Jeff Savage - David Beckham

David Beckham

Revised Edition

Jeff Savage

Text copyright 2013 by Jeff Savage
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Savage, Jeff, 1961
David Beckham / by Jeff Savage. Revised edition.
pages cm. (Amazing athletes)
Includes index.
ISBN 9781467711593 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)
1. Beckham, David, 1975Juvenile literature. 2. Soccer playersEnglandBiography
Juvenile literature. I. Title.
GV942.7.B432S28 2013
796.334092dc23 [B] 2012030080

Manufactured in the United States of America
1 DP 12/ 31/12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

David (left) controls the ball
against the Houston Dynamo.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

Los Angeles (LA) Galaxy midfielder David
Beckham stepped back and lined up the soccer
ball. He moved forward and swung his right
leg. He sent a corner kick rocketing to the front
of the net. Davids teammate Adam Cristman
jumped for the ball. But Cristmans header
sailed wide of the goal.

David and the Galaxy
were playing the Houston
Dynamo in the 2011 Major
League Soccer (MLS)
championship game. The
winning team would take
home the MLS Cup. The score
was tied, As usual, all eyes were on David.

Fans cheer during the 2011 MLS
championship game.

David wears the
number for
the LA Galaxy. He
said he chose the
number to honor
basketball legend
Michael Jordan,
who also wore

David boots the ball
down the field.

David is known
for his amazing
free kicks. He
can boom the ball
nearly miles
per hour.

He is the most famous
soccer player in the
world. He is one
of the most famous
athletes in any sport.
LA had another
chance to score on a
possession near the beginning
of the second half. David kicked the ball across
the field and over the heads of the Dynamo
defenders. It was a perfect
crossing pass.
The ball landed at the
feet of Galaxy player
Robbie Keane. Keane
kicked the ball into the

back of the net. But the referee said the goal
didnt count. Keane was offsides. David and his
teammates would have to try again.
The Galaxy had the ball again a few minutes
later. David flicked a header to Keane, who
passed the ball to teammate Landon Donovan.
Donovan knocked the ball into the net as the
crowd roared! The Galaxy took the lead,
David and Keane were credited with assists on
the goal.
With a one goal
lead, LA focused
on defense. They
kept the ball away
from their net.

Landon Donovan (left) and David hug
after Donovan scored a goal to take
the lead over the Dynamo.

When time ran out, the score was still
The Galaxy had won the MLS Cup!
David celebrated with his teammates on the
field. He gave Donovan a big hug for scoring the
winning goal. David waved to his wife, Victoria,
and their children in the stands. It
was a big victory for the worlds
biggest soccer star.
This guy is as good as it gets,
said Galaxy coach
Bruce Arena of David
after winning the
MLS Cup. He has an
unbelievable desire to
win. And hes done it
all now.

David holds the MLS Cup while
celebrating the Galaxys big win.

Davids parents, Ted and Sandra Beckham,
are both soccer fans.

MAKING GOALS

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born May 2,
1975, in London, England. He grew up in the
nearby town of Chingford. His father, David
Ted Beckham, worked as a plumber. His
mother, Sandra, was a hairdresser. David has
two sisters, Lynne and Joanne.

Manchester
United is one of
the most famous
sports teams in
the world. The
team has more
than million
fans and
official fan clubs.

David was a shy, well- behaved boy. His
favorite subject in elementary school was art.
He also enjoyed sports, such as basketball,
rugby, and long- distance running. His
favorite sport was soccer, which is called
football in Europe.
The Beckhams were big fans of the popular
Manchester United Football Club. They often
traveled together to see the team play. Like
millions of other British
boys, David dreamed of
playing for the great
Man U team.
When he was eight
years old, David joined a
local youth soccer team.
His coach and his father
helped him learn the arts

of dribbling, passing, and shooting. David
developed excellent footwork and a gift for
keeping the ball away from defenders.
David was years old when he came off
the field one day after a game. Its good that
you played well today, his mother told him,
because Manchester United were watching
you, and they want you to come down and
have a trial. David looked up at his mother
with wide eyes. He began crying with joy.

The Man U team (shown here in a 1982 game)
are called the Red Devils for their red shirts.

The trial was a soccer skills tournament.
The most talented boys in England showed off
their skills to a panel of judges. David won the
event with the highest score ever! His reward
was a trip to a soccer camp.
Over the next few years, David continued