David Beckham

Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham (born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, and co-owner of Salford City F.C. Raised in London by his parents Sandra and Ted Beckham, he grew up as a devoted Manchester United fan. He attended one of Bobby Charlton's Soccer Schools, played for youth teams including Ridgeway Rovers and Brimsdown Rovers, and joined Manchester United's youth setup after signing a Youth Training Scheme contract in 1991.

At Manchester United, Beckham was part of the youth squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992. He made his first-team debut in September 1992 and signed as a professional in 1993. After helping United win the reserve league in 1994, he spent a loan period with Preston North End during the 1994–95 season, scoring two goals in five appearances. He returned to United to make his Premier League debut in April 1995.

Beckham established himself as United's right-sided midfielder during the 1995–96 season, helping the club win the Premier League title and FA Cup double. The following season, he scored a goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon and earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award as United retained the league title. Inheriting the number 7 shirt for the 1997–98 campaign, he led the league in assists. In the 1998–99 season, Beckham played a key role in United winning the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League, and he helped retain the Premier League title again in 1999–2000.

After his time with Manchester United, Beckham played four seasons for Real Madrid, winning the La Liga title in his final season. In July 2007, he signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan periods with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010, becoming the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League games. He returned to win the MLS Cup with the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. Beckham finished his playing career with a four-month stint at Paris Saint-Germain, retiring in May 2013 after winning 19 major trophies across four countries.

In international football, Beckham made his senior debut for England in September 1996. He served as national team captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his captaincy. Overall, he made 115 career appearances for England, representing his country at three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. He held the record for the most England appearances by an outfield player until 2016.

Off the pitch, Beckham married Victoria Beckham in 1999 and became a UNICEF ambassador in 2005. He was runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 1999 and twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year. Named to the FIFA 100 list in 2004, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and an investor group would own Inter Miami, which began playing in 2020.