The news yesterday that David Beckham has retired from
professional football will seem to many as a long time in coming. Ever since
his ‘mid-football-life crisis’ move to LA Galaxy in 2007, it appeared that
Beckham had been put out to pasture. Despite this, he returned to top level
football with firstly AC Milan, and then more recently Paris Saint Germain,
proving that he does have what it takes to perform at the highest level.
Beckham’s CV covers almost every honour it is possible to receive, as he was at
the heart of Fergie’s Manchester United ‘golden years’. The only thing missing
is international success with England.
My
first memory of David Beckham is also part of my first World Cup memory. As a 7
year old, I remember my family all gathering round, eagerly watching the
England vs Argentina round of 16 game in the 1998 World Cup. Any England fan
will undoubtedly remember the story. The pre-match hype about the Maradona
‘Hand of God’ goal, and the fact that this was the first time England had met
the Argentineans in the World Cup since then. Cue Michael Owen’s wonder-goal,
and then the Beckham’s moment of madness, albeit provoked by Diego Simeone.
England’s inevitable defeat on penalties soon followed. A nice introduction to
English World Cup football, as I learnt from an early age not to expect too
much. This appears to be Beckham’s solitary negative point, in a career of so
many highs. I suppose it is good he got it out of the way early!
I have
nothing but bad memories of David Beckham as a Manchester United player,
perhaps because he was always so instrumental in their success whilst I was
growing up a Blue! My dislike of his club did nothing to stop me willing him on
whenever he put the white jersey of England, however. My favourite, and most
lasting memory of David Beckham will always be the injury time, 30 yard free
kick against Greece at Old Trafford to send England to the 2002 World Cup. From
absolute despair to elation in the kick of a football. I never thought I would
experience such emotion again, but Sergio Aguero put paid to that last May. A
dead ball and long ball specialist, Beckham’s abilities have been sorely missed
from the England team since his move to the US, as the phrase ‘Beckham range’
has not since been adequately transferred to another- ‘Gerrard range’ or
‘Lampard range’ just sound weird, and ‘Oxlade-Chamberlain range’ sounds like a
mathematical hypothesis!
Whilst
Beckham has also been all over the papers as a ‘style guru’, whatever that
means, we must not forget he has also had some spectacular failures. His early
‘skinhead’ look, where we could have been forgiven for thinking he had just
come from auditions for ‘This is England’. His bleached blonde shaggy look,
during which he looked like the lighter version of an emo. My personal
favourite has to be the quite ridiculous Mohawk, however. I have never seen so
many 12 year olds look so similar, and so stupid at the same time. Not quite as
disastrous as the Ronaldo clump from the same period, but pretty close. Since
leaving United, he seems to have mellowed on the style front, and with Wayne
Rooney’s recent hair transplant, it bears asking the question, why does Sir
Alex Ferguson like ridiculous hair styles on his star English players?
Nevertheless, his adverts for underwear, which oddly appear in women’s
magazines more than men’s (and women claim men’s magazines are shallow?!), have
given many women a poster for their bedrooms over the years, and will
undoubtedly be sorely missed.
As for
the title of this post, it seems as though it has recently become fashionable
to retire. Firstly, Sir Alex Ferguson calls time on his career, then Scholes,
and now Beckham. Perhaps Beckham was always looking over his shoulder after the
‘boot to the face’ incident with Ferguson in 2003, and seeing as Ferguson has
finally retired, he now feels safe...? An alternative hypothesis, and one that
I quite like the sound of, is that Manchester United officials and players
appear to be on a trend of retiring, and they appear to be getting younger and
younger. Sir Alex, at a grand old age of 71, Scholes, a fellow member of the ‘golden
years’ at United, recently retired at the age of 38 (albeit for the second
time), and now ‘Golden Balls’ himself, a slightly younger 38. As a City fan, long
may this trend continue! What we need to see now is the likes of Nemanja Vidic
and Robin van Persie prematurely retire as part of this fashion...
Alas, I
fear that this is all the retirements we will see from United this season. Ryan
Giggs soldiers on, apparently indestructible. The game has lost three iconic
figures over recent weeks. Ferguson’s managerial presence will always leave a
void, Scholes will also be missed (but mostly because I found it easiest to
pick him out when watching a game!), but the loss of Beckham represents the end
of a significant chapter in English football. ‘Captain Fantastic’ led England’s
‘Golden Generation’ to little success, but he will remain one of the most
popular players to play for the Three Lions.
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