50 Fun Facts About David Beckham

In which part of London was Beckham born in 1975?

He was born at Whipps Cross University Hospital; his parents married in Hackney and he went to school in Chingford.

Beckham's middle name Robert honours which footballer, his father's favourite?

He later attended one of Bobby Charlton's Soccer Schools and received his honorary 100th cap from him.

What was the name of the youth team, coached by his father, that Beckham played for?

He later spent two years at Brimsdown Rovers, where he was Under-15 Player of the Year in 1990.

Beckham was a Manchester United mascot in 1986 for a match against which club?

He had trials with Leyton Orient and Norwich, and attended Tottenham's school of excellence.

Which Manchester United youth coach developed Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt and the Nevilles?

That group won the FA Youth Cup in May 1992, beating Crystal Palace 6–3 on aggregate.

Beckham's first-team debut in 1992 came as a substitute in a League Cup tie against whom?

He replaced Andrei Kanchelskis, the winger whose right-sided role he would later inherit.

Beckham scored on his Champions League debut in 1994 against which club?

United won 4–0 but still finished third in the group behind Barcelona.

To which club was Beckham loaned in 1994–95 for first-team experience?

He scored twice in five games, one of them directly from a corner.

Against which club did Beckham score from the halfway line on the opening day of 1996–97?

Goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was caught off his line; a 2016 Sky poll rated it the best opening-day goal in Premier League history.

Which shirt number was Beckham given at the start of 1996–97, before inheriting the number 7?

It had most recently been worn by Mark Hughes; the 7 had belonged to George Best and Eric Cantona.

Which award did Beckham's peers vote him in 1996–97?

He was an automatic first choice that season as United retained the title.

In the 1999 Champions League final, Beckham played out of position in which role?

Scholes and Keane were suspended; both injury-time goals came from Beckham's corners.

Beckham finished runner-up to which player for the 1999 Ballon d'Or?

He was also runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year that year, and again in 2001 behind Figo.

Against which Mexican club did Beckham get his only Manchester United red card?

It came in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, for a deliberate foul.

In 2000 Ferguson fined Beckham two weeks' wages, then £50,000, for what?

Ferguson was furious that Victoria was photographed at London Fashion Week that same night.

Which Argentine player broke Beckham's metatarsal in a 2002 Champions League match?

The tackle for Deportivo La Coruña came weeks before England were due to meet Argentina at the World Cup.

The famous 2003 dressing-room boot incident followed an FA Cup defeat to which club?

The boot Ferguson kicked cut Beckham above the eye, and bookmakers offered odds on who would leave first.

How many Premier League titles did Beckham win with Manchester United?

Plus two FA Cups, a Champions League, an Intercontinental Cup and the FA Youth Cup in 12 years.

Which club had announced a deal for Beckham in 2003 before he chose Madrid instead?

New Barcelona president Joan Laporta had built his campaign on signing him.

How much did Madrid pay for Beckham in 2003?

Florentino Pérez's latest Galáctico was unveiled to 500 journalists and handed his shirt by Alfredo Di Stéfano.

Why did Beckham wear number 23 at Madrid?

The 7 belonged to captain Raúl; he kept 23 at LA Galaxy too.

Beckham was the third Englishman to play for Madrid, after Laurie Cunningham and whom?

He took over McManaman's place in the side.

Under which coach did Beckham finally win La Liga, in 2006–07?

Capello had frozen him out in January before recalling him; Madrid beat Barcelona on head-to-head record.

Beckham's Galaxy contract was reported as US$250M, but what was its real value over five years?

The bigger figure was a PR stunt by 19 Entertainment, bundling in all potential endorsement income.

Which MLS mechanism was created so the Galaxy could sign Beckham around the salary cap?

It was quickly nicknamed in his honour.

Beckham's Galaxy contract let him buy an MLS expansion team for what fixed price?

He exercised the option in 2014; the Miami club began play in 2020.

Beckham made his Galaxy debut in a 2007 friendly against which English club?

He came on for 12 minutes while injured and was promptly upended by Steve Sidwell.

Which number did Beckham wear during his 2009 loan at AC Milan?

It had previously been worn by Christian Vieri.

Which injury in a March 2010 Milan match ruled Beckham out of that year's World Cup?

Surgeon Sakari Orava operated in Turku, Finland, and predicted six months before he was kicking again.

What did Beckham controversially drape around his neck at Old Trafford in 2010?

He said afterwards that the protests were not his business.

Which club did the Galaxy beat in both the 2011 and 2012 MLS Cup finals?

Landon Donovan scored the 2011 winner from Beckham and Robbie Keane assists.

What did Beckham do with his entire salary during his 2013 spell at PSG?

The £3.4M went to two children's charities in France.

Beckham is the only English player to win league titles in how many different countries?

England, Spain, the United States and France, the last with PSG in May 2013.

Against which country did Beckham make his England debut in September 1996?

It was a World Cup qualifier; he went on to win 115 caps.

Beckham's first England goal, at the 1998 World Cup, was a free kick against which team?

Glenn Hoddle had left him out of the first two games, accusing him of not concentrating.

Which Argentine did Beckham kick out at to earn his 1998 World Cup red card?

Simeone later admitted he over-reacted to get Beckham sent off; England lost on penalties.

Which caretaker manager first made Beckham England captain in November 2000?

Eriksson kept him in the role; he captained England 58 times.

Beckham's last-gasp free kick in October 2001 secured World Cup qualification against which team?

It completed his journey from villain to hero and won him BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

How did Beckham score England's winner against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup?

A measure of revenge for 1998; he was still only partially fit after the metatarsal injury.

Beckham's 2006 free kick against Ecuador made him the first English player to do what?

He was ill and vomited several times after scoring the winner.

Who succeeded Beckham as England captain after he stepped down in 2006?

New manager Steve McClaren then dropped him from the squad entirely.

Whose record of 108 caps for an England outfield player did Beckham pass in 2009?

He finished on 115, ten short of Peter Shilton's overall record of 125.

Beckham was the first England player to be sent off twice; the second came in 2005 against whom?

It also made him the first England captain to be sent off.

Where did David and Victoria marry in July 1999?

Gary Neville was best man and four-month-old Brooklyn was ring bearer.

What nickname for Beckham did Victoria reveal on TV in 2008?

She was praising him for rebuilding his reputation after the 1998 World Cup.

Beckham's tattoo of Victoria's name is in which script?

He thought English would be 'tacky'; the tattoo is famously misspelt as 'Vhictoria'.

In 2003 Beckham signed a US$160M lifetime deal with which brand?

He had worn Adidas Predators from the start of his career and earned nearly half the money upfront.

How did Beckham deliver the Olympic flame to the stadium at the London 2012 opening ceremony?

He rode a double-decker bus into the Beijing 2008 closing ceremony for the handover instead.

Which non-league club did Beckham join his Class of '92 teammates in co-owning in 2019?

He took a 10% stake from Peter Lim; in 2025 he and Gary Neville led a new takeover.

Where was Beckham knighted by King Charles III in November 2025?

The honour recognised services to sport and charity; a Hollywood Walk of Fame star followed in 2026.