Name: David Beckham Age: 28 Nationality: British Claim to fame: Only he can bend it like Beckham
FROM receiving the Order of the British Empire and signing up to play football for Real Madrid, to touring the Far East, times have been busy for David Beckham.
One of the most recognizable faces in world football, David Beckham’s superstar celebrity has so far lived up to its superstar status. However, whether all the good that has happened to him in the recent days will be good to him in the long run, is something we have to wait for.
To begin with, early this month, his name was placed on the list of prominent personalities who will receive the OBE. A matter of privilege and honour at any age, 28-year-old Beckham is one of the youngest nominees for the award. And this is the fact that has surprisingly drawn sometimes rather harsh criticism, even from members of Parliament. His critics feel that he is too young for it.
And what great deed has he done to deserve the title of Sir, they ask. The legendary Bobby Moore was awarded the OBE only when he guided England to their only World Cup win. Beckham, on his part, has accompanied two failed World Cup campaigns.
However, this criticism is nothing compared to the media frenzy that is still raging over his multi-million pound transfer to Real Madrid. Manchester United is the club where the British captain perfected his game. In the seventeen years that he was associated with Man-U, he groomed the footballing skills and his own personality cult that Beckham is today. But what guarantee is there that Beckham will be as successful as he was in Manchester?
Madrid is the place that is home to no less than three other footballing greats. Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo, are all members of Real Madrid’s gallery of super-rich, superstar footballers. Wouldn’t Beckham be one of the many at Real whereas at Man-U, he was the only one?
And even though Beckham may still be able to bend it like no one else, when was the last time a successful English player made it big in a non-English club? Names like Gary Lineker and Paul Ince never clicked outside England. Even today, Steve McManaman is more a permanent member of the Real Madrid substitute force than the playing squad.
Still, David Beckham is moving to Spain for a deal worth no less than $40 million. What one wants to know is, will he be able to deliver the goods in Real Madrid’s alien surroundings? Only time will tell.
FROM receiving the Order of the British Empire and signing up to play football for Real Madrid, to touring the Far East, times have been busy for David Beckham.
