MLS Move: David Beckham | OneFootball

Before Lionel Messi, the most famous player on the planet was undoubtedly David Beckham. From 1995 through 2003 Beckham was synonymous with peak-era Manchester United. As a member of the famed Class of ’92, his red #7 jersey immediately recognizable and was among the hottest soccer merch items around the world.

Setting the Stage – A History of Beckham’s Moves

But following his very public divorce from the Red Devils (which reputedly involved a soccer boot kicked or thrown by then-manager Alex Ferguson striking him above the eye) he took his bending free kicks and media spotlight to Real Madrid.

As one of the club’s Galácticos (big name signings), Beckham initially enjoyed success. However, by the end of his debut season the club had failed to win any major hardware. Overall the 2003-04 season was considered a failure, and many fans blamed him. The next two seasons wouldn’t end much better, and by the start of the 2006-07 season the club’s executives were hesitant to resign the global superstar.

Throughout much of his time in Madrid, Beckham was jet setting off to Los Angeles. He started a David Beckham Football Academy there and in London (that venture would fold in 2009). His equally famous wife Victoria (aka Posh Spice) was busy hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities and launching a fashion line. Thus, it came as little surprise when he announced that he would join the LA Galaxy at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season. Ironically, his last few months at Real were among his most successful, and it’s fair to say there were perhaps a handful of fans who were sorry to see him go.

The Beckham Hype – MLS Is Suddenly Cool

From the very get-go, Beckham’s involvement with the Galaxy was part media stunt, part actual soccer. The initial press reports at his $250M salary were a publicity ploy, mainly a calculation of his cumulative earnings (which included personal endorsements). And it certainly worked. Within days after his announcement, the Galaxy closed the then-largest shirt sponsorship deal in MLS history ($20M over five years), with Herbalife. 11,000 new season ticket packages were sold; and the stadium quickly sold-out all luxury boxes.

How He Changed the League

Beckham’s move to the MLS forced the league to make significant alterations. The biggest impact was undoubtedly the passing of the Designated Player Rule. The MLS has always operated under a strict salary cap, and his new rule allowed any team the flexibility to sign a player and have their salary not count against the club ceiling. It was later named The Beckham Rule in his honor. When he was at the Galaxy the MLS had to allow the team to use charter flights to travel to away games. Previously, only commercial flights were allowed. Teams were given the option to stay at luxury hotels as opposed to the modest accommodations allowed before.

But What About the Soccer?

In total, Beckham was under contract with the LA Galaxy for six seasons, starting in July 2007 and running through the end of 2012. But during this time, he would also play for AC Milan under a loan agreement many referred to as “timesharing.” He played 29 matches between 2008-10, and only 18 for Galaxy, angering many fans who accused him of being a “part-time player.”

Beckham and the Galaxy did win back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2011 and 2012, a singular accomplishment. He also finished second in the league in assists in 2012, once again putting up his best season right on the eve of his departure. Always leave ‘em wanting more, eh Becks?

Looking at his tenure with the Galaxy against the bulk of his career, his time at the club was slightly above average. We excluded his twilight curtain call at Paris Saint-Germain as his stats there were negligible. Certainly, the data doesn’t support the popular perception that Beckham was “retiring” into a league and phoning it in. He worked, and the numbers show that.

Beckham’s Club Statistics Over His Career (Source: Transfermarkt)

His Biggest Impact Came Years After He Retired

At the time of his transfer, one of the little known clauses in his contract stipulated that David Beckham would be able to purchase a MLS expansion franchise for a fixed price of $25M. In 2014, Beckham exercised that option, which after years of wheeling and dealing, became the Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, a.k.a. the current Inter Miami.

While that particular move wasn’t exactly earth shattering, when Inter Miami announced that they would sign a certain player names Lionel Messi, suffice to say the MLS landscape would radically change once again.