posh Spice created the most glamorous couple in Britain, possibly the world. Yet their first date (after he’d finally Cup captaining England against 2003-2007 was largely plucked up the courage to ask Greece, he won the game with a attributed by Forbes magazine her out) ended in their being last minute free kick, becoming He to this one man’s presence. thrown out of an abandoned the darling of the media and The same effect was noted at Chinese restaurant when they the nation. He made 115 received LA Galaxy in 2007 when their tried to order drinks without appearances for England and death gate receipts reached record food. captained them for six years. threats levels, and they were able It’s a fascinating reminder He was famously cut to negotiate a massive shirt that excellence at one thing above the eye by a flying against sponsorship deal worth $20 doesn’t mean universal boot from Alex Ferguson in an himself and million – largely thanks to his brilliance. At their wedding, argument and in the end, after his family, arrival. David was terrified of giving Manchester United and Becks Looking back over the life the groom’s speech, and he parted company he went on to and even of the boy from Chingford describes himself as “shy” play for Real Madrid and Los found an coached by his dad to strike a when younger. Beckham was a Angeles Galaxy, becoming the intruder in ball hard and accurately, what bundle of amazing footballing highest paid footballer in the his garden are the ingredients that make talent, but he was also a normal world. him such a star? kid growing to manhood. That said, Beckham is early one Strong emotion is definitely Along the way Beckham clear, for him it’s not about morning, part of the mix. The love he weathered violent storms. individuals but the team standing felt for the game as a boy, During the 1998 World Cup working together. During the the tears he shed when the match against Argentina post-Argentina years, and later with arms talent scout called for him, the he was largely blamed for when he felt picked on and crossed, passion he feels on the pitch England crashing out of the isolated by Sir Alex Ferguson staring. that sets him on fire all tell of tournament after being sent for his “film star” attitude, that. His reliance on a team – off for retaliating to a pat on Beckham relied on the team to or a family – to support him is the head by Argentinian player lift him during matches.