by Adrian Keys

Created on: January 18, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Talk about a "second coming"! Yesterday, David Robert Joseph Beckham of "Bend It Like Beckham" fame announced that after his season ends with Madrid this year, he will be headed across the border...to play football...sorry, soccer in America's backyard. David who? Yes, David Beckham of movie star good looks, Posh Spice and paparazzi fame. In a deal reported to be worth over $250 Million Dollars over 5 years, David Beckham will join the Los Angeles Galaxy right here in our own floundering Major League Soccer (MLS).

I say it's a second coming because as you may know, Beckham spent the better part of his soccer playing...or rather "free kicking" days in the English Soccer League, playing for the tremendously prolific Manchester United from the age of 17. While there, he became a star and Manchester United established an enviable record - the highpoint being accomplishing The Treble of the league, and winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. Blinkered aficionados and organising bodies claimed Mr. Beckham was the man...the centerpiece of United's terrific form...but really, I ask...was he? If he was, then this must have been the "first coming" as it has all been down hill since.

After United, he was then transferred, in a deal worth over 24 Million GBP, to the Spanish Soccer League in 2003 to represent Real Madrid and play with a starstudded team that included the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane and Roberto Carlos. But while in Madrid, he was never quite the spark...surprise, surprise! Even with stars up and down the lineup, the team performed poorly, Beckham at times found himself on the bench and there was more razzle dazzle off the field than on the field. To say it was a "circus" and a "feeding fest" for the paparazzi would be putting it mildly.

In terms of his international career, in my opinion, he has had a far less than illustrious one. He did play for England in three World Cup finals and captained the team from 2000 to 2006 but that was just about it. He suffered the ignominy of being red-carded in his first World Cup and led England to two rather disappointing quarter final exits in 2002 and 2006.The quarter final exits distort the real quality of England's play in the two finals which was far from sterling.

Also, one should not forget that after the less than satisfying 2002 World Cup (to English fans at any rate), Beckham could not regain his place on the Manchester United first team and eventually fell out of favor with the Manager - Sir Alex

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