Wayne Rooney profile and biography0

 

Profile

NAME	Wayne Rooney
BIRTHDAY	24/10/1985
BIRTH CITY	Liverpool, UK
HEIGHT	178 cm
WEIGHT	78 Kg
CLUB	Everton
POSITION	Striker
NUMBER	18
PREMIERSHIP DEBUT	17/08/2002 Tottenham
FIRST PREMIERSHIP GOAL	19/10/2002 Arsenal
ENGLAND DEBUT	12/02/2003 Australia
FIRST ENGLAND GOAL	06/09/2003 Macedonia
DID YOU KNOW?	Rooney was the Everton mascot at a Merseyside derby in 1996/97

Wonder boy Wayne Rooney is the name on everybody's lips as Roo-mania sweeps across the country. At the tender age of 16, Rooney announced himself to the Premiership as a top prospect - scoring a seamless goal against Arsenal to earn his first victory for Everton in the last minute of the game.

Wayne Rooney is a born and bred Liverpudlian. The son of a working-class family, he grew up in the suburb of Croxteth. Brought up in a three-bedroom council house with his parents, Jeanette and Wayne, and his younger brothers, Graham and John, young Wayne had not much more than the dreams of every other little boy in his town. His mum Jeanette was a dinner lady at a local school. The family have always been Everton-mad, and Rooney's old bedroom window, which was visible from the street, was filled with Everton pennants.

Rooney was the talk of the town well before his international success. He was only nine when he was spotted by Everton scout Bob Pendleton playing for boys' club Copplehouse in the local Walton and Kirkdale Junior League. In his last season with them he scored 99 goals before joining the Everton academy. His progress was so swift that he was playing for the Under-19s side when still only 15.

His life now is very different, though his superstardom doesn't look like it's gone to his head, he still looks like the boy next door, and if you passed him on the street you wouldn't look twice, he certainly doesn't carry the glamour of Beckham, but who cares? As long as he keeps scoring the goals, he's a national hero.

Wayne Rooney is the top goal scorer in Euro 2004, and hasbeen describes by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as the greatest teenage talent to emerge at a soccer tournament since Pele at the 1958 World Cup. Still at only 18 his career has just started, Liverpool-born Ronney is a boy that everyone wants to be.

Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United on Tuesday, 31 August 2004 despite a last minute holdup caused by his broken foot. Manchester United finalized the deal to acquire the 18-year-old striker from Everton at the transfer deadline date. The six-year deal is worth $48.3 million; with agent fees, the total soars to $54 million. "It was a tough decision to leave Everton, the club I've supported and played for all my life, but I'm excited to be joining a club as big as Manchester United," Rooney said in a statement released by his new team. "I feel this can only improve my career, playing with top players in top competitions like the Champions League and I can't wait to meet up with the team."

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Rio Ferdinand profile and biography0

Rio Ferdinand Profile
Biodata:
Full name: Rio Gavin Ferdinand
Date of Birth: 7 November, 1978
Birth Place: Peckham, London, England
Playing position: Central Defence
Currently Plays for: England and Manchester United
Previous Clubs: West Ham United, Bournemouth and Leeds United FC
Playing Career:
Career with West Ham United FC:
In 1996 Rio Ferdinand started his professional footballing career with West Ham United FC, made his debut playing against Sheffield Wednesday in a 1-1 draw. Ferdinand Won the West Ham United player of the year award in 1998.

Transfer to Leeds United FC:
In November of 2000, Rio Ferdinand moved to Leeds United. It was the most expensive transfer at that time in English football. Rio had a very short spell at Leeds before he completed his journey to Manchester United.

Career with Manchester United FC:
Manchester United signed Rio Ferdinand for a record Fee of around 30 million British pounds. Playing for Manchester United in the first season, the team won the 2002-2003 English Premier League title.
In 2003, Ferdinand missed to attend a drug test which sidelined him from playing for club and international matches. He missed the rest of that EPL Season and the Euro 2004.

International Career:
In November of 1997, Rio Ferdinand made his debut for England playing against Cameroon.

