A Timeline Look at David Beckham’s Life and Career
Football Is in His Blood
Born on May 2, 1975, Beckham is the son of kitchen fitter David Edward Alan “Ted” and hair stylist Sandra Georgina. While an ordinary East London family of a humble background, Beckham and his sisters, Lynne Georgina and Joanne Louise, shared in their parents’ passion from an early age.
Beckham’s parents were avid Manchester United supporters who would travel a massive 200 miles from London to the stadium of Old Trafford to see their team in action. It wouldn’t take long for Beckham to inherit his parents’ love for soccer.
Proving His Worth
Hungry to make a career out of soccer, Beckham attended one of the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools in Manchester. There, he won their National Skills Competition, affording him the opportunity to attend a training session with Spanish giants FC Barcelona.
As Beckham’s talent shone on the field, he also made sure to introduce himself to his favorite club, appearing as a mascot for Manchester United for a game against West Ham United in 1986. At the same time, Beckham’s search for a youth academy was on.
Establishing His Intent
For a while, Beckham played for a local team that was coached by his father called Ridgeway Rovers. While it gave him a chance to hone his skills, only a serious football academy would provide him the platform to launch a professional soccer career.
After attending trials with Leyton Orient and Norwich City, Beckham was accepted to Tottenham Hotspur’s School of Excellence, however, he never represented them in a match. After playing in the Brimsdown Rovers’ youth team for two years, Beckham received the opportunity of a lifetime.
Manchester United Comes Knocking
During his time at Chingford County High School, Beckham recalled telling his teachers repeatedly of his ambition to become a professional soccer player. Having already established a name for himself with his past success, Beckham would soon grab the attention of his favorite team.
In 1991, Beckham signed as a trainee for Manchester United. There, he rubbed shoulders with other would-be Man Utd stars such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes. But despite being surrounded by talent, it wouldn’t take Beckham long to stand out from the crowd.
From his successful career with teams such as Manchester United and Real Madrid to his many hairstyles and acute fashion sense, few athletes are more instantly recognizable than David Beckham. Even off the soccer field, Beckham continues to make headlines, whether it’s due to his marriage to Victoria or his step into soccer club ownership. Here’s the remarkable story of how Beckham rose from his humble beginnings to global superstardom.