Life of David Beckham

David Beckham returns for his second season with the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Hoping to play throughout the entire season, Beckham will be a leader to watch this year. Playing on a five-year contract with Galaxy, he is committed through June 2012.  Beckham, who started in Los Angeles last July, played in only five games last season, and sidelined because of ankle and knee injuries.

Well compensated for his extensive career experience, Beckham’s 5-year deal will bring him a yearly direct salary in the range of $10 million.  Product endorsements and benefits, including profit sharing will bump him up to about $50 million a year.
 
Generous with his time when off the field, Beckham is one of the world’s most recognizable people. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and runs the David Beckham Academy, a soccer school for children, located in London, and Los Angeles.  He is also the spokesman for Malaria No More, a New York non-profit organization to end malaria deaths in Africa.

Playing as a midfielder, Beckham participated in three World Cups in England.  He also is a 6-time winner of the Premiership title with Manchester United and the La Liga title once at Real Madrid. He has appeared in 100 career games for England, scoring 17 times. Beckham currently ranks fifth all-time in caps for England and became the fifth player in the country’s history to earn 100 caps.

A native of London, England, Beckham is married to Victoria Adams of The Spice Girls, and the couple has three boys.  Active in the fashion world, he and Victoria have recently launched a men’s fragrance line, David Beckham Instinct.