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The best player in England's Euro 2000 folly, Beckham
finished the 1999-2000 season at the height of his powers.
Signed for Manchester United as a trainee on 8 July 1991
and part of United's famous 1992 Youth Cup winning side, he made his
League debut at home to Leeds United.
He established himself the next year in United's 1995/96
Double winning season as a right midfielder after the departure of Andrei
Kanchelskis
A goal from the halfway line in the first game of the
1996/97 season at Wimbledon brought him to star status, which has grown
inexorably since. Indeed it seems that every last bowel movement by
Beckham and his wife Victoria 'Posh Spice' Adams make the tabloid press.
Following the wonder goal at Wimbledon he went on a run
of amazing performances, scoring a fantastic selection of long-range goals
to help United win the Premiership and himself the Young Player of the
Year award. He also came second in the Player of the Year voting.
He was included in Glenn Hoddle's squad for France 98.
And after being left out of the starting line-up for the first two matches,
he then scored a beautiful free-kick against Colombia. He then made
himself a national pariah through being sent-off for aiming a kick at
Argentina's Diego Simeone. This led to brainless fans lambasting his every
move and terrible abuse of him, his wife and son Brooklyn, who was born in
March 1999.
He
was an integral part of the
Treble winning team and his
efforts won him second place
behind Rivaldo in the voting for
both World and European Player
of the Year.
The biggest
name in English football,
Beckham's main attributes are
shooting, in open play and
especially from free-kicks, a
superb range of passing, vision,
composure and a dogged
determination which will always
threaten to spill over. Through
these facets he has developed
into English football's greatest
player since the early years of
Paul Gascoigne.
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