Overview
A football (soccer in America) fan from his youth, David Beckham always believed he'd grow up to be a famous athlete. He focused all of his time and energy onto mastering the sport, and he was playing professionally by the time he was seventeen.
Charismatic, handsome, and with a penchant for taking flashy shots, Beckham quickly grew into a fan favorite. He became a true superstar throughout Britain when he began a relationship with Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Adams, and helped lead Manchester United and the England National Team to numerous victories.
However, Beckham wasn't immune from backlash; he faced the outrage of fans, such as when he received a devastating red card during a heated game against English rivals Argentina. Other fans turned against him when they felt he sold out his sport and himself via his very public relationship with Adams.
Beckham always won the fans back though, through his sportsmanship and undeniable skill. With time, his fame spread beyond England, and soon, Beckham was offered an extraordinary deal to come to America and join the Los Angeles Galaxy. As one of the most well known superstars of soccer, Beckham was charged with spreading the popularity of his sport throughout America, while maintaining his skill in the sport that made him a star.
About the Author:
Calvin Craig Miller is the author of biographies of Che Guevara, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Roy Wilkins, and Mary Shelley, all published by Morgan Reynolds. He lives in North Carolina
Synopsis
A football (soccer in America) fan from his youth, David Beckham always believed he'd grow up to be a famous athlete. He focused all of his time and energy onto mastering the sport, and he was playing professionally by the time he was seventeen.
Charismatic, handsome, and with a penchant for taking flashy shots, Beckham quickly grew into a fan favorite. He became a true superstar throughout Britain when he began a relationship with Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Adams, and helped lead Manchester United and the England National Team to numerous victories.
However, Beckham wasn't immune from backlash; he faced the outrage of fans, such as when he received a devastating red card during a heated game against English rivals Argentina. Other fans turned against him when they felt he sold out his sport and himself via his very public relationship with Adams.
Beckham always won the fans back though, through his sportsmanship and undeniable skill. With time, his fame spread beyond England, and soon, Beckham was offered an extraordinary deal to come to America and join the Los Angeles Galaxy. As one of the most well known superstars of soccer, Beckham was charged with spreading the popularity of his sport throughout America, while maintaining his skill in the sport that made him a star.
About the Author:
Calvin Craig Miller is the author of biographies of Che Guevara, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Roy Wilkins, and Mary Shelley, all published by Morgan Reynolds. He lives in North Carolina
Children's Literature
David Beckham is arguably the most well known soccer player in the Western world. While others might be nationally more popular, Beckham's athletic and personal fame have spread well beyond his London neighborhood and national soccer clubs. Miller does a nice job tracing Beckham's rise to athletic dominance while still addressing the failures and disappointments along the way. This is not a biography designed to glorify the athlete but instead to let middle level readers better understand what it takes to become successful in a chosen field. Beckham's family was instrumental in interesting the young boy in the sport, but the hard work and innate abilities were all his own. There are explanations of trophy names and insets of soccer rules that help those without a full knowledge of international soccer. A time line provides a clear summary of Beckham's life and accomplishments through his signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. There is a list of resources and an index to help readers who are engaged in research projects, making this a good resource for middle school libraries and classrooms. Reviewer: Janis Flint-Ferguson