Rio Ferdinand Achievements:
EPL title with Manchester United in 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
League Cup in 2006, 2009
FA Community Shield title in 2003, 2007, 2008
UEFA Champions League title in 2007–08

Rio Ferdinand, was a British footballer who is now defending a classmate of Manchester United club. England National Team defender and Manchester United, is a key figure in the team or club, keeping his composure in the defense area, making its position on the national team and in the Club is not replaceable. Players who have the complete name is Rio Gavin Ferdinand, born in Peckham, London, UK 7 November 1978. Ferdinand early start his professional football career with the club West Ham United. For you fans of Rio Ferdinand, would like to know the Players Profile, Career, Personal Life, achievements, and a complete biography of Partner John Terry in England this. Here are profiles and complete biographies of Rio Ferdinand.

Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) was an English football player. He plays behind center for Manchester United in the Premier League and for England national football team. He has collected 80 caps for England in total, and has been a member of three World Cup squads.

Known for keeping his composure in the defense sector, Ferdinand started his career playing football for a team of youth, finally settling at West Ham United where he developed through the youth ranks and made his professional debut in the Premier League in 1996. He became a fan favorite, won the 'Hammer of the Year' in the following season. Ferdinand get his first international match in the senior national team in the match against Cameroon in 1997, set a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. Her achievements and potential for attractive football Leeds United and he was transferred to the club to break the record transfer fee of £ 18 million. He spent two seasons at the club, becoming captain in 2001.

He joined Manchester United in July 2002 for about £ 30 million, a record-breaking transfer fee once again. He won the Premier League club's first major honor, in a successful first season at the club. He did not pass the doping test that made him subject to a ban playing for 8 months, causing him to miss half the season the Premier League and Euro 2004 international competition. Once again, he stands alone in the Manchester United first team and received praise for her performance, displaying the PFA Team of the Year three times in four years. The success of the club More followed with another win in the Premier League 2006-07 season and the Premier League and UEFA Champions League double by next year.

Ferdinand had two sons, and Lorenz Tate, with his wife Rebecca Ellison. He was born in a football family: brother of defender Anton Ferdinand is Sunderland Club and former England international striker Les Ferdinand is his cousin. Outside he was involved in charities for youth, film, music, and television series including jokes Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups.

Similarly, little information about the Profile and complete biography of the Manchester United central defender Rio Ferdinand is, we present the complete picture together.
Read also profiles and biographies other football players from John Terry Full Profile.

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Xavi profile and biography0

Complete name: Xavi Hernández Creus
Birthplace: January 25 1980
Height: 170cm
Weight:69kg
Nickname: XAVI

Biography

Xavi has spent all his footballing life at the Nou Camp. The Blaugrana star joined FC Barcelona when he was only 11 years old. Early on in his footballing career he showed outstanding talent and skills. In the '97-'98 season, Xavi moved from the Barça youth team to Barça B, where he was the center of Jordi Gonzalvo's team which won promotion to Segunda A.

Xavi's dream of making his official debut with the first team squad became true when he played in the Spanish Super Cup against Mallorca in the summer of 1998. He was not only in the starting line up but also scored: a better debut he could not have asked for. Xavi also played an important role in the league-winning season of 1998-99 with Louis Van Gaal as manager. We all remember his important goal at Nuevo Zorrilla in Valladolid, which turned round the team's fortunes.

Xavi made his real break through in the 1999-2000 season. Due to a long term injury of Josep Guardiola he was the first choice to replace him and he played a fine season. After the legendry captain Guardiola left FC Barcelona for Italian football at Brescia he became the playmaker of the team and has continued to demonstrate the full range of his talents in this position.

With Barça coaches Van Gaal, Reixach, Antic and Rijkaard in charge of the team, Xavi has always been a key playmaker. Still young at 25 years of age he's already appeared in 300 official games for the Club.
Under Rijkaard, Xavi has proven that he can not only play at the heart of midfield, but is also more than able to cover any position in the middle of the park. In fact he was the most versatile player in the Barça Team that won the League in 2004-05, playing 36 games in total.

Xavi took part in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan and the Euro 2004 championships as a regular member of the Spanish national team
Xavi came from the Barça youth ranks. Xavi has a contract with FC Barcelona until 30th June 2009.

Profile & Position

Xavi is the playmaker of the Barça team and he guides the team with an extraordinarily cool head. Since taking on this role at Barça he has shown an incredible vision on the pitch. He is another example of the good work being carried out in the youth ranks of FC Barcelona. His outstanding passing skills and his ability to take the pressure off and protect the ball better than almost any other player, have turned him into one of the focal points on the pitch. He also stands out for his defensive capabilities and his capacity as a ball winner. In addition he has shown himself more than able at dead ball situations and with his strong shot has scored a number of important goals.

