David Beckham Biography

He was born May 2, 1975 in Leytonstone, London, to Ted and Sandra Beckham - two Manchester United supporters who often took the young David to see their favorite team play.

David Beckham was all of 15 when he signed on with Manchester United as a trainee, helping to win the FA Youth Cup in May 1992.

His Premier League debut eventually came in 1995 at age 19. The following year his star performance came with his most famous goal - from the halfway line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park which later made the list of 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

His most notable season followed in 1998-99 when he helped Man United win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions league.

Since then, Beckham's rise to stardom continues to rest on his remarkable freekick skills which some fans liken to physical genius. His much-publicized marriage in 1999 to Spice Girl and media celebrity Victoria Adams, (a.k.a. Posh Spice) only added to his aura of Hollywood celebrity.

If Beckham was not a household name internationally by 2002, it almost certainly was following the hit movie, Bend It Like Beckham, released that year in which a young female soccer player follows her dream to be a soccer great.

In 2004, Beckham signed a 4-year contract with Real Madrid of Spain worth up to $41 million in salary and endorsements. He lived up to all the hoopla, improving upon his Man United stats by scoring five times in his first 16 matches, and engratiating himself with the Real Madrid fans.

However, overall his recent performance has been less than stellar, and following England's defeat at the 2006 World Cup Beckham stepped down as captain.

In January 2007 he was in negotiations with Real Madrid about a new contract but also discussed a spot with American major league soccer for a possible jump to a US team after this season.

Already the owner of a soccer school in Los Angeles, the David Beckham Academy, he finally made a much-reported announcement of a new five-year contract with the LA Galaxy team on January 11, 2006. The total $250 million deal translates to $1 million a week - the biggest in world sport.

What this may mean for Beckham's career remains to be seen, but the move to America can only help put a struggling Major League Soccer on the world map.

Beckham will eventually make the jump to the U.S. team after his contract expires with Real Madrid in June.

On a personal note, the Beckhams announced the birth of their third son, Cruz, in 2005. First son, Brooklyn, is now five and Romeo is two.

David Beckham's Career

Highlights of David Beckham's career:

1975 -- Born May 2 in Leytonstone, east London.

1991 -- Joins Manchester United as a trainee.

1992 -- Makes debut for United against Brighton in League Cup. Wins FA Youth Cup.

1993 -- Signs professional contract at Old Trafford.

1995 -- Joins Preston on loan and scores two goals in five games.

1996 -- Helps Manchester United win the Premier League-FA Cup double. Scores the goal of the season on the opening day at Wimbledon, lobbing goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line. Makes England debut in 3-0 qualifying win in Moldova.

1997 -- Collects another championship winners' medal and voted Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year.

1998 -- Scores first goal for England, a free kick against Colombia in the World Cup. Sent off in second-round defeat against Argentina for kicking Diego Simeone. Vilified by media and fans for the red card, which many believe forced England into a penalty shootout and cost a place in the quarterfinals.

1999 -- Responds to World Cup disgrace with strong performances for United, which wins the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Voted runner-up in World Player of the Year award behind Rivaldo. Marries Spice Girl singer Victoria Adams three months after birth of son Brooklyn.

2000 -- Sent off in United's opening World Club Championship match against Mexican team Necaxa for high challenge on Jose Milian. Left out of United team for the Premier League match against Leeds following reports of training ground argument with manager Alex Ferguson.

2001 -- England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson appoints Beckham captain. Collects another league title with Manchester United. Captains England to 5-1 World Cup qualifying win in Germany. Curls in a 25-yard last-minute free kick against Greece at Old Trafford to earn England a 2-2 tie and clinch a place in the World Cup. Beckham named runner-up behind Luis Figo for World Player of the Year award.

2002 -- Victoria Beckham gives birth to second son, Romeo. Beckham breaks bone in left foot in the second leg of Champions League quarterfinals. Signs new three-year contract with United reported to be worth about $195,000 a week. Scores on a penalty kick against Argentina to seal a 1-0 World Cup win. England loses in quarterfinals to eventual winner Brazil.

2003 -- Ferguson accidentally kicks a boot in Beckham's face following a loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup, leaving Beckham with cut over his left eye. Beckham left out of starting lineup for United's crucial Champions League quarterfinal second-leg game with Real Madrid at Old Trafford. Beckham scores twice as a substitute but the Red Devils lose 6-5 on aggregate. On June 17, Manchester and Real Madrid announce that Beckham will join the Spanish club in a four-year deal worth $41 million. Beckham immediately becomes a favorite with fans by scoring five goals in his first 16 matches.

2004 -- Beckham is the subject of accusations of adultery from two women. He denies both. He later plays in all of England's matches at Euro 2004, but misses a penalty in a 2-1 loss to France and misses another in a quarterfinal shootout loss to host Portugal. In October, Beckham admits to intentionally getting a yellow card in an England match in order to miss the next game since he was hurt anyway.

2005 -- Against Austria, Beckham becomes the first England captain to be sent off and the first player to be sent off twice while playing for England. Shortly afterward, he is sent off in a league game -- the first of three red cards that season for Real Madrid. He opens a David Beckham Academy in Carson, Calif., and one in east London. His third son, Cruz, is born.

2006 -- Beckham helps England reach the quarterfinals at the World Cup, scoring on a free kick in the second round to beat Ecuador 1-0. Against Portugal, Beckham limps out of England's quarterfinal loss to Portugal with ankle and Achilles tendon injuries and sits tearfully on the side as his team is eliminated in a penalty shootout. Beckham steps down as England captain a day later, and incoming coach Steve McClaren then drops him from the team on Aug. 11.

2007 -- Beckham agrees to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, but will finish the season with Real Madrid.