David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born
May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. He is
currently a midfielder for Real Madrid and captain of the English
national team, noted for the quality of his crossing and ability to hit
free-kicks and corners, particularly long-range free-kicks.
David Beckham is the most famous sports personality in the world. A
celebrated metrosexual, he is known for his celebrity lifestyle, good
looks and wide international fan-base. He is married to former Spice
Girl Victoria Adams and they have three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz.
He started his career at Manchester United, where he spent over a decade.
Beckham's highly publicised marriage to Spice Girl and media celebrity
Victoria Adams, otherwise known as Posh Spice, has made them both
popular targets for the tabloid press, which has dubbed the couple "Posh
and Becks". They have three sons, Brooklyn, born March 4, 1999, Romeo,
born September 1, 2002, and Cruz, born February 20, 2005. Beckham is
well-known for his frequent hairstyle changes and, despite being
criticised for influencing teenagers' hairstyles, still regularly
appears sporting a radically new look.
Early on in his career Beckham secured a number of lucrative sponsorship
deals including Adidas, Vodafone and Diesel.
In 1998 Beckham was pictured wearing a Sarong while on holiday with
Victoria that resulted in much British media comment and created a
characterisation of David Beckham as a well meaning and likable innocent
often embarrassed by Victoria's interest in her own celebrity. This
image was fixed early on in the pair's relationship when Victoria
admitted she had little interest in Football. The British comedians
Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona have fashioned a popular impersonation
of the couple that reinforces this characterisation. +
Following his move to Real Madrid and the disappointment of Euro 2004,
British media interest in the Beckham's has faded despite the alleged
affair with Loos. In December 2004 the announcement of plans for the
christening of their two children, including the construction of a fake
Gothic chapel for £120,000 on the grounds of their Berkshire estate,
were received with some ridicule, especially as neither are held to be
strongly religious. Despite their sometimes 'gauche' lifestyle Beckham
is well regarded for being a good father and supporting a number of
charitable causes.
However, he has become more well known in North America since the
success of the British film Bend It Like Beckham. It is about a British
Sikh girl who idolises David Beckham and harbours ambitions of being a
football player.
In 2001, Beckham became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. In the
summer of 2003, Beckham was made an OBE in Queen Elizabeth II's honours
list.
In May of 2003 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ordered David
Beckham not to wear his hair band during matches. It has been speculated
that he believed it to be too effeminate.
In 2003 his fame was evident when Staffordshire University provided a
university course about the star.
In April 2004, the British tabloid News of the World carried claims by
his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos that he and Loos had had an
extramarital affair. A week later, a second woman, Malaysian-born
Australian model Sarah Marbeck, claimed that she had slept with Beckham
on two occasions. Beckham has denied both allegations, describing them
as "ludicrous".
In July of 2004, an intruder was arrested at David Beckham's home for
scaling a wall with a can of gasoline. The Sun newspaper reported that
the man appeared angry with Beckham and intended to burn down the house.
He is a UNICEF Goodwill International ambassador.
In July of 2005, some regard Beckham as instrumental in the success of
the Olympic bid for London 2012.
