davidbeckham-footballers

Soccer star David Beckham getting his own British reality series

2008-09-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

British-born soccer star David Beckham will be the focus of a reality show in the U.K., England's The Sun newspaper reported Tuesday, adding it would be similar to the Victoria Beckham: Coming to America one-hour reality special scheduled to air Monday, July 16 at 8PM ET on NBC.

Filmed by Britain's ITV, David's reality show will reportedly follow the 32-year-old from his final matches for Europe's Real Madrid to his new career with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, for whom he signed a $250 million deal with in January. While it will chronicle his move across the Atlantic and include "full and frank" interviews with David, the series will reportedly not feature much footage of Victoria and Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, the couple's three children, because ITV producers want the show to be "football-focused."

"David's move to L.A. Galaxy is an historic event," an "insider" told The Sun. "It is great he has let in the cameras. Viewers will get an amazing insight into his thoughts about the story that shook the world of football. It will be riveting."

19 Entertainment -- the same company that is producing Victoria's NBC special -- is also handling the production of for David's one-hour ITV show (19 Entertainment is run by Beckham manager and American Idol creator Simon Fuller). It will not be the first time David has been the subject of a 19 Entertainment-produced special for ITV, as the network previously aired David Beckham: A Footballer's Story, which followed his preparation for the 2006 World Cup.

"It has been a dramatic few weeks in the life of this iconic footballer," Fuller told The Sun about filming for the new show. "It has been fascinating to watch the story unfold and this documentary will give the public an insight into this extraordinary series of events."

It has yet to be announced when David's show will air on ITV. According to The Sun, the British network also plans to buy the rights to Coming to America, which went from an originally planned six-episode series to a one-hour special after David was recalled to play for the English national soccer team.

"The move to America and the recall to the England team adds a new and fascinating chapter to the David Beckham story," ITV president Jeff Anderson told The Sun. "We're delighted to have access to that story from the inside."

David Beckham news

2008-09-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Is Beckham worth his England place?

When David Beckham moved to LA Galaxy it was thought that he had left behind his international career. However, he was recalled by England in May 2007 and has been back in the fold ever since. If Beckham thought he would never play for England again, he certainly wouldn’t have dreamed of captaining his country again.

To many people’s surprise though, Beckham did just that in the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. Not only has Becks been constantly preferred ahead of David Bentley by new England coach Fabio Capello, but he has had the honour of reliving the six years in which he wore the armband. Fair enough it was against a poor side in a meaningless game, but it is a feeling that Becks didn’t think he would get the chance to experience again.

Now onto my main point - Beckham’s ‘right’ to be in the England side. One thing needs to be made clear first - the standard of Major League Soccer, in which Becks is competing, is poor. It is Championship level at best and won’t truly be testing Beckham’s abilities. Carl Robinson and Jim Brennan who weren’t good enough by a long shot for Norwich are stars over in the states. Danny Dichio (yes, that is the 33-year-old former Millwall striker) is the top goalscorer in the MLS. Is this really the standard of football one of England’s first choice midfielders should be playing?

The short answer is no, and I think Beckham knows that. Had he thought that he still had a future for England I’m not sure he would have gone across the pond. Now he has, I think he is still good enough to warrant a place in the squad - just. I don’t think he should be starting. As a country we are looking towards the 2010 World Cup and Becks will be 35 by then. He might not even be in the squad let alone the starting line up. So why not give Bentley or Ashley Young a run in the side? They are the players who will be around in 2010 and will gain a lot more than Beckham will. He has nothing to prove.

The reason he has been playing, I think, could be based on non football reasons. Beckham, as we all know, sells tickets. He is one of the most famous men in the world and every team England plays will be hoping Becks is involved. You would bet on England being more appealing as a football nation when Becks is part of it. Considering we are looking to host the 2018 World cup, it is in the FA’s interest to make sure that Beckham is involved as much as possible.

The recent game against Trinidad highlights this. This long trip after a long season for England’s players was scheduled in an attempt to curry favour with Fifa vice-president Jack Warner. In what was a weakened England line-up it was crucial that Beckham was making the trip to give more publicity to team and the World Cup bid.

Beckham was given a heroes reception during training in the Caribbean and for him to lead out England would, in Jack Warner’s eyes, perfectly mark the centenary of football in Trinidad and Tobago. A good way to ‘make nice’ you might say.

Like I have said before, I am not totally against Beckham being in the England squad. However, I have some issues with the potentially non-football reasons he is starting games ahead of the next generation of right midfielders. It will be interesting to see whether he is still in starting eleven when World Cup qualification starts. That might depend on how the bid to host the 2018 tournament is going.

David Beckham - Biography

2008-09-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Born: 2 May 1975
Birthplace: Leytonstone, England
Best Known As: Real Madrid midfield star and Mr. Posh Spice

Beckham is a leading English footballer and a former star of the legendary team Manchester United. Beckham was already a fan favorite when he married Spice Girls star Victoria Adams (”Posh Spice”) in July of 1999; the combination of the two heartthrobs proved irresistible to the press and public, and they became one of Britain’s most famous couples. As a player Beckham is particularly known for his free kick expertise, hot temper and spectacular long-range shots (including a famous goal from midfield against Wimbledon in 1996). In June of 2003, Manchester United sold Beckham to the Spanish team Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 35 million euros (about 25 million British pounds).

Beckham wore uniform number 7 with Manchester United; at Real Madrid he switched to number 23, with 7 already taken by his teammate Raul… Real Madrid was already home to several other superstars, including Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane… Beckham typically plays midfield… His popular nickname is “Becks”… He has three sons with Victoria Beckham: Brooklyn (b. 4 March 1999, Romeo (b. 1 September 2002) and Cruz (b. 20 February 2005)… Beckham was disqualified from the 1998 World Cup for a rough foul in England’s loss to Argentina; in 2002 he returned to the World Cup as captain of the English side, alongside fellow star Michael Owen.