A Timeline Look at David Beckham’s Life and Career

From his successful career with teams such as Manchester United and Real Madrid to his many hairstyles and acute fashion sense, few athletes are more instantly recognizable than David Beckham. Even off the soccer field, Beckham continues to make headlines, whether it's due to his marriage to Victoria or his step into soccer club ownership. Here's the remarkable story of how Beckham rose from his humble beginnings to global superstardom.

Football Is in His Blood

Born on May 2, 1975, Beckham is the son of kitchen fitter David Edward Alan "Ted" and hair stylist Sandra Georgina. While an ordinary East London family of a humble background, Beckham and his sisters, Lynne Georgina and Joanne Louise, shared in their parents' passion from an early age.

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Beckham's parents were avid Manchester United supporters who would travel a massive 200 miles from London to the stadium of Old Trafford to see their team in action. It wouldn't take long for Beckham to inherit his parents' love for soccer.

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Proving His Worth

Hungry to make a career out of soccer, Beckham attended one of the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools in Manchester. There, he won their National Skills Competition, affording him the opportunity to attend a training session with Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

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As Beckham's talent shone on the field, he also made sure to introduce himself to his favorite club, appearing as a mascot for Manchester United for a game against West Ham United in 1986. At the same time, Beckham's search for a youth academy was on.

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Establishing His Intent

For a while, Beckham played for a local team that was coached by his father called Ridgeway Rovers. While it gave him a chance to hone his skills, only a serious football academy would provide him the platform to launch a professional soccer career.

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After attending trials with Leyton Orient and Norwich City, Beckham was accepted to Tottenham Hotspur's School of Excellence, however, he never represented them in a match. After playing in the Brimsdown Rovers' youth team for two years, Beckham received the opportunity of a lifetime.

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Manchester United Comes Knocking

During his time at Chingford County High School, Beckham recalled telling his teachers repeatedly of his ambition to become a professional soccer player. Having already established a name for himself with his past success, Beckham would soon grab the attention of his favorite team.

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In 1991, Beckham signed as a trainee for Manchester United. There, he rubbed shoulders with other would-be Man Utd stars such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes. But despite being surrounded by talent, it wouldn't take Beckham long to stand out from the crowd.

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Climbing Up the Ranks

During his time in the Man Utd youth academy, Beckham knew that he had to prove his worth in order to be considered for a place in the first team upon coming of age.

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Just a year into his career, he did just that, helping Man Utd to lift the 1992 FA Youth Cup. What's more, he scored a goal in the first leg of Man Utd's final win against Crystal Palace. It was with that performance that Beckham proved his suitability for first-team action.

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Turning Pro

On September 23rd, 1992, Beckham made his full-team debut for Man Utd, coming on as a substitute in a League Cup game against Brighton & Hove Albion. While he continued making regular appearances for the reserve team, manager Sir Alex Ferguson would soon provide Beckham with his breakthrough.

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On January 23rd, 1993, Beckham signed his first professional contract with Manchester United. After reaching another FA Youth Cup final and winning the league with the reserve team, Ferguson decided that Beckham was finally ready to take the next step.

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Showing His Drive

In 1994, Beckham made his first full appearance for the Red Devils, starting in a League Cup game against Port Vale. That December, Beckham would have a night to remember, making his UEFA Champions League debut for Man Utd against Turkish club Galatasaray.

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This was the night that Beckham left his mark, scoring his first-ever professional goal in what was a 4-0 victory. While not enough to save Man Utd from elimination in the group stages, Beckham's performance on the night went a long way in helping him prove his worth.

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