David Beckham - Joining LA Galaxy of MLS!

[epicSocialism4tw]

For those of us who have been a part of the development of US Soccer over the years leading up the institution of the MLS, this is exciting news. Beckham is in the twighlight of his career, but he's still a superstud and a marketable superstar. You'll see Beckham on Sportscenter.

Welcome to the USA, Becks. We're glad to have you!

Coming to America: Beckham to sign with Galaxy

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MADRID, Spain -- Former England captain David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, he told Reuters on Thursday.


"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," Beckham said. "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 MLS from August this year."


Beckham, 31, who joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began in 1996.


He is also the biggest name player to move to club soccer in the U.S. since the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff played in the long-defunct North American Soccer League in the 1970s and early eighties.


His deal is reported to be one of the biggest in global sport with Beckham set to earn more than $250 million over the duration of his contract.


Beckham has soccer academies in London and Los Angeles. His wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, was recently photographed househunting in Los Angeles.
"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."


The news ends months of speculation about the future of the midfielder whose contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.


A starter since he joined Real Madrid, Beckham lost his place following the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello. He has only started five of Real's 16 league games this season and was known to be frustrated with his lack of opportunities in the first team.


The former Manchester United player said he was now inspired by the challenge of cracking the American soccer market.


"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own."


But he insisted he would be giving his all for Real Madrid until the end of the season to try and win the major trophy that has eluded him since he joined the club in 2003.


"For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100 percent to my coach, team mates and fans and I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve."
Beckham joined Real Madrid in 2003 after a hugely successful run with Manchester United, where he won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title. But Beckham did not win a single major trophy with the Spanish club, and his spell coincided with Madrid's worst slump since the early 1950s.

Real Madrid has had six different coaches and three club presidents during Beckham's stay, but the club has made a fortune -- in part because of the star's position as a cultural icon for soccer fans and non-fans alike, including men, women and children of different ethnic and racial groups.

His marketability was emphasized by the hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham," even as his skills deteriorated with age.

Beckham's contract included a clause in which half his image rights would go to Real Madrid. That helped earn the club millions, allowing the Spanish team to overtake Manchester United as the biggest earner in world soccer.

Beckham led England to the quarterfinals of the World Cup last summer, scoring from a free kick in the second round to beat Ecuador 1-0. But he was taken off the field early in the second half against Portugal with ankle and Achilles tendon injuries, and then watched as his team was eliminated in a penalty shootout.

A day after the game, Beckham stepped down as captain of the team -- a post he had held for 58 of his 94 international appearances. Then, on Aug. 11, England coach Steve McClaren dropped Beckham from the team altogether, signaling the end of his international career.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?i...=story&cc=5901

[Hercules Rockefeller]

$250M over 5 years is a lot of money

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

$250M over 5 years is a lot of money

Yes, but that's what the MLS is going to have to do to get players of that quality over here. Even with that money, it took the end of Beckham's international career to get him over here. It's tough to pull Euro stars. It will take outrageous money.


When you look at it from a marketing standpoint, the money will be well spent. This will be news all over the world. The MLS just became a part of international sports discussion. It's like Kobe Bryant moving to Italy to play basketball.

Beckham has soccer academies in London and Los Angeles. His wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, was recently photographed househunting in Los Angeles.
"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Yes, but that's what the MLS is going to have to do to get players of that quality over here. Even with that money, it took the end of Beckham's international career to get him over here. It's tough to pull Euro stars. It will take outrageous money.

and it took the same thing to bring Pele and others over to the Cosmos, and we all know how that worked out for the league.

[chawknz]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Yes, but that's what the MLS is going to have to do to get players of that quality over here. Even with that money, it took the end of Beckham's international career to get him over here. It's tough to pull Euro stars. It will take outrageous money.

It'll also take players who are one step away from retirement.

I'm mixed on this news. I think it's a good thing he's coming to Amercia and I hope it brings some much needed attention to the MLS. On the other hand, I am a bit disappointed that the MLS seems to be a retirement home for players past their prime.

Hopefully when the Galaxy plays the Rapids, it'll get our attendance a bit higher than it has been.

[bronco militia]

yawn

[Jens1893]

A Galactico at last.

Signing washed up players didn´t work before and won´t work now.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by chawknz

It'll also take players who are one step away from retirement.
I'm mixed on this news. I think it's a good thing he's coming to Amercia and I hope it brings some much needed attention to the MLS. On the other hand, I am a bit disappointed that the MLS seems to be a retirement home for players past their prime.
Hopefully when the Galaxy plays the Rapids, it'll get our attendance a bit higher than it has been.

Well you have to realize that the American league is just a farm division in the world perspective. It will not be able to compete with Euro or South American football until there is a better system in place to harvest the talent that is here that doesnt make it into the expensive club system.

[mattbeymvp]

Dempsey is going to Europe to play which is going to help the National Team improve on the field greatly.

Beckham is coming to boost MLS and bring more attention and publicity to soccer in the US.

Good stuff.

[Muddled]

Man, that's outrageous money, I've always liked Beckham as a player, watched quite a lot of him in his early years on that great Man U team that culminated in the famous treble, but this might very well get ugly.

