England soccer star and Confessions of a Bi Guy hottie, David Beckham, has agreed to leave Real Madrid and join the Los Angeles Galaxy in a deal Major League Soccer hopes will boost the sport in the United States. Beckham will leave Madrid at the end of the season. The move was announced Thursday following the end of talks on extending the 31-year-old English midfielder's contract with the Spanish club.
"This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract by a further two seasons," Beckham said in a statement.
"After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay here at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."
An entertainment personality who draws paparazzi like a movie star, Beckham and his wife, Victoria, the former Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, regularly find their way onto tabloid and magazine covers. With snazzy clothes, rotating hair colors and styles and a pop star wife, he is the epitome of the modern mix of celebrity and athlete. He's even had a movie named after him: "Bend it like Beckham."
His soccer skills are only part of the equation. He's David Beckham Inc., a multinational corporation with links to Pepsi, Gillette, Motorola and Adidas.
"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "His decision to continue his storied career in Major League Soccer is testament to the fact that America is rapidly becoming a true 'Soccer Nation' with Major League Soccer at the core."
The Galaxy, citing industry experts, said Beckham's deal is worth more than $250 million in salary and commercial endorsements and is "thought to be the biggest in sporting history."
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.
"He's a cultural icon," former U.S. soccer star Alexi Lalas, the president and general manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, told the Associated Press in July. "I think that the people that don't know a tremendous amount about soccer know who Beckham is, whether it's the way he looks or who he's married to or what he's done in international soccer. The fact is, he's transcended the sport."
"It's great for the Galaxy, it's great for the league. One of his attractions is he's still playing well," said Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger. "It's a shame it can't be at the beginning of the season, so you can't avoid him. Most coaches are probably saying "give me my LA games early."
Beckham's four-year contract with Madrid expires at the end of this season. He joined the team from Manchester United in 2003, where he had had won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title. But Beckham, the world's most recognized player, hasn't won a major trophy since joining Madrid.
"I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously, and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans," Beckham said.
Beckham has been unhappy this season at Madrid under coach Fabio Capello. He has started only seven of 25 matches and was left off the squad for Thursday's Copa del Rey match against Real Betis. Still, the move to Los Angeles won't surprise many people. Beckham has a soccer academy in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson with Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owner of the Galaxy. They also teamed to start an academy in London.
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