Native Londoner David Beckham won’t be playing Olympic soccer in his hometown this summer. The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has been informed by Great Britain coach StuartPearce that the roster won’t include him.
Beckham, 37, made the 35-man shortlist but on Wednesday was told by Pearce that he hadn’t been picked for one of three overage slots.
“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, so I would have been honored to have been part of this unique Team GB squad,” Beckham said in a statement. “Naturally Iam very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.”
According to a source, the three over-ageslots will be filled by Welshmen Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy, and English defender Micah Richards. Britain is fieiding its first Olympic soccer teamsince 1960. Bellamy, a forward for Liverpool, and Giggs, a former Beckham teammate at Manchester United, have never played in a major international soccer tournament.