David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE[2] (born 2 May 1975)[3] is an English former footballer. He has played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, Los Angeles Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, and the England national team for which he holds the appearance record for an outfield player.[4] He was the first English player to win league titles in four countries. He announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2012–13 Ligue 1 season on 16 May 2013 and, on 18 May 2013, played his final game of his storied 20-year career.[5]
Beckham's professional career began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17.[6] With United, Beckham won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.[6] He then played four seasons with Real Madrid,[7] winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club.[8] In July 2007 Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[9] While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010.
In international football, Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996, at the age of 21. He was captain for six years[10][11] during which he played 58 times. He has 115 career appearances to date.
Beckham has twice been runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year[6] and in 2004 was the world's highest-paid footballer when taking into account salary and advertising deals.[12] Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches.[6] When joining MLS in 2007 he was given the highest player salary in the league's history of US$6.5m per year.[13][14][15][16]
He is married to Victoria Beckham and they have four children. In 2009, the couple's joint wealth was estimated at £125 million.[17]