David Beckham To La Galaxy

[pasion1]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article.jsp?content=20070111_091856_7008


NOT A JOKE!!! HOLY ****!!!! (prob spelled his name wrong.... i know )

This must be the biggest transfer in US sports history (even Pele is going to be nothing compared to this)


And all Torontonians will be able to watch Becks live from now on......wow.

 

[Virgo]

he will be obviously taking the place of a more talented uruguyan though.

 

[ShearerM4]

So is this bona fide now?

If so, cool.

 

[Jaouadinho]

good ridense, i like the guy but i think he is the ****test footballer ever.

i hope him going to the us will help make soccer (as they call it there) more popular, i think its a good move not just for la galaxy but for soccer as a whole in the states.

 

[jani]

make the title more "WOW". its too lame, doesnt attract attention


anyways, hopefully it will significantly raise the profile of "soccer" in the USA since Im going to study there for the next few years

 

[whathe]

Good luck for him, I think he made the right decision.

 

[Tosiek]

Now he will earn more money than he already earned so far. Anyway good luck for him.

 

[theo]

It's on uefa.com too:

Beckham leaving Madrid for LA

Former England captain David Beckham has announced that he is to leave Real Madrid CF at the end of this season to sign a five-year contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) team Los Angeles Galaxy.

Decision made
The 31-year-old's deal with Madrid, which he signed on leaving Manchester United FC in 2003, expires in the summer and Beckham has decided not to remain in Spain. "This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," Beckham told the Reuters new agency. "After discussing several options with my family and my advisers to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

Madrid statement
The nine-time European champions have confirmed the news, a club statment reading: "Real Madrid, through its sporting staff, held a meeting with David Beckham's agents this morning at the Santiago Bernabéu offices. After the meeting, both parties agreed that David will not extend his contract with the club, which is due to expire on the 30 June 2007."

UEFA Champions League winner
Londoner Beckham began his career at United, making his debut aged 17 in 1992. After a loan spell at Preston North End FC, he went to win six Premiership titles and two FA Cups at the club - together with the UEFA Champions League crown in 1998/99. He made his England debut in 1996 and was made captain in 2000, a role he held until the end of the FIFA World Cup last summer, by which time he had picked up 94 caps and scored 17 goals - including a famous last-gasp free-kick against Greece that took his nation to Korea/Japan 2002. A year later he joined Madrid but, with starting opportunities scarce under coach Fabio Capello, Beckham has now decided on a new challenge.

 

[MaestroZidane]

As someone that feels he is a great player, I kind of feel this is a bad move for him. With all the opportunities he may have had back in Europe, He decides to go to the MLS??.. But now that the move is done, I hope that this does increase the popularity of "soccer" here in the states. Finally, now I actually have a reason to see my first MLS game.

 

[Virgo]

BBC says he will earn £128M over 5 years. That's absolutely insane and I really doubt it isn't a typo.

 

[ShearerM4]

Not a big fan of Beckham at all I must say, and was glad he got axed from the England team (maybe not the whole squad).

But he would have been mental not to take this. He can become a traiblazer for the new generation of exports to the US, earn a ridiculous amount of money until he is 36! live in a great (english speaking) city, have a massive house etc...

Good for him.

 

[pede54]

More important than all of that....He will not experience the disgraceful disrespect he recieves from small minded Europeans, (including the English). He can leave behind the gutter press of many countries and live and work somewhere that he is appreciated both as a player and as a person. Somewhere that status is respected and not frowned upon.

Good luck to him and his family. Definately a great move for him and the future of American football,(soccer).

 

[barthez4]

I'm thrilled about this. I feel that it has come at a time in his career where he can still offer something in terms of playing ability, which is important because if he had waited a few years and then come when he was no better than other MLS players, what message would that give us Americans about the level of competition?

Even with the superstardom, Beckham has always been a favorite player of mine, his contributions to United were immense even though he doesn't get a spot with Cantona or Keane or Robbo. I wish him a warm welcome and good luck here in the States. Can't wait to see him play.

 

[Bonzi]

Smart move. Probably, North America is the only region where he's not famous enough, so it not only will make him a profit but also earn him some points in this regard.

 

[april__29]

well not that suprised since america is where most of the washed up stars go these days or to the middle east but i guess he wants to boost his profile in usa more. kinda feel a bit sorry for him cos his career has went down the ****ter since he married that bint tho his 'star' appeal has went up

 

[Soccer21]

Any word on how Posh Spice feels about hubby playing in front of all them Hollywood babes?

 

[Zlatan]

(even Pele is going to be nothing compared to this)

Anyway, money-grabbing bastard. If he would really love the game he would've gone to some other european club.

 

[fender]

Good move for him in terms of off the pitch activities probably will boost his image even more, i just feel he has at least 1 or 2 more seasons playing at the top level in Europe left in him.

 

[$teauA]

Awesome move for the MLS

 

[pefan]

Apparently he will earn around the same amount as the highest paid in American Football and Baseball. 128 million dollars over 5 years which includes sponsorship and image rights.

People are saying money money. But Real Madrid werent really serious about retaining him. Besides he wants to help boost the MLS. Imagine all the Beckham fans around the world especially in Asia buying LA Galaxy shirts and tuning into watching MLS. Channel 5 in U.K will probably try and get some live games shown just because BEckham is there now. Its beneficial to all parties involved. This could even help other MLS clubs gain better sponsors and more T.V companies from around the world will become interested in the MLS.

Great for all those young people who play soccer because all of a sudden soccer in the U.S will now be talked about more unlike before. I remember when i was there people used to call it a girls sport. Now people may start taking an interest. But there will still be issues regarding widespread interest of soccer. A lot of young americans do not think Soccer is the biggest sport in the world!