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Puyol profile and biography0

Complete Name: Carles Puyol Saforcada
Birthplace: La Pobla de Segur -Lleida- (Catalonia)
Birthday: April 13 1978
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 80 Kg
Nickname: PUYOL

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol started his footballing career at a small local team, La Pobla de Segur, in the North of Catalonia. His talent soon attracted the wider attention of many clubs and also the scouts of Barcelona had him on their talent list. At the age of 17 he was signed up for the Barça Academy at La Masía.

He soon started to play for the Barca B Team and then progressed to make his debut with the first team under coach Louis van Gaal on 2nd October 1999. Thanks to his determination to improve and a tremendous work rate he appeared more and more as a regular player in the starting line up until until he made the right back position his own. Due to his determination and fighting spirit he became a favourite for the Nou Camp crowd. In the meantime Carles Puyol developed his skills as an outstanding central defender.

In the 2004-05 season Carles Puyol won his first Spanish Championship medal with Barça. By then he was already the captain of the team and an essential part of Frank Rijkaard's La Liga championship winning side.
At the end of the season he finally saw his dream come true, lifting the league trophy in the Nou Camp.

Carles Puyol is a regular in the Spanish national team and took part in the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 European Championship.

Puyol came from the Barça youth ranks. Carle Puyol has contract with FC Barcelona until 30th June 2010.

Profile & Position

Although Carles Puyol started off in the first team as a right back, he can also adapt to the left back position but has since developed into an outstanding central defender. He stands out for his tremendous fitness levels, fighting spirit and his discipline on the pitch. He's a real team player and he never over-complicates the job when he has to cut off an opposing attacking move. For a central defender he is not particularly tall (178 cm) but his physical strength makes him very strong in the air. He also likes to get up in attack, especially for standard situations like corners and free kicks. Carles Puyol is a true leader and an important reference point for the rest of the squad. As a catalan homegrown talent he is more than any proud to wear the Barça colours and shows total identification with the Club.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic profile and biography0

PROFIL
Position: Forward
Birth Date: Oct 3, 1981
Birth Place: Malmö, Sweden
Height: 6' 3'' (1.91m)
Weight: 84 kg

Viewed as one of the world's top strikers, as well as being one of the most temperamental, Ibrahimovic made a name for himself at Inter Milan and won himself numerous personal awards at the San Siro. Known for his strength, aerial ability and fiery personality, Ibrahimovic has been compared to Dutch legend Marco Van Basten for his playing style.

Born to a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother, Ibrahimovic grew up in Sweden and plays for the Swedish national team. He began his career at nearby Malmo FF, before moving to Ajax where he blossomed, but courted controversy in his three years, before he was sold to Juventus.

Caught up in the Calciopoli scandal, Ibrahimovic was relegated to Serie B, but was not keen to stay on in Turin. Moving to Internazionale for £16.7 million, he became a fixture in their three title-winning side and then-boss Jose Mourinho claimed that he was, for him, "the best player in the world, ahead of (Cristiano) Ronaldo" - although the quote raised some eyebrows.

In 2009, he announced that he would like to seek a new challenge and agreed terms on an incredible swap deal with Samuel Eto'o that would see him become a Barcelona player, signing a five-year deal. His one season at the Nou Camp saw him score goals, but he fell out with coach Pep Guardiola and joined AC Milan on loan in August 2010.

Strengths: Strong and agile, he plays well with his back to goal and boasts some of the best ball control around.
Weaknesses: Drifts in and out of games, has questionable temperament and has been criticised for his work-rate in the big matches.
Career high: Top scored in Serie A in 2009 as he led Inter to the title.
Career low: Missed a penalty as Sweden were knocked out of Euro 2004 following a shoot-out loss to Netherlands.
Style: Languid, stylish, a composed and agile striker.
Quotes: "What [John] Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange." Zlatan Ibrahimovic responds to criticism from the Norwegian striker.

