Born in east London, Beckham began his football career at Tottenham Hotspur but signed schoolboy forms for Manchester United on his 14th birthday. He was part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and, having made his senior debut in 1994, soon established himself as United's right-sided midfielder. Beckham was integral to the club's success during him time at Old Trafford, winning six Premier League medals, two FA Cups and being part of the legendary Treble-winning side of 1999. Beckham has also been a major player for England since making his international debut in 1996. His infamous sending-off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup looked set to ruin his England career but thanks to his impressive perfomances and his attitude on and off the pitch, he won supporters round and became England captain in 2000. Similarly, Manchester United supporters were rocked by Beckham's move to Real Madrid in 2003, but he is still held in high regard by the club and fans alike. Awarded the OBE in 2003, Beckham is now an iconic figure in English football and has been instrumental in England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Although injury sadly put paid to his dream of playing in the 2010 Finals, his status is such that he travelled with the England team to South Africa to act as a mentor. As much a brand as a fooballer, and with a celebrity lifestyle most can only dream of, David Beckham is much more than a footballing legend.