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What David Beckham Meant To Soccer, And The World

RDS

RDS

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Great tribute to a great player. His crosses and freekicks are marvels.

David Beckham may be the only athlete who can add glamour to Paris. But after helping to deliver recognition, and the French championship, to Paris St. Germain, soccer‘s most famous global brand is hanging up his the boots. They are not leather boots, because Becks doesn’t do leather. But they are well-traveled and brimming with medals.

From Manchester United to Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy and A.C. Milan before landing finally in Paris, the 38-year old sprinkled his football fairy dust everywhere. He earned league titles at Man U, Real, the Galaxy and PSG. His haul includes FA Cup and Champions League glory. He played 115 times for England, the most by any outfield player, singlehandedly getting that nation into—and out of, famously—the World Cup. In a statement Beckham said: “I’m thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level.”



Read more: http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/...-meant-to-soccer-and-the-world/#ixzz2TVGHn1fF
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Here in the US, we play football.
 
Beckham, a very over-rated player. He was always more appreciated by fashionistas than by football fans.
 
Andalublue said:
Beckham, a very over-rated player. He was always more appreciated by fashionistas than by football fans.
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At the end of the day he made his millions.
 
RDS said:
At the end of the day he made his millions.
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Yes, he did, but that seems like no reason for lauding him. If he were a sportsman of the calibre of a Zineddine Zidane, a Marco Van Basten or a Roberto Baggio I could understand all the hoop-la about his retirement. He's nowhere near the calibre of those ex-players though.
 
He very skilfully made a moderate footballing talent go a very long way.
 
Andalublue said:
Yes, he did, but that seems like no reason for lauding him. If he were a sportsman of the calibre of a Zineddine Zidane, a Marco Van Basten or a Roberto Baggio I could understand all the hoop-la about his retirement. He's nowhere near the calibre of those ex-players though.
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He may not be of the same calibre. When someone of a less calibre but still world class hang up his boots lets give him some credit.
 
Manc Skipper said:
He very skilfully made a moderate footballing talent go a very long way.
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Beckham has twice been runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year

115 career appearances at an international level

Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches

Has won League titles in 4 different countries

First England player to score at three World Cups

Has the joint-second most goal assists in European Championship finals history

Third in the Premier League's all time time assist provider chart, with 152 assists in 265 appearances

97 total club goals.




if that's moderate then im the pope.
 
Andalublue said:
Beckham, a very over-rated player. He was always more appreciated by fashionistas than by football fans.
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I'm not enough of a football fan to have watched him play at Manchester United (or any other club) but his England performances always underwhelmed me. The number of wasted free kicks where the commentators built up his "special ability" to swerve the ball / score infuriated me.

One link I saw suggested competitive 500 free kicks in his career - with a return of some 65 goals... 6 free kicks for England which were goals.

Over-rated. Why they never used feint or other tactics to pretend it would be a free kick and give the ball to someone else is beyond me.
 
Higgins86 said:
Beckham has twice been runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year
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That tells you more about FIFA than it does about Beckham. I have no doubt at all that he was/is a world class media operator.


Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches

Has won League titles in 4 different countries
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He's always played for sides with a chance of winning. If you were to ask Real Madrid or PSG fans how much of a contribution Beckham made to their league titles, I think you'd see through those raw stats.

First England player to score at three World Cups

115 career appearances at an international level
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He was indeed a part of The Golden Generation that was meant to finally bring success to England, yet achieved nothing, unless you forget the bit about single-handedly getting England eliminated from the 1998 WC.
Has the joint-second most goal assists in European Championship finals history

Third in the Premier League's all time time assist provider chart, with 152 assists in 265 appearances
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No, he's not. He's 14th with 44 assists. Premier League All Time Stats Where are you getting your stats? I hope it wasn't from here.
97 total club goals.
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Over a 21-year career, that's not so impressive.




if that's moderate then im the pope.
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I think you've been pwned, Your Holiness.
 
Andalublue said:
That tells you more about FIFA than it does about Beckham. I have no doubt at all that he was/is a world class media operator.


He's always played for sides with a chance of winning. If you were to ask Real Madrid or PSG fans how much of a contribution Beckham made to their league titles, I think you'd see through those raw stats.

He was indeed a part of The Golden Generation that was meant to finally bring success to England, yet achieved nothing, unless you forget the bit about single-handedly getting England eliminated from the 1998 WC.
No, he's not. He's 14th with 44 assists. Premier League All Time Stats Where are you getting your stats? I hope it wasn't from here.
Over a 21-year career, that's not so impressive.




I think you've been pwned, Your Holiness.
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1. Your opinion on FIFA is irrelevant that is how we award our best players and Beckham has twice been on that list. Once of course for being a vital part of the United Treble side.
2. "He's always played for sides with a chance of winning"...funny that
3. He made up for 1998 by playing his heart out vs Greece to single-handedly get us to the World cup.
4. I actually saw that statistic on a couple of different sites but obviously it is wrong. Still though 14th isn't too shabby either.
5. 97 goals for a winger isn't impressive? Giggs has been playing for longer and he doesn't have many more goals, Figo had around 91 goals, Zidane the same.

