$1,000,000 a week?

Beckham heads for L.A. in $1 million a week deal

MADRID (Reuters) - David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish season and sign a five-year deal for U.S. side
Los Angeles Galaxy worth $1 million a week, the biggest in world sport.

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) from August this year," Beckham told Reuters.

The 31-year-old former England captain, married to former Spice Girl pop star Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams, will earn a total $250 million over the five years financed heavily by endorsements and including bonuses based on performance and the future success of the MLS.

"I would like to thank supporters and the people of Madrid who have made my family and I so welcome in my time here making this an extremely difficult decision to make," Beckham added.

"I have enjoyed my time here enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me an opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans."

Beckham, who joined the Spanish giants from Manchester United in June 2003, is still one of the most recognizable and marketable sports figures in the world despite being dropped by England following last year's World Cup quarter-final exit and has spent much of the Spanish season on the bench.

He is certainly the biggest name to move to the U.S. since soccer greats Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s and early 80s gives a major shot in the arm to the Major League Soccer (MLS), formed 10 years ago.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE

In a televised interview issued by LA Galaxy, Beckham added: "Another challenge has come up and it is the right time for us to do it.

"I didn't want to go out there at 34 years old and for people to turn around and say he's only going there to get the money. It's not what I'm going out there to do.

"I'm going to hopefully build a club and a team that has a lot of potential. I think that is what excites me.

"Regrets? No. I have never had any regrets throughout my life and career and I never want to.

"To play with the players I have played with, to play with (Zinedine) Zidane was the biggest honor I have had in my career, to play with the likes of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos you know, for me, there is no regrets there."

REAL CONFIRMATION

Real Madrid confirmed that Beckham would not renew his contract with the club on their Web site (www.realmadrid.com).

LA Galaxy had made public their interest in Beckham who runs a football academy that shares its home with the team and who has close links to the Anschutz Entertainment Group who own the club.

"David Beckham coming to MLS might be viewed by some as one of the most important moments for soccer in this country and perhaps the history of professional sport," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.

"David transcends the sport and is a cultural icon. David is clearly one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. People are going to feel really good about David Beckham spending the rest of his career in the U.S."

The news ends months of speculation about the future of the midfielder whose contract with Real expires at the end of the season.

LOST PLACE

Having been first choice in the Real Madrid starting lineup since he moved to Spain, Beckham lost his place following the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello.

He has only started five of Real's 16 league games this season and was known to be frustrated with his lack of opportunities in the first team.

The former Manchester United player said he was now inspired by the challenge of cracking the American soccer market.

"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.

But he insisted he would be giving his all for Real Madrid until the end of the season to try to win the major trophy that has eluded him since he joined the club in 2003.

"For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100 percent to my coach, team mates and fans and I believe (coach) Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve."

For playing soccer? You'd think someone knocking down that kind of dough would at least play a real sport!

A real sport? Have you tried it? It's a little "tougher" than you think. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Yeah, I've played, and my kids have played. And I would play alot more for that kind of money!

And if my kids weren't playing, I'd rather watch paint dry than a soccer game.

yeah why in the world would you pay that much money for a guy that will be playing in a league that hardly anybody watches...and i know that they are hoping that this deal will bring the sport to new heights but as far as i am concerned they will get the same number of followers as NHL

This is my take on it.



Pele was a huge hit in the US. The New York Cosmos were the big thing in New York in the late 70s. They were supposedly as big as any other sports team in New York in that era. But it flamed out and interest died. But that was more than just Pele - the Cosmos had a team of European stars, including Beckenbauer. This is just Beckham.

Beckham playing in the US has always seemed likely. He's always loved the United States - from idolizing Michael Jordan to befriending Hollywood stars - and its definitely soccer's great "new frontier". Beckham has a chance to be the guy that broke it open. Now that would be a great claim to fame in the soccer world. If nothing else, the deal just made the entire soccer world take notice of the MLS, which is probably a first.

I think its notable that he's coming at an age where he can still play for a few more years. I expected him to arrive at 34 or 35, when he was all but done and on his last legs. But at 31, he is still a legitimate every-match player (even if he hasn't been doing so with Madrid). And I think it makes Ronaldo landing with New York much more possible... and possibly in the winter window.

This very much could help youth development in the US. It puts a recognizable star making millions in the game in the United States. Donovan has never quite been that for the MLS. I think it will draw more young kids in and keep some of them at the game when they hit their teen years. MLS clubs are starting up development academies now, similar to how the rest of the world works youth development. I think thats a good thing, but only time will tell.