Much to my surprise, ESPN reports English soccer superstar David Beckham signed a two-year contract to return to southern California and play for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The contract includes allowing the midfielder time off during the summer of 2012 to compete for Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics. That soccer tournament will be held in London and will likely be Beckham’s final chance to get a world title. The fact that the Olympics are in his native land will sweeten his participation even further.
“I’m still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy. I’ve seen first hand how popular soccer is in the States and I’m as committed as ever to growing the game here. My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here,” Beckham said, according to LAGalaxy.com .
I had expected Beckham to sign for a single year, especially in the twilight of his career.
Beckham’s staying power, along with his Olympic dreams, will be good for American soccer on several fronts. First is that he will be a first person ambassador for how far the game has come over the past 20 years. Major League Soccer is no longer an infant league with glistening new soccer stadiums and 19 solid franchises in North America. Beckham already helped lure Thierry Henry to this side of the Atlantic. With a new designated player rule in effect, younger stars may soon be joining MLS.
Second is that Beckham may eventually become an American citizen. Instead of kids flocking to Europe to see his artistry first hand, Beckham will eventually become a soccer entity in the United States instead of Britain.
In every other instance, when Beckham’s contract was up he went to another club. That’s why he went from Manchester United to Real Madrid to Inter Milan and then to the Galaxy. He won league titles with each team. For the first time in his career, the Beckham family will be staying put.
Since he loves it here so much, Beckham may well stay in So. Cal and never leave. The place has year-round soccer weather, his wife is in the middle of the Hollywood limelight and his kids have friends there. His daughter Harper was even born in California, making her an American citizen.
I would have thought Beckham would sign just a one-year deal since he is going to be 37 years old in May. I’m very glad he will be finishing his career in America. Six months before his 40th birthday, Becks will likely be bending soccer balls around walls while he helps the Galaxy in the MLS Cup playoffs in 2013.
I can’t wait to see what kind of send off the league gives him. If every stadium in 2013 isn’t sold out when Beckham swings by, what kind of soccer fans are we?
William Browning played soccer for ten years growing up in the St. Louis area. He has been a fan of Sporting Kansas City ever since Major League Soccer starting playing in 1996.