David Beckham: The Man Who Changed Soccer
David Beckham’s career, which has spanned two decades, has seen him achieve remarkable successes both on and off the field. He earned himself a place among history as one of soccer’s all-time great players and was instrumental in introducing soccer to America and creating Major League Soccer (MLS).
When he first came to America with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, he set out to do something no player had ever accomplished: turn soccer into a popular sport in America. If successful, he believed, it could forever alter the game of soccer for ever.
He was right. Within two years, the Galaxy had become the most successful team in Major League Soccer, with a championship and playoff appearance. But those successes would come to an end quickly.
In the following season, Beckham was traded to New York City FC and began building a relationship with Landon Donovan. Although that season proved successful for Beckham and his team, it also proved turbulent.
Amid the turmoil, the Galaxy achieved a record attendance at an MLS match (29,485 fans) and became the second most-watched sports team in America. Yet Beckham’s meteoric rise was marred by an inequity in pay scale that threatened to derail his team’s fortunes.
Inequality between athletes and their fans led to a series of battles on and off the field. It brought together some of the world’s most celebrated athletes with teammates who earned as little as $12,900 annually.
Wahl’s book is filled with intense ego clashes, epic winless streaks, rivalries and resentments, big bets, as well as cultural and class clashes. It tells a captivating tale of an unprecedented experiment that revolutionized sports, culture, and expectations.
He often talks about how his successes and failures have impacted other players around the world, from bringing soccer to America to his treatment of fellow players. As such, he has become a pillar in the sport.
From his early days at Manchester United, when he was known as the “Class of ’92” alongside Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes; to his time spent with Paris Saint-Germain before retiring from professional football – Beckham has left an indelible mark on the sport.
His contributions to the sport of cycling are so immense that many consider him a cultural icon. His legacy serves as an inspiration to millions across the world.
Beckham has had to overcome many personal struggles over the course of his long and illustrious career, such as depression and PTSD. This has left him dealing with intense anxiety and panic attacks for several years.
He has thus formed a relationship with a therapist that has enabled him to manage his mental health issues. Furthermore, he can take advantage of new technology like virtual reality that helps him manage this condition.