Beckham is not a player who will dazzle you by blazing past 4-5 defenders and netting wondergoals a la Ronaldinho. He's known for his unparalelled crosses (not quite what will win over new fans, "hey take a look at that amazing cross") and deadly free kicks. Besides that, the qualities that has always made me like him, is his team first attitude, he'll play the simple pass if that's best for the team, he'll make the run back to defense, even though he's certainly not the greatest on the defensive side and I've never seen him curse out a teammate, always encouraging them on. But his lack of flashiness on the field, he's semislow and is at best an average dribbler, and his celeb status, have always secured him the "overrated tag" amongs hardcore soccer fans in Europe, and I'm affraid it's only a matter of time before the same will happen in the States, especially with the massive price tag.

[NaptownChief]

Beckham and his PR people have been dying for his star to take off in the US for many years now and keep finding out most don't know who he is or don't care. No doubt coming to play here especially in LA is designed to make him a huge star and household name in the US like he is in a lot of other countries. Not a bad marketing plan if that is what they want.

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by Muddled

Man, that's outrageous money, I've always liked Beckham as a player, watched quite a lot of him in his early years on that great Man U team that culminated in the famous treble, but this might very well get ugly.

Beckham is not a player who will dazzle you by blazing past 4-5 defenders and netting wondergoals a la Ronaldinho. He's known for his unparalelled crosses (not quite what will win over new fans, "hey take a look at that amazing cross") and deadly free kicks. Besides that, the qualities that has always made me like him, is his team first attitude, he'll play the simple pass if that's best for the team, he'll make the run back to defense, even though he's certainly not the greatest on the defensive side and I've never seen him curse out a teammate, always encouraging them on. But his lack of flashiness on the field, he's semislow and is at best an average dribbler, and his celeb status, have always secured him the "overrated tag" amongs hardcore soccer fans in Europe, and I'm affraid it's only a matter of time before the same will happen in the States, especially with the massive price tag.

I think he was underrated by some and overrated by others. One thing everyone has to give him is that he got where he is because of hard work, as he never was a guy that could get it done on talent alone.

Now, if LA Galaxy will please give us a fifth of Beckham´s salary as a fee for Tomasson I´ll be happy.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

Beckham and his PR people have been dying for his star to take off in the US for many years now and keep finding out most don't know who he is or don't care. No doubt coming to play here especially in LA is designed to make him a huge star and household name in the US like he is in a lot of other countries. Not a bad marketing plan if that is what they want.

That's the plan.

When Beckham "Bends" one of his trademarked spot kicks in from outside of the 18, you'll see it on sports highlight shows. In the MLS, I imagine that he'll get that done fairly regularly.

In regards to his crosses (which have always been brilliant), the Galaxy have a few guys who can finish them.

[fontaine]

1. He can't tackle/defend
2. He can't run at players any more with the ball
3. He's not a prolific goal scorer.

4. He's still pretty good on set pieces/corner kicks.

I don't follow US Soccer closely so don't know if those lack of skills will be ok in the american league but he's a totally flawed player. He is a very marketeable player though. I think Real Madrid pretty much made up for his initial signing costs through merchandizing sales of his new Jersey alone and that was in his first season.

So if they can sell the Beckham name brand in the States the money they are overpaying him would have been worth it. They certainly won't get value for it on the pitch from his play.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Pretty much a solit take Font. IMO he is just a face that some can recognize that realy know nothing about soccer/football. Just to drop a couple big names here say Messi/Ronaldinho or Rooney/Ronaldo came in they would utterly own this league.
For some reason I though he was coming in and owning part of the team.

[chrisp]

He won't help out much on the pitch, but he will be a face that will help market the sport, which will help the domestic game in the US.

In fact I think that was probably the main consideration in signing him, even though he remains one of the best crossers of the ball and dead-ball specialists in the game. He'll probably extend his career by a few years by going to the MLS, but people who are saying he won't set the highlight reels alight bytaking players on and dribbling through a field of defenders are dead right.....

[uk bronco]

the money he's going to be on is obsene nobody even in la liga or the premiership makes that kind of money but America is one of the emerging soccer markets so a player of his profile can only help it develop. With the standard of the MLS he'll probably have a massive impact and score lots

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by uk bronco

the money he's going to be on is obsene nobody even in la liga or the premiership makes that kind of money but America is one of the emerging soccer markets so a player of his profile can only help it develop. With the standard of the MLS he'll probably have a massive impact and score lots

Exactly.

The MLS needed a contract like this to send a message through international sports media to players around the world. This gives players a little bit of incentive to hear MLS out, and it gives the MLS a marketable soccer star.

Great for everybody. Bring on Becks.

[gotfredson]

I cant believe there is a soccer thread on the 'mane, what is the world coming to?

[Crushaholic]

More importantly, the Spice girl is coming with him...

[listopencil]

I think she's the one on the far left.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

She is

[maven]

He's no Zizzou and way overrated.

[CBF1]

I'd hit it.... The spice girls that is. Bringing up the spice girls is better than the news of Beckham any day of the week. Soccer will always be a "red headed step child" in this country.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by CBF1

I'd hit it.... The spice girls that is. Bringing up the spice girls is better than the news of Beckham any day of the week. Soccer will always be a "red headed step child" in this country.

It will always be the most populated youth sport in the country, and it's only a matter of time before advertisers jump on the bandwagon because of the huge influx of soccer fans from around the world into the Southwestern and Western US. Soccer is well on it's way onto the primetime TV world in America. All that has to happen is that the networks make the push to impede on the Latino TV market, which is growing. It is an inevitability that the major English-speaking networks make that push.