Former England captain David Beckham, whose Inter Miami side are preparing to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup this weekend, has been recognised with a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours
David Beckham declared himself “immensely proud” after being bestowed with a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours. Beckham, who turned 50 last month, has been given the honour for his services to sport and charity.
The former England captain, who won 115 caps for the Three Lions, with 59 of those as captain and Manchester United icon has become one of the most recognisable faces on the planet, known as well in Los Angeles as he is in Auckland and pretty much everywhere in between.
Speaking about his knighthood, Beckham said: “Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true.
“Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation.
“I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”
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It has been a rollercoaster ride for Beckham, who used to earn £10 a shift collecting glasses at Walthamstow dog track before heading to United’s academy as part of the fabled ‘Class of 92’, where, after making his Premier League debut in 1994, he truly announced himself as a star on the opening day of the 1996-97 season, with a memorable goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
The red card at France ’98 and the subsequent fallout has never been forgotten – least of all by himself. In a Netflix documentary series, released during October 2023, Beckham revealed he still cannot forgive himself for the abuse his family suffered amid the fallout, which include a pub hanging up an effigy of Beckham, and the hostility he faced at grounds around the country the following season. He admitted it left him a “mess”.
And yet, he not only went on to be an integral part of United’s Treble success in 1999 – winning six Premier League titles and two FA Cups too during his time at Old Trafford – he became England captain just two years after his dismissal in Saint-Etienne, became a one-man wrecking crew to drag the national side kicking and screaming to the 2002 World Cup with a virtuoso display and 93rd minute equaliser against Greece – and there, in Japan and South Korea, completed his redemption story with the winner against Argentina during the group stage.
At the height of his footballing fame, fronting global brands and married to a pop star, he became a Galactico in 2003, joining Real Madrid in a £25million move after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and refusing to join Barcelona, having made almost 400 appearances for United and scoring 85 goals.
Beckham would go on to win La Liga before he departed for LA Galaxy in 2007 and collected the MLS Cup twice, spending two loan stints at AC Milan along the way. In January 2013, Beckham returned to Europe with Paris Saint Germain, later announcing his decision to retire when he signed off with a Ligue 1 winners’ medal.
During his time in the States he had already been thinking about life after football, a remarkable business move during his time in MLS allowing him to become co-owner of Inter Miami in 2020 at a cut price rate, while a multi-million-pound lifetime deal with Adidas, signed in 2003, had long since secured his financial future away from the game.
Beckham, who was made an OBE for services to football in 2003, has long been involved with children’s charity UNICEF, and is a co-owner of film production company Studio 99.
In 2024 he was appointed Ambassador for The King’s Foundation which works globally to create sustainable communities through placemaking projects and also transform lives through practical education programmes.
Certainly, there has been no shortage of controversy, whether during his footballing career or after. But now, the man known in some quarters as ‘Becks’, and infamously also as ‘Golden Balls’, becomes Sir David.
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