David Beckham

Beckham, a man for all seasons

Japanese pupils shake hands with England's soccer superstar David Beckham (C) as he visits a Tokyo elementary school, 20 June 2003. Beckham, who will join Spain's Real Madrid, is now here on the first leg of his Asian tour. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO

Football superstar David Beckham (L) and his popstar wife Victoria walk hand in hand upon their arrival at Narita's New Tokyo International Airport, 18 June 2003. Beckham said he was happy to be moving to Real Madrid and happy to be back in Japan, as he arrived at Tokyo's international gateway at the start of an Asian promotional tour. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI

Football and media megastar David Beckham continues to dominate both the sporting and gossip columns for both his talents on the pitch and his not so private life off it.

He has a carefully nurtured public image as a family man, fashion guru, gay icon, consumate athlete and is drop dead handsome to boot. Not to mention his pin-point passing, tireless running and deadly free kicks.

The Londoner has become a key performer at Real Madrid since completing a blockbuster dream move from Manchester United in June 2003 for a fee of some 35 million euros.

Real Madrid's David Beckham (L), Portuguese Luis Figo (2L), Javier Portillo (2R) and Brazilian Ronaldo (R) celebrate after scoring their first goal in a Spanish Premier League match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid 15 February 2004. The match ended drawn 1-1.

Some said he was in decline following a miserable campaign at Euro 2004, where he underperformed in England's quarter-final exit at the hands of Portugal, but Beckham knows all about overcoming adversity and is still Sven-Goran Eriksson's first choice as captain of England and doing well at Real Madrid.

Manchester United's David Beckham celebrates with the Premier league trophy after defeating Everton at Goodison park in Liverpool 11 May 2003. AFP PHOTO / Robin PARKER --UK OUT--UK OUT--

Before leaving United the midfielder helped the English giants to six championships, two FA Cups and the European Champions League, a tally he hoped to add to in Madrid given the fact his teammates included Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Raul.

But in 2004, French side Monaco beat Real in the Champions League, Valencia won the Spanish Championship and Real lost in the Spanish Cup final.

He was also on the front pages amidst strong claims that he had extra-marital affairs behind the back of his pop star wife and former Spice girl Victoria Adams.

2005 was even worse, on the pitch at least, where Barcelona won the domestic title and Real were beaten in the last-16 of the Champions League by Juventus.

Redemption

English midfielder David Beckham (R) scores a goal in front of Argentinian goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero during the Group F first round match Argentina/England of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 07 June 2001 at Sapporo Dome Stadium. AFP PHOTO/HORACIO VILLALOBOS/DIARIO POPULAR

Long before his move to Real, when Beckham scored the penalty that gave England a 1-0 win over arch rivals Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, English fans erupted with joy at the goal that marked the end of a personal journey.

England's midfielder David Beckham is challenged by an Argentinan player during the 1998 Soccer World Cup second round match between Argentina and England, 30 June at Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France. England leads 2-1 in the first half. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO

The young Beckham had become a national scapegoat and hooligan hate target at the 1998 World Cup when he was sent off during England's defeat to Argentina, which eliminated them from the tournament.

Some would say his wonderful last minute free-kick in England's final qualifying match against Greece in 2001, which qualified England for Korea-Japan, restored Beckham to idol status across England, but his popularity has gone global.

His marriage to pop singer Victoria Adams of 'Spice Girl' fame (with whom he has three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz) was a tabloid newspaper editor's dream.

Forward Dwight Yorke and midfielder David Beckham (top) of Manchester United jubilate after winning the final of the soccer Champions League against Bayern Munich, 26 May 1999 at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. Manchester United won 2-1.

At the end of 1999 his many and varied achievements were officially recognised when he came second to Brazil's Rivaldo in both the European Footballer of the Year "Ballon d'Or" and FIFA's World Footballer of the Year awards.

That honour came on the heels of Manchester United's historic treble success when they won the English Championship, the FA Cup and - most impressive of all - the Champions League after a dramatic 2-1 last-gasp win over Bayern Munich.

Time will tell which direction his career will take from here but it is certain to generate news print whatever the outcome.