Beckham Gets Spanish Trophy as Parting Gift

English soccer star David Beckham’s sojourn in Spain has ended. He now packs his bags for Hollywood where he and wife Posh Spice will lead the paparazzi a merry chase. He may also play a little soccer for the LA Galaxy of America’s Major Soccer League. His presence may put a few more bottoms in seats, but based on his career in Spain, he’ll remain better at selling shirts with the number “7” on them than at scoring goals.

Poor Real Madrid, a club that embarked on a New York Yankees (or Chelsea FC) spending spree to buy the talent for a title. It was known as the “Galáctico” era with Mr. Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos all on the roster. They won their first bit of silverware in four years in Mr. Beckham’s last game. Barcelona has been the big Spanish club during that time.

Mr. Beckham played in only 22 of La Liga’s 38 games this season, more often than not as a substitute. Indeed, in the final game against Mallorca, Mr. Posh Spice came out of the match with Real Madrid losing 1-0. His replacement, José Antonio Reyes set up the equalizer, and the former England captain watched from the sidelines as his side scored twice more to secure the Spanish title.

This is not to say the madrileños didn’t have a final run. With Barcelona wobbling in the second half of the season, Real Madrid lost only one match in its last 17. Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy scored 25 goals this year, and goalkeeper Iker Casillas kept more than that many out. Mr. Beckham is a footnote this season.

And that applies to his whole career. The late George Best (who drank away a career that could have outdone Pele’s) said of Mr. Beckham, “David Beckham isn't a great. He can’t kick with his left foot, he can’t tackle, he doesn’t head the ball and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that, he’s all right.” He’ll fit right in with the LA Galaxy.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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