Post by Vierotchka on May 16, 2013 15:31:32 GMT -5
abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/10-things-david-beckham-19194960#.UZVBxpzxCKI
By NANCY ARMOUR AP National Writer
May 16, 2013 (AP)
Ten things to know about David Beckham, the soccer superstar who announced his retirement Thursday.
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1. HE'S WON EVERYWHERE HE'S PLAYED ...
Beckham has won at least one league title with every team he's joined for a full season. Manchester United won England's Premier League six times with Beckham, including three straight from 1999-2001. Real Madrid captured its first La Liga title in four years in 2007, Beckham's last season with the Spanish club. He led the Los Angeles Galaxy to back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in January, and last week the club won its first French league title since 1994.
2. ... EXCEPT WHEN HE'S PLAYED FOR ENGLAND
England never advanced beyond the World Cup quarterfinals when Beckham was playing, and many blamed him — and his petulant red card against Argentina — for the country's early elimination in 1998. Beckham made amends four years later, scoring the winning goal against Argentina that secured a spot in the knockout stage. Alas, England was eliminated by eventual champion Brazil in the quarterfinals that year.
Beckham had hoped to play in a fourth World Cup in 2010, but a torn Achilles tendon ended his chances. He went to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's staff, instead.
3. HE WAS FERGIE'S BOOT CATCHER
Beckham's time at Manchester United came to an unglamorous end when he was hit in the head with a shoe that manager Alex Ferguson had kicked in anger. Beckham left Old Trafford shortly after.
4. HE MARRIED A SPICE GIRL
Already popular, Beckham reached the upper stratosphere of celebrity when he began dating Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams in 1997. The wedding of "Posh and Becks" two years later garnered breathless international coverage, and Tom Cruise hosted a "Welcome to L.A." party for the couple after Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007. The couple has four children: sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and daughter Harper.
5. HE'S HAD MORE HAIRSTYLES THAN GOALS
OK, not quite. But it's close. Nothing illustrated Beckham's status as a fashion idol more than his ever-changing hair. He was constantly experimenting with color ( bit.ly/1845Wew ), length ( bit.ly/12y6GWX ) and layers ( bit.ly/10Innfs ), and one trip to the barber would send kids across the world scrambling for a new 'do. The Fauxhawk ( bit.ly/15QkQaJ ) is arguably the most famous, but don't forget the cornrows, the shaved head and any number of looks that were a curious combination of styles ( bit.ly/12y7o6K ).
Click on the link to find out the five more things.
By NANCY ARMOUR AP National Writer
May 16, 2013 (AP)
Ten things to know about David Beckham, the soccer superstar who announced his retirement Thursday.
———
1. HE'S WON EVERYWHERE HE'S PLAYED ...
Beckham has won at least one league title with every team he's joined for a full season. Manchester United won England's Premier League six times with Beckham, including three straight from 1999-2001. Real Madrid captured its first La Liga title in four years in 2007, Beckham's last season with the Spanish club. He led the Los Angeles Galaxy to back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. He joined Paris Saint-Germain in January, and last week the club won its first French league title since 1994.
2. ... EXCEPT WHEN HE'S PLAYED FOR ENGLAND
England never advanced beyond the World Cup quarterfinals when Beckham was playing, and many blamed him — and his petulant red card against Argentina — for the country's early elimination in 1998. Beckham made amends four years later, scoring the winning goal against Argentina that secured a spot in the knockout stage. Alas, England was eliminated by eventual champion Brazil in the quarterfinals that year.
Beckham had hoped to play in a fourth World Cup in 2010, but a torn Achilles tendon ended his chances. He went to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's staff, instead.
3. HE WAS FERGIE'S BOOT CATCHER
Beckham's time at Manchester United came to an unglamorous end when he was hit in the head with a shoe that manager Alex Ferguson had kicked in anger. Beckham left Old Trafford shortly after.
4. HE MARRIED A SPICE GIRL
Already popular, Beckham reached the upper stratosphere of celebrity when he began dating Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams in 1997. The wedding of "Posh and Becks" two years later garnered breathless international coverage, and Tom Cruise hosted a "Welcome to L.A." party for the couple after Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007. The couple has four children: sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and daughter Harper.
5. HE'S HAD MORE HAIRSTYLES THAN GOALS
OK, not quite. But it's close. Nothing illustrated Beckham's status as a fashion idol more than his ever-changing hair. He was constantly experimenting with color ( bit.ly/1845Wew ), length ( bit.ly/12y6GWX ) and layers ( bit.ly/10Innfs ), and one trip to the barber would send kids across the world scrambling for a new 'do. The Fauxhawk ( bit.ly/15QkQaJ ) is arguably the most famous, but don't forget the cornrows, the shaved head and any number of looks that were a curious combination of styles ( bit.ly/12y7o6K ).
Click on the link to find out the five more things.