Trivia

Swedish soccer star now playing for Dutch professional team, Ajax.
Was sold to Juventus from Ajax on August 31, 2004, for 19 million euros, making him by far the most expensive Swedish football player ever.
One of Zlatan's goals against NAC Breda on August 22th, 2004 was by Eurosport considered "Goal of The Year". Zlatan dribbled through several NAC defenders before putting the goal behind the keeper.
Won his first season in the Italian Serie A league 2004/2005.
He scored 16 goals season 2004/2005.
He scored 2 goals in Euro 2004 in Portugal. The first was against Bulgaria and the second one against Italy.
He has played World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004 for the Swedish team.
In September 2004, he scored 4 goals against Malta in Sweden's first World Cup qualification game (Malta-Sweden 0-7).
He scored a goal in the last minute against Hungary in a World Cup qualification game (Hungary-Sweden 0-1).
He scored his first Champions League goal for Juventus against Rapid Wien (Juventus-Rapid Wien 3-0). [September 27th]
September 7th he scored a goal in the last minute against Hungary in a world cup qualification game (Hungary-Sweden 0-1)
During his years in Malmo FF he scored 16 goals.
When he played for Ajax 2001 to 2004 he scored 38 goals.
He has played 36 games for Sweden and has scored 18 goals. [November 2005]
He is a good friend with actor Mikael Persbrandt.
He won the price Guldbollen for best player of the year in 2005. [November 14th]
Is of Bosnian heritage.
Together with the actor Mikael Persbrandt 2005 they visited Sao Paulo Brazil for "the children's rights.".
He scored 7 goals season 2005/2006 for his team Juventus Serie A.
Was bought to the Italian club Inter after the big scandal with his former club, Juventus. [August 2006]
The first game of the season with his new club, Inter, he scored one goal against Fiorentina (Fiorentina-Inter 2-3). [September 10th 2006]
Son, Maximilian Ibrahimovic born [22 September 2006] with girlfriend Helena Seger.
Became a father on September 22th, 2006, when his girlfriend Helena Seger gave birth to a baby boy; they've named their son Maximilian.
Welcomed first son Maximilian on September 22, 2006.
Won the Italian League with his team Inter season 2006/2007 (he scored 15 goals).
Previous clubs: FBK Balkan-1994, Malmö FF 1995-2001, AFC Ajax 2001-04, Juventus 2004-06.
Zlatan and Helena are expecting their second child due late January 2008.
Italian champions with Inter season 2007/2008.
He scored 17 goals in the Italian League and 5 goals in Champions League season 2007/2008.

Personal Quotes

"Agents are just for selling bad players. The big clubs come straight to me."
"I'm not into gambling, I don't know the difference between Roulette and Black Jack."

Where Are They Now

(March 2005) Is in Larnaca (Cyprus) with the Swedish team. Warming up for the World Cup Qualification against Bulgaria before going to Sofija.
(June 2005) Is in Göteborg Ullevi (Sweden) warming up for the World cup Qualification against Malta
(August 2005) (August 17th) Playing a friendly game against Czech republic in Göteborg Ullevi
(September 2005) Is in Stockholm Råsunda Fotbollstadion solna playing a world cup qualification against Bulgaria
(September 2005) (September 7th) Is in Budapest (Ferenc Puskás-stadion)playing a world cup qualification game against Hungary
(June 2006) Is in Germany playing the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
(September 2006) Is in Riga with the Swedish soccer team for the first Euroqualification game against Lativa
(June 2008) Playing in the Euro Championshiop 2008 for Sweden
(July 2009) Brought over to Barcelona from Inter Milan in a trade deal for Samuel Eto'o.

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Francesc Fabregas profile and biography0

Full Name: Francesc Fàbregas Soler
Date of Birth: May 4, 1987 (Age 23)
Place of Birth: Barcelona
Nationality: Spain
Height: 175 cm.
Weight: 68 Kg.
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 10
Club: Arsenal

He is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is now the captain of Arsenal and Fabregas also played for the Spanish national team. Francesc Fabregas is the son of an owner of a property company and owner of pastries. Since Childhood, life Fabregas is never far from the football.

Barcelona is the first club’s for Fabregas before he move to arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16.
In international football, Spain’s national career began when he represented the Under-17 side in 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championships in Finland. As a result of the performance of his club, he was called into the senior squad in 2006. He has played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup 2010, helping Spain to be a winner at last in two recent.

Cesc joined To arsenal in September 2003 and he is became Arsenal’s youngest ever first-team player, aged 16 years and 177 days, when he made his debut against Rotterdam United in the League Cup on October 23.

His carrier began after Following an injury to Patrick Vieira, he made four consecutive Premier League starts at the beginning of the campaign and was praised for his performances. Cesc scored his first Premier League goal against Blackburn Rovers in a 3–0 victory on November 29 as Arsenal eclipsed Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten League record.

