Los Angeles – David Beckham, the most recognized player on the planet – fashion icon, tabloid fixture, marketing giant – agreed to a deal Thursday to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
Bringing goals, glitz and his Spice Girl wife Victoria, Beckham is leading another British invasion, hoping to do for U.S. soccer what The Beatles once did for pop music – make it rock.
“There are so many great sports in America,” the 31-year- old former England captain said. “There are so many kids that play baseball, American football, basketball. But soccer is huge all around the world apart from America, so that’s where I want to make a difference with the kids.”
Beckham turned down a two-year contract extension from Real Madrid, where his fading skills left the free-kick specialist on the bench. He’ll start for the Galaxy and could enter a whole new universe: His deal was negotiated by major entertainment industry players, including the creator of “American Idol.”
“Becks will certainly bring a new dimension to the popularity of football in the United States,” Rapids midfielder Terry Cooke said of his fellow countryman. “After playing some time with him as a teammate in Manchester United, it will be nice to play against him a couple of times in front of a sold-out crowd at our new stadium here in Colorado.”
The Rapids and Galaxy will play four times during the regular season, twice at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and twice at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. The entire schedule has not been released by the league.
Los Angeles opens its season April 8 in Houston, but Beckham is not expected to join the team until August.
The Galaxy didn’t say exactly what it will pay him, but floated a figure of $250 million in salary and commercial endorsements over five years. In other words, $1 million a week.
Beckham, who has failed to win any major titles in 3 1/2 seasons in Madrid, said the time was right for a change.
“I’ve played now for two of the biggest clubs in the world and played at the highest level for 15 years, and now I think that I need another challenge,” Beckham said.
Beckham will become the biggest star to play soccer in the United States since Pele and Franz Beckenbauer played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League in the 1970s.
MLS even changed its rules on salary caps, clearing the way for Beckham to sign the lucrative deal and become the first player to be signed under the new rule.
“I’m going out there to hopefully build a club and team that’s got a lot of potential,” he said. “I think that’s what excites me.”
