Eurosports' Exclusive Interview with David Beckham
Paris, May 9, 2000 - On 30th May at 20.15 CET in Gillette Dream Team, Eurosport will give you the opportunity to get to know one of the most talked about and sought after football players in the world: David Beckham.
David Beckham, 25 years old, began on 8 July 1991 as a trainee for Manchester United. Nowadays he is a permanent midfielder in this club and since September 1996 he plays for the national team.
'Obviously it was a special day for me, and my mum and dad, because they'd supported me for years and years, watching me play Sunday League football, and obviously signing for Manchester United on that day is something they'll never forget, as well as me.'
David made his name with his goal-scoring: he scored the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea in 1996, a great free kick in the 1998 World Cup Finals and in the first game of the 1996/97 season at Wimbledon 'that goal' from the halfway line.
'The hype after that goal was amazing, every day it was in the papers, there were debates about the goal, and about my life, and lifestyle, it went all sort of crazy after that time.'
In 1998 David was part of the English squad for the World Cup in France. It was a mixed feelings tournament for David as he was seen as a national hero when he scored a superb free-kick in England's final match in the group stages against Colombia after being left out for the first two matches of the starting line-up.
However, four days later in the second round match against Argentina it turned sour when, for the first time in his professional career, he was sent off.
He was determined to prove that his World Cup problems would not lead to his departure from English football, as predicted by certain experts. One of his trademark free kicks saved the game in the first League game of the season against Leicester.
'Coming back for that season I knew that the pressure would be waiting for me to slip up or something happen, but you know I went into the season as if it was any other season to be honest, I just wanted to get back playing.'
When his team completed the dream Treble the name of his baby-boy Brooklyn, born in March 1999, appeared on his boots.
To complete a great 12-month rehabilitation, which included picking up yet another League and FA Cup Double, and the ultimate European Cup triumph, David married Victoria Adams of the Spice Girls in July of the same year.
Don't miss out on this exclusive meeting with David Beckham!
The Gillette Dream Team concept was launched on Eurosport's internet site www.eurosport.com last August.
The idea is to allow Eurosport viewers to select, via the internet, their ideal European team. The viewers voted for players from a Gillette game zone, amongst a pre-selection of 55 players.
There were five 'candidate' players for each position (goal keeper, right back, left back, etc..).
The final Dream Team was selected on 15 October.
The programme of 30th May is the one who will announce the best offensive midfielder of the Dream Team.
Will it be Luis Figo (Portugal, FC Barcelona), Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United), Luis Enrique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Philip Cocu (Netherlands, FC Barcelona) or David Beckham (England, Manchester United)?
As of 31st May, highlights from this interview will also be shown on www.eurosport.com and www.eurosport.de
Eurosport Press Contact
Ms. CĂcile Gerard
Tel: +33.1.40.93.81.42 / E-mail: cgerard@eurosport.co.uk
David Beckham, 25 years old, began on 8 July 1991 as a trainee for Manchester United. Nowadays he is a permanent midfielder in this club and since September 1996 he plays for the national team.
'Obviously it was a special day for me, and my mum and dad, because they'd supported me for years and years, watching me play Sunday League football, and obviously signing for Manchester United on that day is something they'll never forget, as well as me.'
David made his name with his goal-scoring: he scored the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea in 1996, a great free kick in the 1998 World Cup Finals and in the first game of the 1996/97 season at Wimbledon 'that goal' from the halfway line.
'The hype after that goal was amazing, every day it was in the papers, there were debates about the goal, and about my life, and lifestyle, it went all sort of crazy after that time.'
In 1998 David was part of the English squad for the World Cup in France. It was a mixed feelings tournament for David as he was seen as a national hero when he scored a superb free-kick in England's final match in the group stages against Colombia after being left out for the first two matches of the starting line-up.
However, four days later in the second round match against Argentina it turned sour when, for the first time in his professional career, he was sent off.
He was determined to prove that his World Cup problems would not lead to his departure from English football, as predicted by certain experts. One of his trademark free kicks saved the game in the first League game of the season against Leicester.
'Coming back for that season I knew that the pressure would be waiting for me to slip up or something happen, but you know I went into the season as if it was any other season to be honest, I just wanted to get back playing.'
When his team completed the dream Treble the name of his baby-boy Brooklyn, born in March 1999, appeared on his boots.
To complete a great 12-month rehabilitation, which included picking up yet another League and FA Cup Double, and the ultimate European Cup triumph, David married Victoria Adams of the Spice Girls in July of the same year.
Don't miss out on this exclusive meeting with David Beckham!
The Gillette Dream Team concept was launched on Eurosport's internet site www.eurosport.com last August.
The idea is to allow Eurosport viewers to select, via the internet, their ideal European team. The viewers voted for players from a Gillette game zone, amongst a pre-selection of 55 players.
There were five 'candidate' players for each position (goal keeper, right back, left back, etc..).
The final Dream Team was selected on 15 October.
The programme of 30th May is the one who will announce the best offensive midfielder of the Dream Team.
Will it be Luis Figo (Portugal, FC Barcelona), Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United), Luis Enrique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Philip Cocu (Netherlands, FC Barcelona) or David Beckham (England, Manchester United)?
As of 31st May, highlights from this interview will also be shown on www.eurosport.com and www.eurosport.de
Eurosport Press Contact
Ms. CĂcile Gerard
Tel: +33.1.40.93.81.42 / E-mail: cgerard@eurosport.co.uk