With further injuries to Edu and Gilberto Silva, he received more playing time and made 24 Premier League starts and 34 in all competitions. His impressive development was rewarded with his first professional contract in September 2004.

He became the second youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League after scoring against Rosenberg in a 5–1 win on December 7.

After the departure of Vieira to Juventus, Fàbregas was given the Frenchman’s number 4 shirts and featured regularly in the Arsenal central midfield alongside Gilberto Silva. He made 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2005–06 seasons

2006 Cesc signed a new eight-year contract in October as he signaled his intention to spend his best years at the Club

2008/09 On November 24, Cesc was appointed Club captain and successor to William Gallas
Before the start of the 2010–11 seasons, there was once again intense media speculation about the Spaniard’s future, and in June 2010, a €35M bid from Barcelona was rejected
Cesc Fabregas biography we take form wikipedia and also arsenal website.

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David Beckham profile and biography0

PERSONAL PROFILE
Name: David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE
Date of Birth: 02 May 1975
Birthplace: Leytonstone, London
Nationality: English
Height: 180 cm (5ft 11in)
Weight: 67 kg (10st 8lb)
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown
Residence:Hertfordshire and Madrid (Spain)
Martial status: Married to Victoria
Current club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Midfield
Squad number: 23

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Previous Clubs:
Preston North End (England), Manchester United (England), Real Madrid (Spain)

1991 - Signs as trainee for Manchester United
1992 - Wins FA Youth Cup
1992 - Makes senior team debut with Manchester Utd in Coca Cola Cup
1993 - Signs as professional for Manchester United
1995 - Plays five games on loan to Preston North End
1995 - Makes league debut for Manchester Utd against Leeds
1996 - Manchester Utd win FA Premiership
1996 - Manchester Utd win FA Cup
1996 - Makes International debut for England against Moldova

• Player of the Month - August 1996
• Sky Sports/Panasonic Young Player award
• Sky Sports/Panasonic Fans' Footballer award

1997 - Manchester Utd win FA Charity Shield
1997 - Manchester Utd win FA Premiership

• PFA Young Player of the Year
• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year

1999 - Manchester Utd win FA Premiership
1999 - Manchester Utd win FA Cup
1999 - Manchester Utd win UEFA Champions League

• UEFA Most Valuable Player
• UEFA Best Midfielder

2000 - Manchester United win FA Premiership
2000 - Appointed England national team captain

• Voted second in World and European Player of the Year awards

2001 - Manchester United win FA Premiership

• Voted Sportsman of the Year by Sports Writers Association
• Voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Voted second in FIFA World Player of the Year

2003 - Manchester United win FA Premiership
2003 - Beckham awarded OBE
2003 - Signs for Real Madrid for £25m
2003 - Makes his debut for Real Madrid against Dragon Team IX (China)
2003 - Scores his first goal for Real Madrid against FC Tokyo
2003 - Makes his Spanish debut in friendly against Valencia.
2003 - Real Madrid win Spanish Super Cup
2003 - Makes La Liga debut against Real Betis
2006 - Resigns as England captain
2007 - Beckham signs for US club LA Galaxy

CAREER HISTORY
Love him or loathe him there is only one David Beckham. His footballing skill is without doubt a shining example for all other footballers to follow. And with every game he plays, be it domestic or international, his reputation, for producing only the best football and the scoring of some spectacular goals, gathers greater foundation.

David Beckham was born in Leytonstone on 02 May 1975. David and Manchester United first met when he became the TSB Bobby Charlton Soccer skills champion for his age group in December 1986 aged 11. The prize included a presentation at Old Trafford and a two-week trip to train with Terry Venables' Barcelona side at the Nou Camp. Attending every United game played in London he was made team mascot the following year for the game against West Ham.

After having trials with Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur's school of excellence he joined Manchester United as a trainee on 8 July 1991. Thus fulfilling his dream of playing for the team he had supported and following in the footsteps of the players he had admired from afar. His success started almost immediately along with team mates, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. They won the FA Youth Cup 1992.

This led to him making his first senior team debut on 23 September 1992, the following season, for a Rumbelows league cup match against Brighton and Hove Albion coming on late in the game for Andrei Kanchelskis.

Beckham became a professional player four months later but didn't get to play another senior team game for over another season. On 21 September 1994 he made his first full appearance against Port Vale in the League Cup. This was followed two months later with his first goal for United against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Despite winning the match 4-0, United were knocked out of the competition.

