Oh Golden Balls, Up Yours!

My journey home on Thursday was enlivened by the news that former England captain, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Mrs Posh Spice, The man Beautiful, whatever, announced he was to retire at the end of this season.

That the news can generate such extreme views on what exactly his legacy or how much he achieved over the course of his career.

From my point of view, any rational overview of his career should probably end when he left Old Trafford. Maybe even the season before. He did win the Spanish League with Real, and captaining them to the title. But by then he had called time on his Real career by signing a pre-contract agreement with LA Galaxy after not being able to get a game for the first half of the season. It did then appear that he tried everything to get out of the contract, and even played in Italy with AC for a few months.

He did say that he wanted to take the game to America; high ideals were tempered by the fact he was paid something like $20 million a season, more than ten times what the rest of the team were earning. And that really tells us all we need to know about Beckham, he has, well for the last decade, followed the money. From aping Michael Jordan by taking the squad number 23, and wanting to become a brand, a global brand. That he has done, and has advertised everything from sunglasses to pants.

It is hard to think of anyone who has made so much money playing football, although now what he earns outside the game dwarves what he earns by playing. Which is why he will never be short of a bob or two. That he chose to spend his final 6 months playing in Paris for PSG, rather than say go to help take himself to Leyton Orient playing for free to give something to the area where he grew up.

Also his wife isn't short of cash either, despite being one of the less talented of the Spice Girls; she graves numerous fashion and celebrity magazines, mixed her own perfume in her bath during fallow periods.

I guess, what this means is that Beckham is THE modern footballer; paid millions for playing, make tens of millions for endorsements. It seems unlikely he will grace the pundit's couch or the coach's bench, so what will Mr Beckham do with the rest his life? Who knows, who cares. He was a player that was graced with more talent, and he used it, able to dip a free kick over the wall, fire a 70 yard cross-field pass, and he did lead his captain with pride and lead by example. I thought it crazy to make him captain, but he thrived.

Anyway, all we have is memories of hair cuts, sarongs, and the occasional free kick and pass. So, so long David, thanks for the Alice Band.

Manchester United 394 games 85 goals
Real Madrid 155 games 20 goals
Milan 33 games 2 goals
Los Angeles Galaxy 118 games 20 goals