David Robert Joseph Beckham was born on May 2nd 1975, in Leytonstone, London. Although living in the capital city, he supported Manchester United and that's probably because his dad, Ted was a massive Red Devils fan. He first saw Man. United when his dad took him to White Hart Lane. Since then, he started liking the likes of Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan, Frank Staphelon and Remi Moses. His parents always bought him a brand new football for Christmas. He also had a new Man. United kit every year and his mum's dad always bought him the new Tottenham kit. He always had to wear the Tottenham kit when he went up to his nan and grandad's because it was a Christmas present and it made his grandad happy.

David's dream of becoming a footballer begun, when he was about 8 years old. He wanted to score as many goals as he could to become famous as those who were on TV every weekend. His team Ridgeway Rovers was first taken up the local newspaper when they won the Fyfield five-a-side soccer tournament. In a later match they won 23-0! The article said that David Beckham had played an outstanding game on the right wing.

The real breakthrough to his dream came at the age of 11. When he came home from school, he turned on the TV and saw a feature on the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills Competition. The skills were going to be held through out the country and the winners from the regions would have a chance to compete in the Final at Old Trafford. David qualified for the final by winning the London area competition, where they judged their control of the ball using different parts of the body.

After winning the competition, David was told by the United legend Sir Bobby Charlton that he was the best 11-year-old kid he saw in 6 years. The prize for the competition was a trip to Barcelona but he also could meet the stars like Mark Hughes, Gary Lineker and was given the chance to train with the Barcelona reserve and youth teams. During the trip, David had to go back home because his club, Ridgeway Rovers, were playing in the Waltham Forest under-12 Cup Final at White Hart Lane. Somehow his team lost the final 2-1 so David was a bit disappointed to go back to Spainwithout a winner's medal. After a dream trip at Barcelona, David came back and played right-wing for Waltham Forest under-12s against Redbridge. Then after coming home he was scouted to Manchester United by Malcolm Fidgeon. His parents told him to finish his school at Chingford High, before he could join the team.

In 1987, when Man. United were in London, David were their mascot for the game at Upton Park. David turned up to the stadium with the best suit he had and a Manchester United tie. Then at the age of 16, he had joined Manchester United as an apprentice. David loved to live in the digs although he was kicked out of the first two places he stayed. He had to leave the first one because the lad he was staying with did something wrong and they kicked both out. In the second digs, David said that the food wasn't very good, so the landlady decided to kick him out. The third place was just perfect for him to stay. Both the landlord and landlady named Annie and Tommy Kay, were very nice and they made him concentrate on football with no other worries.

David won the 1992 FA Youth Cup with the lads Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ben Thornley, Chris Casper and Keith Gillespie. After a few months from then, when David was just about 17, he made the first team debut in the Coca Cola Cup at Brighton in October 1992.

When David was about 19, Manchester United's first team manager Alex Ferguson had loaned him to the third division team — Preston North End. He thought it was a sign that a club was trying to get rid of a player. But the manager explained that it might be good for him to go and get some first team experience, as he was a later developer. David was given the option of training with United and just turning up for Preston matches, or training with them all week. In fact, he turned up at Preston every day and even went to local presentations with the rest of the players. After a month David returned and made a Premiership debut against Leeds United.

In the beginning of 1995-1996 season, the manager had shocked the fans by selling Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. Paul Ince was playing at his best winning trophies but that just showed how much the manager was into the young lads. David scored in the opening game against Aston Villa but they lost. And Alan Hansen famously said on Match of the Day, "You can't win anything with kids." The youngsters such as Gary, David, Ryan, had to prove the Hansen critics wrong and they actually won the second Double in three years. At the time David was already scoring many important goals, such as the one in the FA Cup semi-final. It was a winner, which led the team to do the Double later on, and David said, "I'm really pleased to score, to be honest. But especially when they're important goals."

It was a beautiful day with no cloud, it was a perfect day for football; David and the teammates traveled down to play the opening game of the 1996-1997 season against Wimbledon. The game kicked off and David was playing inside, instead of his usual position right wing. Man. United played some really good football and led 2-0 with a few minute left. Then in the final couple of minutes, the ball fell to David near the halfway line. Then he sensed that the Wimbledon keeper Neil Sullivan was way off his line. Then he just chipped the ball up into the air and it just landed into the back of the net. David said in his interview: "I did change my life completely. I was just walking on clouds and I wanted to shake every player's hand. I wanted to stay out on the pitch and clap everyone for half an hour."

In the end of the season, David won the PFA Young Player of the Year. At the presentation, he turned up with the nice black designer suit as the flash from the sealing on the stage shined his Brylcreem styled hair.

