The Life and Career of David Beckham

Football Legend, Cultural Icon

By (author) Tracey Savell Reavis

Publication date:

07 August 2014

Length of book:

256 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442229921

David Beckham is an English soccer player whose popularity extends beyond the field and into international celebrity. He has played for some of the best clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, and is known worldwide for his free kick expertise and spectacular long-range shots. His singular dedication to becoming a renowned soccer player has been an inspiration to teammates and fans alike.

In The Life and Career of David Beckham: Football Legend, Cultural Icon, Tracey Savell Reavis delivers an up-to-date and refreshing look at one of soccer’s most-recognized athletes. Drawing on extensive research and in-depth interviews, Reavis brings an outside perspective to Beckham’s life in order to reveal his profound impact on the sport in the United States and worldwide. From his birth in Leytonstone, London and his celebrated playing career to his role in bringing the 2012 Olympic Games to London and his retirement from soccer in 2013, Reavis examines the influences that shaped Beckham into the legend he is today.

Featuring photographs and original interviews, this book illuminates Beckham’s status as a soccer star, husband, father, fashion icon, and cultural phenomenon. The first biography since his retirement, The Life and Career of David Beckham will not only appeal to soccer fans, but also to anyone who wants to know more about this international icon.
In her introduction, sports journalist Reavis describes herself as 'overjoyed' at the chance to write a book about Beckham, and her admiration comes through on every page. . . .From the free-kick specialist’s promising start to his retirement from play in 2013, covering big games, team changes, and a high-profile personal life, facts and quotes are fully sourced and footnoted. Frequent subheads within chapters quicken the pace, and useful end matter (stats, milestones, a reading list) will make this a useful choice for budding Beckhamologists.