Obviously your a little biased Andy given your a City fan but at the end of the day if Beckham wasn't married to a spice girl, global icon etc we wouldn't even question his legacy in the game, but because Beckham was successful off the pitch fans like to write him off. The guy has an insane worth ethic on the pitch, amazing vision, great set piece taker, leader, deadly with a free kick.
 
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Higgins86 said:
1. Your opinion on FIFA is irrelevant that is how we award our best players and Beckham has twice been on that list. Once of course for being a vital part of the United Treble side.
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No, your stats are wrong again. He was runner-up just once in 1999. In any case, who is this 'we'? That FIFA award is just one of a number of awards, none of which he has won. Funnily enough, all the hoop-la over Beckham has over-shadowed the retirement of an English player who HAS actually won FIFA Player of the Year, Michael Owen.
2. "He's always played for sides with a chance of winning"...funny that
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As I said, a world-class operator.
4. I actually saw that statistic on a couple of different sites but obviously it is wrong. Still though 14th isn't too shabby either.
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No, not too shabby, just not quite as good as Nani and Morten Gamst Pedersen.
5. 97 goals for a winger isn't impressive? Giggs has been playing for longer and he doesn't have many more goals, Figo had around 91 goals, Zidane the same.
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Well, to put it in perspective, he was the 4th highest-scoring midfielder in EPL history (i.e. since 1992). Again, not shabby, just not enough to turn him into this legend that his media machine (and you) are pushing.

Obviously your a little biased Andy given your a City fan but at the end of the day if Beckham wasn't married to a spice girl, global icon etc we wouldn't even question his legacy in the game, but because Beckham was successful off the pitch fans like to write him off. The guy has an insane worth ethic on the pitch, amazing vision, great set piece taker, leader, deadly with a free kick.
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In footballing terms, were he not this huge media brand, no one would even notice his retirement. This is being made out to be a much bigger deal than when some real legends retired. Was there this much noise when Zidane, Gullitt, Van Basten, Baggio or Mattaeus retired?
 
Andalublue said:
No, your stats are wrong again. He was runner-up just once in 1999. In any case, who is this 'we'? That FIFA award is just one of a number of awards, none of which he has won. Funnily enough, all the hoop-la over Beckham has over-shadowed the retirement of an English player who HAS actually won FIFA Player of the Year, Michael Owen.
As I said, a world-class operator.
No, not too shabby, just not quite as good as Nani and Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Well, to put it in perspective, he was the 4th highest-scoring midfielder in EPL history (i.e. since 1992). Again, not shabby, just not enough to turn him into this legend that his media machine (and you) are pushing.

In footballing terms, were he not this huge media brand, no one would even notice his retirement. This is being made out to be a much bigger deal than when some real legends retired. Was there this much noise when Zidane, Gullitt, Van Basten, Baggio or Mattaeus retired?
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Well I imagine it was a big deal in France, Holland, Italy ( wouldn't put Baggio in that list) but since Beckham was the England Captain for years and is a British icon obviously there is going to be a lot of media attention.

p.s Beckham was also runner up in 2001.
 
Higgins86 said:
Beckham was the England Captain for six fruitless and underperforming years and is a British icon obviously there is going to be a lot of media attention.
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Being an icon has little or nothing to do with being an outstanding footballer. You seem to think the huge fame, stardom and media hype means he was a greater footballer than he actually was.

p.s Beckham was also runner up in 2001.
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You're right, I stand corrected. I think that second spot was mostly for his contribution to the Calvin Klein underwear ad campaign that year.
 
Andalublue said:
Being an icon has little or nothing to do with being an outstanding footballer. You seem to think the huge fame, stardom and media hype means he was a greater footballer than he actually was.


You're right, I stand corrected. I think that second spot was mostly for his contribution to the Calvin Klein underwear ad campaign that year.
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I think you forget how good beckham in the 90s especially in 1999. Too be fair though you were watching a lot of lower division matches back then. ;)
 
He married that Spice chick. I'll give 'm that.

I think this thread is supposed to be in the Europe subforum.
 
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ecofarm said:
He married that Spice chick. I'll give 'm that.

I think this thread is supposed to be in the Europe subforum.
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why he sold out stadiums in the US as well? ;)
 
Higgins86 said:
why he sold out stadiums in the US as well? ;)
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A. played in a market where media hype is the main export
B. illegal immigration

I'm not a football fan so I can't comment on his athletic prowess, but I was living in Los Angeles when he made his decision to play there. The way the media reported it you would have thought Jesus Christ had chosen L.A. as the place to make the Second Coming. I guess the L.A. city council had to play it up since they didn't and still don't have a proper American football team...
 
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Higgins86 said:
...if that's moderate then im the pope.
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Chris Waddle agrees with me, your Holiness. ;)

" ..."I think there have been a lot more talented players in the world. But he made the most of what he has got," said Waddle, who made more 100 appearances for four of his clubs - Newcastle, Tottenham, Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday - while winning 62 England caps.
"He has got a terrific image and used it very well. He never had a trick, wasn't particularly quick, but he was very good at set-pieces and deliveries, he made chances and made goals and was fantastic for clubs.
"He said the right things, he sold shirts, he put money in the tills wherever he went and conducted himself well." ..."

BBC Sport - David Beckham not even in top 1,000 players - Waddle
 
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