Glen Hoddle gave David the first cap in his first game as manager. David has been playing really well for United but it was a surprise for him to be called up for the World Cup qualifier in Moldova in September 1996. David played quite well in Moldova and he was the only player to take part in every World Cup qualification matches to the World Cup '98.

In the 1997-1998 season, the manager rested David in the most of the games because he wasn't as fresh as usually as he was very busy with the World Cup qualification matches held abroad. It was really an average season for Becks. David said, "People said I wasn't playing as well as before this year but I don't think I am. I just haven't scored many spectacular goals." But in fact, United haven't won anything and the Gunners even stole the Championship. In the summer, all eyes were on the 1998 World Cup.

In the second round of the World Cup, England played against Argentina and David was in the starting line-up. It was definitely the worst moment he ever had. I won't mention much but it is the fact that David had never done that on purpose. After receiving the red card from the referee, he just walked past the manager and into the tunnel. After another penalty shoot-out knockout it was made clear that England must confront their weakness. The players came back into the dressing room, Owen crying, Batty on the floor, Shearer face down, no one talked to David Beckham. But in a sudden, Tony Adams came up to Becks and spoke to him. Adams said, "Don't you ever think you have ever let us down. You're a great player and I love you to bit." It really helped a footballer — David Beckham and he will never forget it.

In the 1998-1999 season, David had been brilliant — despite the pressure and stick he got from the "incident" against Argentina. It was probably the best season he ever had in his professional career. Becks blasted the "fans" of football who booed him at every game and undaunted by his critics. David somehow managed to score some of the spectacular goals that he used to do in the 1997 season. He scored a stunning equalizer with his trademark — free kick against Leicester City and a long-range free kick against the Spanish giant Barcelona. This season was so marvelous that the team would never forget. Their last loss was in November 1998. United's rivals' losses meant that United could snatch the title away, if they won. Becks and Cole ensured the 2-1 win and won the sixth championship.

United defeated every challenger to the FA Cup, and after wins at Anfield and High Bury, Newcastle United seemed to prove no obstacle for the seemingly unstoppable United. They eased a 2-0 victory against them.

David Beckham proved that he was one of the best midfielders in the world during the season's Champion's League campaign. In the qualifying league, Manchester United came second, behind Bayern Munich, but still remained the only unbeaten club. Thanks to Beckham who assisted goals in the Quarterfinals against Inter Milan and in the Semi finals, Juventus were also beaten. The golden substitutes Sheringham and Solskjaer scored those 2 goals in the stoppage time to clinch the Champion's Cup for United.

Though Man. United had a slow start in the 1999-2001 season, they quickly got back to their former standards, and finished the season at the top of the Premiership with a massive 22 points clear. Beckham, who had played brilliantly all season, won his place and recognition as A Best Midfielder. He scored 9 goals and assisted 10 goals for strikers, and there was no disputing his crosses had taken United to where they were. The news that surprised the whole world was Beckham's dramatic new style. Hairstyle. He shaved his head to a number one and debuted his radical new look for the game against Leicester City. During the game, David scored a wonderful free kick, which was his first in 2 months.

Euro 2000 was a big stage for Beckham to test his skills as a game-maker but he needs his teammates to perform around him and make the best use of his cutting through passes. He could score goals and win with his curling free kicks but he cannot dribble well with the ball but pass and create perfect chances to score for strikers. Most of all he wants to be the playmaker, the one that controls the game and create chances for your players and create problems for offenders.

The match against Portugal was a very good example. In the start, Beckham controlled the game himself by providing a cross into the box for Scholes. All Scholes needed to do was just head the ball goalwards. The second goal came from yet another Beckham's cross and all Mcmanaman needed to do was just tap the ball into the goal. But later in the game, Luis Figo's long-range goal into the top left corner started to change the stream of the game. Now I can reveal that Figois arguably the better player at the moment and I think you (all the Beckham fans) have thought about it as well. At Euro 2000, he didn't have enough experience as to become a playmaker as he rarely does it at Old Trafford. But that doesn't mean that he won't become a playmaker, he is getting closer and closer to be it. Euro 2000 might have ended very disappointingly for the national side but it was a good experience to get ready for the FIFA World Cup 2002.

The Football Association has officially decided to change England's manager to a foreigner to confront the problems with the team. As the new manager — Sven Goran Eriksson came in, the new captain was to be chosen. David Beckham was up for the first choice and he was named as the skipper for the friendly match against Spain. Becks showed his skills of game making and led the team with his skills. Somehow, the manager liked him as a captain and he was again named as skipper for the crucial World Cup qualifying tie against Finland. It was the game that David became the Fantasista. With his perfection, he controlled the game for fully 90 minutes and didn't even give the Finland a chance to hold on to the ball.Beckham even scored a winner, which earned England 3 points in the league table.