The 1994-1995 season saw Beckham play for two teams in two different divisions. To give him more experience Alex Ferguson loaned him to Preston North End in league Division 3. He played only five matches but scored two goals, the first in his first game for Preston against Doncaster Rovers having come on in the second half. His stay at Preston though was short lived and he was recalled to United to play in his Premiership debut against Leeds United on 2 April 1995.

His first Premiership goal came against Aston Villa in the first game of the 1995/1996 season. United were beaten that day and were chastised by Alan Hansen who stated "You can't win anything with kids". Beckham and the United team were to prove him very wrong. Scoring eight goals himself that season, United went on to win the Premiership and then the FA Cup, completing the double. The season saw David firmly established himself in the first team taking on the right midfield position with the departure of Andrei Kanchelskis.

The 1996/1997 season is where Beckham made his name and the start of his celebrity. Scoring in the Charity Shield match and defeat of Newcastle and then on to score the goal of the season against Wimbledon, in the first match, with a spectacular goal from the half-way line. These goals made him an instant household name. His form in this and previous seasons hadn't gone unrecognised and resulted in his call up for England.

Although he had represented England at under-21 level in the previous two seasons he made his first full international appearance against Moldova, a World Cup 98 qualification match. He was the only player to have started every qualifying game for France 98 and ended the season winning the Premiership with United and being voted by his peers as the PFA Young Player of the Year and second in the Player of the Year voting.

The following season was controversial and not one Beckham would want to remember.

The season was hard - United were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco and they lost the Premiership title to Arsenal by one point. World Cup 98 in France was to prove more demanding. He was left out of the starting line up in the first two games but scored a beautiful free kick against Colombia. However, four days later he made himself a national pariah through being sent off for aiming a kick at Argentina's Diego Simone. It was the first sending-off of his professional career.

Undeterred Beckham knuckled down and proved all the critics wrong. In his first match of the 1998/1999 season he scored one of his trademark free kicks against Leicester. It would be the start of his best season yet. United got into temendous form and went on to win the Premiership title and the FA Cup. The seasons' successes were not over. In perhaps one of the best Champions League finals of recent years two goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer in the final minutes of the game, against Bayern Munich, won United the European Cup and an amazing treble.

That same year David had become a father to Brooklyn in March 1999 and then in July married Victoria Adams of the Spice Girls. His rehabilitation was complete.

The following season was mixed. United went on to win the 1999/2000 season Premiership title but lost out to Real Madrid for the European Cup. England's Euro 2000 campaign did not live up to expectations but United's dominance of domestic football was unquestioned. Beckham was rapidly becoming a number one celebrity in the press and went on to come second to Rivaldo in the voting for World and European Player of the Year as well as runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The following seasons saw Beckham rise to new heights. The arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson as the new England manager saw Beckham take up the role of England Captain with both bringing a new fresh vigour to the national team. Beckham single-handedly scoring a crucial goal against Greece to send England to the World Cup Finals in Korea/Japan. But not everything went all smoothly as Beckham was to break a toe bone in a Champions League match and the nation held it's breath to see if it would heal in time for the finals. Needless to say it did just that and 'Captain Fantastic' led England to the Quarter finals only to be defeated by the eventual champions - Brazil.

Beckham was now at a sporting and celebrity high and this was reflected in his growing following on the pitch but more intensely off it. It was this "celebrity factor" which began to put Beckham out of favour in the eyes of Alex Ferguson. Beckham continued to give his all on the pitch but was increasingly seen by the United manager as giving England and his celebrity lifestyle more of a priority than United. This of course wasn't the case but resulted in Beckham being left on the sidelines against Real Madrid in the Champions League and a reported rift between tha player and manager developed after a dressing room "incident" where Beckham was hit in the face by a boot kicked by Ferguson.

United and Beckham went on to win the 2003 Premiership title but press reports on the rift and speculation on a possible transfer grew and grew. It all came toa head in June whilst David was on a promotional tour in the USA. Barcelona's presidential candidate Joan Laporta announced he would sign Beckham if elected and to everyone's suprise Manchester United agreed to sell Beckham in such an event. In a counter move Beckham announced that he would sign a four year contract with Real Madrid for a fee of £25m.

The Beckham and United love affair was at an end.
Beckham now starts a new chapter in his career. Despite his new haircuts and his star status, he will not detract from his football for which he continues to tune and perfect.

[This article will be updated shortly]

© Copyright Paul Siddall 2000-2007

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