Photo by Kevin Cardem/Fox Sports
BY ADAM SERRANO
LOS ANGELES –It is official, David Beckham will be returning to MLS and it appears that he may be staying for quite some time.
The Los Angeles Galaxy presented Beckham before a group of reporters on Thursday to announce his new two-year-deal with the club.
The 36-year-old Beckham returns to the Galaxy after enjoying a career year for Los Angeles in 2011 leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup title. In addition to clinching the first MLS Cup since 2005, Beckham was awarded with the MLS Comeback Player of the Year as well as an MLS Best XI selection while helping the Galaxy to their second consecutive Supporters Shield.
After a year of speculation about his future, linking him to teams in London and Paris, Beckham admitted that it was his family, who came first when he ultimately made his decision.
“At this stage of my career, at this moment of my life, my family and my children are the most important thing to me,” Beckham said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon at Staples Center. “My children love living here and, at the end of the day, at 36 years old, to have the offers I had thrown at me, you have to look at it.”
The pivotal moment in Beckham's decision making came just less than three weeks ago, when Beckham sat down at his house in London for a glass wine with his wife Victoria.
"It was New Year's Eve when I sat down with my wife and my family and was kind of made up then," said Beckham. "Then obviously, I had been speaking to Bruce [Arena] and Tim [Leiweke] throughout because there was obviously a lot of speculation going on, but that was probably the time that I made up my mind and decided that we wanted to continue our lives in Los Angeles."
The Beckham's announcement to re-join the Galaxy comes amid months of speculation linking him to a variety of clubs, in particular, French giant Paris St. Germain. While reports in France indicated that Beckham's signing with PSG was a certainty, the owner's of the Galaxy never doubted that their star would return.
"Despite the speculation about him being signed or committed, we weren't a rebound, we were always in the middle of the conversation and we gave him all the time that he needed to make a decision," said AEG Tim Leiweke." "We're very grateful for what David has done for the last five years, but also for the upcoming year…We're grateful that David saw past the offers that were out there and will remain a core for the LA Galaxy."
Central to Beckham continuing his career with the Galaxy were two provisions. The first provision, allows Beckham the freedom to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games taking place in his hometown of London. At 36, Beckham is considered to be a forerunner for a spot on Stuart Pearce's Great Britain side that will compete during the Games.
The second provision of Beckham's deal to re-join the Galaxy was his option to become an owner in MLS after his career has finished. The accomplished English midfielder has long hinted at an interest in potentially joining the league as an owner and during Thursday's press conference, Leiweke admitted that this option was paramount to Beckham returning to Los Angeles.
"Part of this conversation was and is trying to sort through the fact that he has the right and he has made it very clear to us that he is going to exercise his option to be an owner in Major League Soccer," said Leiweke. "Unless I'm mistaken, that's his future when he makes his decision to retire and we and the partners in the league have structured that option in a way to will David to become a partner."
With his off the field business sorted, Beckham now faces a stiff test as the Galaxy seek to repeat as MLS Cup Champions. The Galaxy resume training on Monday with several pieces from the 2011 title missing as tenacious midfielder Juninho departed for Sao Paulo while MLS Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez is out for seven-to-nine months with a torn ACL.
Although the Galaxy are set to compete in a number of competitions — including the CONCACAF Champions League and U.S. Open Cup – Beckham believes that he is ready for the challenge ahead.
"I've never come back after a season with the Galaxy and been a champion," Beckham said. "I wanted to have that feeling. And we are (champions). But we're not finished. I'm not happy with one championship. I want more."
Why not? Don’t you wanna see blue turf in MLS???
Good for them and their fans if true. Just need stadiums in San Jose, DC, and NE now
NY Cosmos? They’ve been trying to resurrect the club for a while now. With his dollars behind it, they could potentially become an MLS team by the time he retires.
Yup, Miami for sure.
He will bring a team to Miami. It’s the only city other than NY and LA that big time players want to play in. It makes sense.
That jersey is FIRE!! …this coming from a Red Bulls fan. Sorry, but it’s true. Can’t hate. That jersey is pretty dope.
That’d be amazing.
There were crazy rumors that he was going to name his new kid “Atlanta”.
That’d be nice.
i think the next expansion team (if not NY2) should be phoenix or las vegas. what say, you?
Sorry, agree to disagree. That shirt is class.
ugh, as a third kit great. but we were solid white and shouldve stuck with it
I hope it’s true. The Carson Galaxy can continue playing in Carson & Selling overpriced tickets.
Dope Jersey…
No NY or LA
It has come up before, no NY or LA for Beckham’s expansion franchise. At least not if he doesn’t want to pay for it.
San Diego is a great city and it sucks as a sports town. The footie fans of 619 go to TJ for some FMF. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. San Diego had its chance to build CHIVAS USA a stadium and balked.
We will be playing in a downtown LA SSS, where our ownership will control the funds unlike AEG who takes a MASSIVE bite out of all Chivas USA profits currently. Maybe you noticed we have no DP’s and are notoriously cheap.
Sorry brother, time to move on.
If Figo can go from Barca to Madrid…anything is possible I guess
Or the improved MLS for that matter. They have had a quiet offseason.
They need to move to San Diego where they would be top dog. There are tons of Mexican immigrants that would support a CF San Diego team. LA has the city on lock.
Chivas USA is moving to downtown LA next to the LA Colosseum in 2013 or 2014.
Believe that. Expect an announcement in mid Spring.
Spoke to the owner himself. Expect a “community” re-brand too.
omg omg omg omg who cares about beckham! KYLE MARTINO IS ON CUPCAKE WARSSSSSSSSSSSS <3
LA better replace Omar and Juninho or they dont have a chance in CCL
Where has it ever been said he can’t own a team in NYC?
I like it. A lot of MLS jerseys are boring, this really makes the Galaxy stand out
Right, I’m saying I hope this new contract didn’t change that.
LOL Boise?
I believe part of the provision of him
being an MLS owner is that he can’t
own a team in either LA or NY.
I’d love MLS in Indianapolis, but I’m not sure we’d be able to support a team.
The beauty pageant sash is back…yuck. I dont like it for USA or LA.
I know it won’t but please be DC. He’s got more green than he knows what to do with. We need a stadium. God, this is delusional.
The term Swan Song comes to mind
oh yeah?
Houston has been looking for a dedicated owner from day one. But I suppose Becks would still have his hand in AEG’s pockets.
Should look at cities like Oklahoma City or Indianapolis or even a small market like Boise
Hopefully MLS didn’t make any concessions as far as his expansion rights not being good in NYC, because NYC will eventually get a team with or without Beckham, and the franchise fee should be rather large, which the league could use (given the still yearly capital calls, rumored sale of a stake in MLS). That kind of money could upgrade like three stadiums or start five development academies.
There are plenty of other options: Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, San Antonio, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Diego, Carolina, Minnesota, St Louis, LA if Chivas USA moves to Orange County as they seem to be…
Santa “Cruz”, perhaps?
Just kidding
so basically, if he doesn’t get the option, then he’s off to Paris or back to England.
Did LA bring back the sash to their uniforms? If so, I love it. I always hated that LA had done away with the look from their uniforms. Gave them a distinctive look.
If he wants to stay in LA, it could be Chivas?
Being in London would make me want to return to a different city as well ha
He’s got a kid named “Brooklyn”. Where the hell else is it going to be?
🙂
or nyc 2 mebbe
Miami