A spectacular football player, a fashion icon, a beloved husband, an exemplary father, a successful businessman… David Beckham’s transformation into an iconic brand is awe-inspiring.
Born in Leytonstone, London on 2 May 1975, David Robert Joseph Beckham was the only son of Ted Beckham, a white goods repairman, and Sandra West, a hairdresser. The middle of three siblings, David grew up in a family devoted to England’s legendary football team Manchester United. Young Beckham showed his promise as a footballer by winning the Bobby Charlton Football Schools National Talent competition when he was just 11 years old. His talent soon caught the attention of Manchester United officials and he was asked to try out for the club’s youth league. Beckham left home at the age of 16 and started playing in United’s training league. Two years later he joined the club and became a full-time first 11 player in 1995.
A Brand Rises from a Football Star
David Beckham wasted little time in making his mark on English football. The talented goalscorer was named Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association in 1997. A year later, he became one of the leading faces of England’s World Cup team. Signing a deal with Adidas in 1998, Beckham gave the first signals that he would become a successful footballer as well as a brand when he signed a 13 million dollar endorsement deal. In 1999, he led Manchester United to the Premier League championship, FA Cup championship and Champions League championship. In 2001, his last-minute free-kick against Greece qualified England for the 2002 World Cup. That same year, Beckham signed a three-year, $22 million contract to stay at Manchester United. However, Beckham’s time at United was shorter than everyone thought. In 2003, Beckham was signed by Real Madrid in a surprising deal that caused Beckham to fall out with Manchester’s then manager Alex Ferguson.
Spanish football fans were thrilled to have their arch-rivals join their team. Meanwhile, Americans were just getting to know him through the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham, about a young girl who defies her family’s traditional ways to play football. America’s fascination with Beckham and his decade of dominance culminated in 2007 when the footballer great crossed the Atlantic to sign a five-year, $250 million deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Within 48 hours of the signing, the L. A. Galaxy sold more than 5,000 season tickets. However, Beckham’s career after moving to the United States was turbulent. He struggled with injuries, spraining a knee ligament in his first season in Los Angeles and later missing out on playing in the 2010 World Cup due to an Achilles tendon injury. Just days after winning a championship with French club Paris Saint-Germain, the 38-year-old Beckham announced on 16 May 2013 that he would retire at the end of the season. Thus, he ended his 21-year football career full of success and sensations.
Beyond Football
David Beckham and other investors announced plans in 2014 to establish a new MLS team in Miami. Inter Miami CF was officially formed in January 2018 and played its first match in March 2020. In July 2023, Inter Miami signed the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi. David Beckham, who has been involved in various charities since his footballing days, has been a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador since 2005. Beckham made his fortune from his time as an athlete as well as from his successful business ventures off the field. When he retired, he was the 7th highest earning athlete of all time with total earnings of $800 million. The iconic football star, who has been in demand for years, has signed deals with numerous companies such as Adidas, Haig Clubn Whisky, Armani and PepsiCo. In 2012, he presented a lingerie collection for clothing brand H&M. As part of Beckham’s marketing campaign with H&M, six 10-metre sculptures of the football star in his underwear were installed in New York; others were placed in Los Angeles and San Francisco. With a $44 million art collection, David Beckham spends an average of $46,000 a day on his hobbies, which include beekeeping and collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia.
Legendary Union: The Beckham Family
David Beckham opened the doors of a union that has been on the agenda since 1997, when he met Victoria Adams, also known as Posh Spice of the famous 90s pop music group Spice Girls. Before David Beckham met Victoria, who was rapidly climbing the ladder of fame, even the famous footballer himself did not know that what he said would come true in a short time when he said ‘See that beautiful brunette girl over there? I’m going to marry her’ while watching the 1997 film Spice World with his teammates. The legendary duo met at a Manchester United match in 1997 and soon fell in love with each other. Victoria and David announced their engagement in 1998. Victoria Beckham, who became pregnant with their first child Brooklyn in the same year, was actively continuing her music career in the Spice Girl team. The couple, who welcomed Brooklyn Beckham in 1999, got married on 4 July the same year at Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin in a wedding that was talked about in the world press for months at a cost of $ 800,000. The famous couple, who required all guests to wear black, made a name for themselves for a long time with their purple wedding dresses and suits. The Beckham couple, who always managed to be at the centre of attention of the magazine press, decided to expand their family in 2002 and announced that they were expecting their second child and took Romeo James Beckham, a footballer like his father, in their arms the same year. The couple moved to Spain in 2003 due to David Beckham’s agreement with Real Madrid and their other baby, Cruz Beckham, was born in 2005. In 2007, they moved to Los Angeles when David Beckham was transferred to Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2010, Victoria and David Beckham announced that they were expecting their fourth child, so their daughter Harper Beckham was born in July 2011. The iconic couple David and Victoria Beckham, who are always on the agenda, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last July. The famous couple underlined their happiness once again by sharing their photos taken in the same purple wedding dress and groom’s suit they wore on their wedding day on their social media accounts.
Eyewear by David Beckham
Football legend and fashion icon David Beckham shared the good news that the ‘DB Eyewear by David Beckham’ eyewear brand will be launched in early 2020. David Beckham has signed a 10-year licence agreement with Italian giant Safilo Group for the design, production and worldwide distribution of eyewear collections. DB Eyewear is designed to reflect David Beckham’s personal image and brand. David Beckham Eyewear combines effortless British style and attitude with a timeless spirit and attention to detail. DB Eyewear’s first eyewear collection featured a newly created monogram for David Beckham. The striking eyewear with the ‘DB’ monogram, combined with the quality of Safilo Group’s craftsmanship, design skills and materials, has become a symbol of timeless and detailed elegance. All David Beckham eyewear collections are therefore dedicated to consumers interested in designs that reflect the effortless elegance with a London feel that represents Beckham’s roots. The acetate and metal frames feature a masculine design, exquisite craftsmanship and distinctive details in a range of shades from an elegant colour palette to classic metal tones. David Beckham, who has been presenting eyewear collections in collaboration with Safilo Group for nearly 5 years, made the licensing agreement with the Italian company, which was due to expire in 2030, permanent with an agreement signed in May 2024.
Chronology:
1975
David Beckham was born in Leytonstone, London. He grew up supporting Manchester United and attended Bobby Charlton Football School in Manchester as a child.
1993
David Beckham made his professional debut for Manchester United at the age of 17 in a Premier League match against Leeds United.
1999
2002
Beckham was sent off after kicking his opponent in England’s round of 16 match against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup. England lost the match on penalties.
2003
Beckham, who fell out with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, moved to Spanish giant Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 35 million Euros.
2013
After a successful career that included six Premier League titles, two La Liga titles and one Champions League triumph, David Beckham announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38.
2017
David Beckham and Victoria Beckham renewed their marriage vows.
2018
Five years after ending his professional football career, David Beckham founded the Inter Miami team.
2020
David Beckham presented his eyewear brand David Beckham Eyewear in cooperation with Safilo Group.
2022
The couple’s first child, Brooklyn Beckham, married his girlfriend of two years, Nicola Peltz. Victoria and David walked together in the church.
2024
David and Victoria Beckham celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
September 2024
