Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground: An Autobiography

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-The legendary soccer player and cultural icon takes readers on a tour of his life, from the streets of Chingford, England, to his role as star player on the world's most famous professional soccer team, with all the struggles and stadiums, and daring exploits, in between. As the inspiration for the hit movie Bend It Like Beckham, the subject of endless tabloid fodder, and the husband of a former Spice Girl, Beckham has captured the minds and hearts of not only the people of his native country, but of those around the world as well. Dozens of excellent-quality, black-and-white and color photos are included, about half of which have appeared elsewhere. This book is sure to be wildly popular with teens.James O. Cahill, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description

In England, where he spent ten seasons leading his storied club Manchester United and his nation to soccer glory, he is so wildly popular that his countrymen voted him the face they'd most want to see imprinted on their money. (Winston Churchill finished second.) In Japan, where he is worshiped as much for his headline-making fashion trends as for his ability to bend a ball around a wall of defenders, women styled their bikini waxes after the blond mohawk he sported during the 2002 World Cup. And in Spain, within days of his $41 million trade to Real Madrid, his new team received two million requests to buy his number 23 jersey. The legend of David Beckham -- soccer god, global sex symbol, style icon -- has been celebrated around the world, arguably more than Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan combined. Now, with the publication of his long-awaited autobiography, the man who inspired the surprise hit movie Bend It Like Beckham is set to conquer the last remaining outpost where soccer is not a national religion: the United States.

Beckham is a classic rags-to-riches saga: a boy, David, is born to a poor East End London family. He develops prodigious soccer skills, and his parents nurture him until he becomes one of the most gifted athletes of his generation. He grows up to marry Victoria -- a Spice Girl, "Posh" -- and enters a celebrity whirlwind of Princess Diana -- esque proportions. Together, the Beckhams are Britain's new royal couple -- their 240-acre estate outside of London is known as Beckingham Palace -- and their presence at parties or charity events guarantees endless tabloid stories and photos as well as adoring mobs that must be restrained by police barricades. Their life is as much a study in managing fame as it is in sports and pop phenomena.

In Beckham he talks candidly about the pressures of celebrity -- his wife and sons were the targets of a 2002 kidnapping plot; how he balances his roles as a devoted husband and besotted father with his globetrotting existence as an international soccer player; the behind-the-scenes stories of his most memorable career moments, such as the penalty kick against archrival Argentina in the World Cup that redeemed him to a nation who blamed him for their failure in the previous World Cup; the controversy surrounding his move to Real Madrid and the falling out with the man who shaped his career, Manchester United's famously combative manager Sir Alex Ferguson; and, finally, his love of America -- his first son was conceived in and named Brooklyn -- where, like the great Pelé, David can imagine playing out his final seasons.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The autobiography of arguably the world's most celebrated sports icon, a megastar whose name and image adorn the walls of teenage bedrooms from Bangkok to Berlin. A classic rags to riches saga of a boy, born into a poor East End London family, with prodigious talent and a father who believed in him and supported him until he became the most gifted athlete of his generation and his nation's captain.

David Beckham's story is inspiring. Born in the East End of London his raw talent was nurtured by a devoted father until the 14 year old David prodigiously won a talent competition and was offered a place at the leading soccer club in the world-- Manchester United. He made his debut in the first team aged 17 and in the course of the next 10 years won every club honor in the game. He also became the national team captain in 2001. His shirt - the red Manchester United shirt bearing his name and his club number 7 - can be seen on the backs of adoring fans around the world.

David also married a Spice Girl - Posh - and entered the celebrity A-list until his life was as much a study in managing fame as in sports excellence. He's worshipped by millions from all walks of life, from Elton John to Tony Blair.. More than anyone else he is the personification of the 21st century British youth: he's a gay idol as well as a hero to six year old aspiring soccer players of both sexes and their soccer moms, and to macho fat-bellied ManU fans who howl their devotion every Saturday afternoon. His presence at charity events guarantees a crowd that must be restrained by police barricades - his pulling power has far outstripped his wife, who is merely a pop star. Beckham is an icon.

David Beckham's autobiography is guaranteed to be an international number 1 bestseller. In it he talks candidly about the pressures of celebrity - his wife and son were the victims of a kidnap plot, the role his father played in his pursuit of excellence and how he sees his own role as a father, his love of America - his first son was conceived in and named 'Brooklyn', his role as a fashion trend setter, and of course his life as one of the world's most famous soccer players.. David Beckham by accident or design has picked up the mantle of the late Princess Diana: he is the people's prince, the ordinary guy whom fate decided would fly to the stars and be covered in glory. This is the story of how it happened from the only one who can really tell it.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Travis Fristoe

Oh, soccer! The world loves you. But in the United States, the sport takes a lowly backseat to football, basketball, baseball, and, well, any other televised game. Despite David Beckham being the world's most popular soccer player-and having a sweeping pass so sweet it makes grown men weep-this reviewer doubts that many Americans could pick him out of a police lineup. But last year's sleeper film Bend it Like Beckham, his marriage to Spice Girl Posh Spice, and his $41 million trade to Spanish heavyweight Real Madrid might have increased his stateside profile somewhat. Beckham and coauthor Watt write with a conversational ease about his role in the beautiful game, chronicling his career from talented youngster to professional athlete on a global market. Each chapter drops a lot of names and references many games, which will delight fans but could be a bit off-putting to those unfamiliar with soccer history. The book's length might be prohibitive as well. Soccer-loving teens, however, will relish the first-person storytelling. The photos are top notch, showing the scrawny boy who became a father, husband, and world-renowned celebrity. VOYA CODES: 4Q 2P S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2003, HarperCollins, 386p.; Photos., Ages 15 to Adult.

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