Beckham leaves for 'one last challenge'
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Nov 19, 2012
[MLS SPOTLIGHT: Los Angeles Galaxy] David Beckham announced Monday that MLS Cup 2012 will be his final competitive game
with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Originally signed to a five-year deal in January 2007, Beckham re-signed for two seasons after helping the Galaxy win MLS Cup 2011.
The Galaxy will again host
the Houston Dynamo in MLS Cup 2012 at the Home Depot Center.
"I've had an incredibly special time playing for the LA Galaxy, however, I wanted to experience one last challenge before the
end of my playing career," Beckham said. "I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future."
What that
challenge will be -- where and for how long -- was immediately the subject of speculation.
Rap star Snoop Dogg, a Beckham confidant, has talked
about buying a stake in Scottish champion Celtic and bringing the Englishman with him to Glasgow, but that is an unlikely choice for Beckham to finish out his career.
There has been lots
of talk of move to Australia, where the A-League is looking for a boost, however brief, Beckham would give. A 10-game deal with Melbourne Heart has been mentioned.
A move to China, where
he is popular, would be a quick money-maker for Beckham, though it isn't like he needs the money.
The sentimental choice would be a move back to England in January to finish his
career.
The two things that are clear that any move would be short-term and it will likely not involve moving his family.
Beckham is 37 and nearing the end of his career. He
has been in and out of the Galaxy lineup with injuries this season, though he has started every playoff game. (Indeed, he has started all 18 Galaxy playoff games during his six years in MLS, but
started only 91 of its 176 regular-season games.)
Beckham's desire not to uproot his children from their Los Angeles area schools were given as a reason for turning down a lucrative bid
from Paris St. Germain last winter.
There is no reason to believe he has changed his mind about moving his family, which is why any move to a new club will be probably be temporary.
37 and nearing the end of his career? his competitive career in the BIG leagues ended 4-5 years ago, luckily he was able to play in the MLS, a league suitable for his age.
in the USA, soccer promoters USE players for profit, which was the case with David, he is an ambassador for soccer, anyplace he goes...his history in the game is great an is appreciated by all who follow his career. On or OFF the field...look at what we did with Freddie Adu when he was a mere child, the MLS exploited him with DC UNITED when it was obvious , he was not ready to play with the BIG BOYS..he was brought along too rapidly, think how much better off he could be had he been taken care of in his develolpement a bit more slowly in stead of promoting him as a young super star...just his appearance at a PDL game in DES MOINES, Iowa ,broke the attendance record which still stands. Too often soccer in the USA is politics an all about the money...we who follow soccer thruout the international scene, know who the good players are an the level of play. That is a reason for players to come to the USA, they are famous for what they have done, what they still can do for the game here in the USA which is promote soccer by their name an past playing history, they are true AMBASSADORS of the game...no matter their age...Freddie gave inspiration to youngsters who wished to be pro soccer players...just like baseball youth has had for years...now, many want to be soccer players...when you figure out a way to get younger , you let me know...I am 76 an sure, can not kick the ball nearly as far as I used to, but, I stil enjoy trying...an my son stil wants to play pro ball...even in college div one....we have players at age 28, sure, if they have been playing great, why not have them on the team? If we had rules like Baseball, Football, we would put in David for all corner kicks an free kicks, then, sub him out...just like they do base runners, an special teams in football, etc...that is one reason we love soccer..it is the flow of the game...how dumb is it to take 30 min to play 3 min at the end of a basketball game? The experience an leadership of seasoned international players is also very important an useful for our USA players...I recall Blanco playing for Chicago...what a play maker he was....he was just plain fun to watch play....how old was he??
I've never understood the "Becks" phenomenon... a mediocre player at best, he could do one thing well, cross the ball...for whatever reason, he had a celebrity appeal to him (why him over others, I know not, maybe because he was the spouse of Spice Girl?)... let's face it, he went to Madrid to sell jerseys, and when even his crosses could no longer carry him, and the jersey sales were no longer what they used to be, he came to where an aging mediocre player could retain his "celebrity" status and make money... this is the final chapter in a story that should never have been written... accept maybe we could say he was the husband of a Spice Girl, whatever that is... his greatest quality is off the pitch, marketing himself
Pundits have their own agenda, yet Beck's soccer IQ, technical ability, and effort make most MLS players look quite mediocre.
Good riddance I say, he was mostly a bust when he was able to play for the Galaxy (i.e. when he was not injured, on loan to AC Milan, chasing the England squad, working on England's WC bid, etc.).
Sad to see Beckham leave.I liked his skills and work-rate.
How anyone can describe Beckham's career as "mediocre" is beyond me. Man U captain, England Captain, over 100 England caps. Becks is the one player who can hit another player on the foot in full stride from 50 yards away. He is no Messi, nor Ronaldo, but he has never played that way - he has always been the consumate teamate and team player - he makes every team better that he plays on, which is why is was in such high demand for loans. Becks is and will always be the better example for how young players can contribute.
You Beckham haters, you don't know what you are talking about! Agreed that he does not have those flashy dribbling skills but he can make those pinpoint crosses even now! He still is a valuable piece in most teams. Why do you think top teams are still trying to get his signature? By the way, he already was a big star before Spice came on the scene!
I agree with Nowozeniuk, Fonseca, Yunker, and Rama, nuff said. You B-haters are just jealous.
Hey you Beckham haters, stop your whining. If you are from England, I can understand why you are jealous and bitter. He did dump the EPL and jump to the MLS, and made a boat load of money in the deal. He is still the best at putting a soccer ball in the right place at the right time. Right on Beckham, hope you make even more money in your next venture. :)
I'm not a Becks hater... and I'm not passionate about him, negative or positive... the fact is, he is a mediocre player, always has been... you simply cannot compare him to Kaiser Franz, he was a world class player, or the rest of the world class players who came as "old men" from their respective quality leagues (Bundesliga, Brasilerao, La Liga, etc.), and the were still competitive in the NASL, now MLS. Those world class players included Pelé, Cruyff, Carlos Alberto, etc. Men who won world cups and/or should have or played in WC finals... Becks should not even be thought of in a class such as these. I don't wish Becks ill. To say " Man U captain, England Captain, over 100 England caps"... this isn't saying much, England hasn't done much in world football for many years, and they got lucky in 1966 (England supporters need to thank Portugal for butchering Pelé out of that cup). EPL quality is only due to foreigners (thank goodness the style has changed in the last decade or two, due to infusion of foreign players, they literally played like chickens with their heads cut off, kick and run crazy), the proof is in the pudding... what has England done in world football in the last 45 years? Becks sells jerseys and a brand name - I know not why. And ladies and gentlemen, the US has improved slightly on the world stage, but watching MLS games is like watching "high school" games in Europe or South America, so because you think he looks good against the high school crew, that doesn't make him a top footballer. Please don't misunderstand me, I want MLS to grow, players to get better, get away from the "American" mentality of size vice the world's cunning and skill, and trickery, and football smartness... I want it to improve, and I want no ill to Becks but the only real thing he can do is cross, and I do remember him having his best season the last year that he was at Real Madrid and they won the La Liga title... he had some very nice crosses.