Streets still paved with gold for David Beckham

By Ben James Jan 11, 2007, 19:06 GMT

Real Madrid soccer star and fashion icon David Beckham attends a Motorola promotional event in central Tokyo, Friday 29 December 2006. EPA/ANDY RAIN

London - From the relatively unpromising surroundings of Leytonstone in East London, David Beckham has struck gold in a manner that most people would not even dare to dream.

A teenage starlet at Manchester United, he survived vilification after being sent off at the 1998 World Cup to become one of the most famous sportsmen in the world, eventually joining the Galacticos at Real Madrid in a 25-million-pound (48-million-dollar) deal.

As famous for his changing hairstyles and his popstar wife as for his football, the man known as 'Goldenballs' will now be taking his talents to LA Galaxy in the United States in a simply staggering deal, reportedly worth 250 million dollars over five years.

Money and celebrity have followed Beckham wherever he has been.

At United, he reportedly earned around 80,000 pounds per week and such was his image - his blond hair making him the perfect marketing tool. That was not lost on United, but also not on Real Madrid, who paid 25 million pounds to sign him in the summer of 2003.

The former England captain also signed muti-million-pound deals with adidas and Gilette and there is probably no better choice than Beckham to raise the profile of football in the United States. The man is a brand in himself.

Beckham is as famous as much for his celebrity as for his footballing prowess - he and his wife, the former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, attract surely as much attention as any couple in the world.

It is estimated that the 31-year-old already earns around 32 million dollars a year and that he earns more from endorsements than any other player in the game.

Beckham became the face of Gillette in a deal thought to be his biggest single endorsement, at an estimated nine million dollars over three years and has also advertised sunglasses for Police as well as working with Pepsi and Vodafone.

But if money and celebrity have always gone hand-in-hand with Beckham, then his talent and achievements should not be underestimated.

Born in May, 1975, Beckham joined Manchester United as a teenager and quickly became a fan favourite as Fergie's fledgelings made their mark, dominating the early years of the English Premiership after its inception in 1991-92.

The poster boy had the world at his feet, it seemed, but when he was sent off at the World Cup in 1998 for as senseless foul against Argentina, he was vilified by crowds around England on his return.

Lesser characters than Beckham could have faded into the background but Beckham withstood the jeering to become one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet.

Blessed with a superb right foot that could send in a perfect cross from the tightest of positions and deadly with a free-kick, Beckham helped United win the Treble of League, FA Cup and European Cup in 1999.

Made England captain in late 2000, Beckham grew into the role and as the penalty-taker, assumed even greater responsibility in a national shirt as he led England to the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea.

Success continued at United but rumours of unrest between himself and the manager Sir Alex Ferguson grew, and in the summer of 2003, he joined Real Madrid.

In Spain, his face was used by the club almost as much as his feet and he was never quite able to replicate the same kind of success as he had enjoyed in England.

After leading England to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he stood down as skipper and, after continued rumours that he may return home to play in the Premiership, he chose LA Galaxy and an American adventure.