With the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS playoffs, another loan deal with AC Milan expected to follow and a fourth World Cup on the horizon, David Beckham’s future appears rosy, even at age 34.
By helping the Galaxy reach the playoffs for the first time in four years, he has won over many of the critics who turned on him when he went on loan to Milan the first time.
More likely, this could be David Beckham the diplomat, keeping everyone sweet in the knowledge that his playing career is surely coming to an end in two years or so.
“I’ll finish when I feel my legs can’t take any more, then I’ll start enjoying family life,” he said Sunday. “I want to play as long as possible. I have two years left on the Galaxy contract and then, who knows?”
More immediately, Beckham is putting on his England shirt, flying into the country from Los Angeles ahead of two more World Cup qualifying games against Ukraine on Saturday and Belarus the following Wednesday.
What makes it even better for Beckham is that England has already qualified for the World Cup with two games to spare after winning its first eight group matches. There is no pressure on the team to win these games and Capello can tell his players to play with freedom and style.
If there is a down side to Beckham’s world right now, it’s that he must now realize the days of him being a regular starter for England are long gone.
Capello now has faster, younger, genuine right wingers in Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon. Although they don’t have Beckham’s amazing ability to bend free kicks into the net, they are of more use to the manager with their speed and ability to get behind defenders.
That means the man who made 50 of his 114 England appearances as captain is likely to spend long spells on the bench as he edges toward the national record of 125 held by goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
“Now everyone talks about the record and I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I’d love to reach it,” Beckham said. “But to be where I am and still playing for England at 34 is amazing.
“I never expected to reach 100 appearances for England. I know there are critics out there who ask if I should be given a cap for 15 minutes of football (as a substitute). But I’ve started 100 games out of the 114.”
Right now he would probably walk into the starting lineup at Milan.
Beckham is expected to return to San Siro once his season is over with the Galaxy, and Milan’s current poor form suggests the Serie A club needs him. A 1-0 loss at home to FC Zurich in the Europa League was followed on Sunday by a tame 1-1 draw at home to Atalanta that left the seven-time European champion 12th in the 20 club standings.
If he moves to Milan for his second spell, Beckham will probably stay there until the end of the season and then comes the buildup to the World Cup.
“That deal I think hasn’t been fully finalized yet but I know he is interested in going to Milan and he’s in conversation with the LA Galaxy about doing a loan again and discussing coming back,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said.
“David has been an important part of the history of Major League Soccer and we’d love to have him continue his commitment to the league.”
That return would be in late 2010 with Beckham then dragging 35-year-old legs around the field without much of a break—MLS to Serie A to the World Cup in South Africa and back to the U.S.
It’s a globe-trotting life Beckham never expected when he began his career as a 17-year-old with Manchester United, never expecting to leave Old Trafford.
Now in his mid-30s, his goal is keeping three teams happy at the same time.
