English football international David Beckham left Manchester United in 2003, joining Spanish champions Real Madrid. In 2005, the twice runner up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award was predictably in the star-studded first eleven for Real, albeit a first eleven that was without a trophy since his arrival in 2003.
At the end of a third successive season without silverware in, Italian Fabio Capello was appointed as head at the Bernabéu in 2006. This was Capello’s second spell as Real Madrid manager, he had also taken charge at A.C Milan, Juventus and AS Roma previously; with such experience, great expectation was held by the familiar Real Madrid fan base.
Capello is a man of traditional standards; a disciplinarian that doesn’t see space for celebrity in football, only room for improvement – a true perfectionist. Beckham is also known for being a perfectionist; someone who trains, diets and prepares immaculately in order to get the best out of his game, surely this relationship was destined for success.
When Capello took the reigns at Real, Beckham had a year to run on his four year contract; with the board showing little indication as to whether or not they would be offering an extension.
Without the La Liga trophy in three years, it was evident that Fabio Capello had to change something about his current squad, knowing his job would depend on silverware; and even that may not be enough. Capello was sacked as the Real Madrid manager in 1997, despite winning the league title that season; success that seemed a distant memory to the Real Madrid supporters.
To the surprise of most, that change came in the shape of former England Captain, David Beckham. With the familiar sight of an English international bench warming in Madrid, Beckham was also dropped from the nation squad by then England Manager, Steve Mclaren.
With Beckham still the Galáctico casualty by December that season, limited to rare starts and appearances off the bench, questions over the midfielder’s Real future began to arise. Real Madrid’s Spanish title capabilities were falling under enquiry; with them unable to build a lead at the top of La Liga table and with those questions, some answered with Capello’s name and departure.
Come the January transfer window of 2007, due to the Bosman ruling Beckham was legally allowed to sign a contract with another club and reports of David’s exit were being fuelled by the reluctance of the Real Madrid board, who failed to offer him a renewed deal, repeatedly delaying negotiations.
Only weeks later, Madrid were made to pay the price for not prioritising their English icon. With little warning, a small American outfit in L.A Galaxy claimed to have signed the international superstar on a five-year contract worth £128m. Beckham later confirmed that he would be leaving Spain for L.A Galaxy at the end of the season, on a contract stretching until 2012.
David Beckham expressed his desire to take football, or ‘soccer’ to the next level in the U.S.A, though he isn’t the first recognised footballer to have this ambition. The likes of Pele and George Best famously made the trip America in an effort to promote the game. However, neither of those legends were such internationally recognised as Beckham is in the modern day, and neither moved at such pivotal points in their career.
I’m not going as far to suggest Beckham was in his prime when making the move, but certainly with a lot more to come, something his new five-year deal reflected. With a huge task ahead of him, Beckham’s brand would help him promote Major League Soccer; dubbed by some as a ‘Mickey Mouse League’, in comparison to those of Europe and Beckham’s history.
Fabio Capello was the first of the Real camp to address the media; responding furiously, describing a complete disrespect on Beckham’s behalf. If this wasn’t enough, Capello went on to claim that as long as he was head coach of Real Madrid, David Beckham wouldn’t play another game.
Looking at Beckham’s appearance record that season, many would think Capello made the decision at the start of the season. However, with several months still remaining, hostility surrounded the Beckham-Capello relationship, supposedly destined for success.
Having previously claimed that Beckham was not in the right state of mind to represent Real Madrid with his head in America, Capello made the most miraculous of U-turns on his promise. Having been impressed by Beckham’s attitude in training, the midfielder was now back in contention for the Galáctico’s up and coming fixtures. This wasn’t the only U-turn made in David’s favour; Steve Mclaren made a similar move, bringing back the former England captain to the international fold.
In the final few weeks of the 2005-06 Spanish season, Beckham played a crucial part for Real Madrid’s title chase; producing some of his best form seen in the white strip. Having been knocked out the Champions League earlier than expected, Real were left with only league honours to fight for; a battle that went down to the last day of the season.
On the day that would also be Beckham’s farewell, Capello’s Madrid were in a position at the top of the table, where if they collected three points, they would be crowned Champions of Spain for the first time in Beckham’s four year stay.
Like several of the previous, England international started the game; only for an injury to put a premature end to his send off and Real Madrid career. Despite Beckham being forced off, Real Madrid went on to win the game 1 – 3, finally putting an end to their silverware drought and achieving success through Beckham and Capello.
It also turned out to be Fabio Capello’s final game, the Italian was sacked despite winning the league title; history repeating itself in extraordinary fashion, mirroring Real’s 1996-07 season in which Capello also lead Madrid to the league title.
Although it took till the final day of the season, we eventually saw what could happen when Beckham and Capello shoot in the same direction. It would appear that this relationship had ended before it could blossom; that was until the English Football Association reunited the pair in the most unlikely of circumstance.
Fabio Capello took control of England’s national team in December 2007, in place of a dismissed Steve Mclaren, who failed to qualify the English team for Euro 2008. Beckham instantly applauded the arrival of the Italian, saying he was the right man for the job at this time; a time when England needed to avoid embarrassment of missing another major international tournament and qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Within weeks of Capello’s appointment, speculation was already surrounding the Italian’s announcement of his first England squad. Irony leaving David Beckham on 99 international caps for his country, only a single appearance away from his century and his fate in the hands of a familiar Fabio.
The American Major League Soccer season calendar wasn’t synchronised to Beckham’s advantage; ending before Capello was due to make his first 23 man selection, leaving doubts hovering over the England midfielder’s fitness.
In response to this, Beckham joined English Premiership team Arsenal for training, in attempt to maintain his fitness. After much anticipation, on the 31st of January 2008 Capello denied Beckham his century in controversial fashion. However, the England manager’s decision was received well by many, after he claimed Beckham’s match fitness would be well off the pace after not playing for several weeks.
Queries over Beckham’s short and long term international career were once again echoed, with the L.A Galaxy midfielder playing in a league of much lower standard than the rest of his England team mates. However the former England captain stood strong, vowing to bounce back and become a part of the new look national team.
David Beckham managed to do this in time for Fabio Capello’s next England selection. With the MLS kicking off again, Beckham gained match fitness and his place in the England setup.
David Beckham finally got his 100th cap for England, becoming only the fifth man to have made a century of appearances for his country. Albeit as a substitute, the midfielder appeared in all four of Capello’s England selections for the World Cup qualifiers, resulting in four wins. Beckham has since gone on to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton and become the third highest capped player in England’s history, of 107 caps.
With the MLS season once again coming to a close and that empty Christmas period approaching on Beckham’s calendar, the annual questions over his short term fitness have inevitably appeared. Learning from his previous mistakes, Beckham has answered his critics and showed commitment to his international career by joining Italian Serie A giants A.C Milan on loan until the MLS season begins once again.
Attempting to keep himself in Fabio Capello’s plans, Beckham will be playing European football with some of the world’ best players, including the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka and Pirlo. As a former player and manager of A.C Milan, Capello’s involvement with the loan contract of Beckham would have been heavily influential.
The deal however, seems to satisfy all parties; David Beckham is playing regular football at a highly respected level, A.C Milan have a world renowned footballer and icon in their squad, L.A Galaxy will receive an increase in publicity, Fabio Capello has additional player to pick from and England get to see their favourite face wearing the three lions once again.
With Fabio Capello carrying England’s World Cup hopes on his shoulders and David Beckham an ambassador of the 2012 Olympics in Britain, only time will tell what the future holds for these true professionals of the beautiful game.
Tags: Beckham, Capello, David, England, Fabio, LA Galaxy, Madrid, MLS, Real
