In 2003, he led English powerhouse Manchester United to a championship.
Four years later, he led Spanish power Real Madrid to a championship.
Four years later -- just a few weeks ago -- he led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS Championship. Which leaves us to wonder now...
...What Will David Beckham Do?
His contract with the Galaxy and the MLS is up and his options are interesting:
1) Stay with the Galaxy and continue his legacy in soccer in the U.S.?
2) Head back to England and play Tottenham Hotpur, whom he trained with last January?
3) Sign with French League icon Paris St. Germain, a club owned by some folks from Qatar who are willing to make him the highest paid player on the roster (plus, it's Paris, you know, fashion, and Mrs. Beckham, Posh, and her love of fashion)?
Beckham had a very good campaign this season with the Galaxy, perhaps his best since he came here. So perhaps his best option is to stay with the Galaxy. Coach Bruce Arena has gone on record as saying he would love to have Beckham back in the fold. Galaxy and USA star Landon Donovan, who at first was not exactly in tune with Beckham but has since become tight with his teammate, has echoed Arena's desire.
Certainly, MLS officials want him back. As someone who wasn't among those terribly excited about Beckham joining the MLS, I would have to admit that he was a great ambassador for the sport of soccer in this country, nearly as great as Pele' was back in the '70s and '80s while a member of the New York Cosmos.
Since Beckham came to the U.S., the MLS has expanded by seven teams and nine soccer specific stadiums have been built. Positive steps, for sure.
But are we to dismiss Beckham's sometimes selfish attitude. Remember back in 2009, he requested and received permission to get loaned out to Italian power AC Milan. He loved it there so much that he stayed beyond the loan and ended up missing about half the MLS season. And he hasn't exactly been the best player in the league; in fact, he hasn't exactly been the best player on his team for most of his Galaxy career.
It's a tough call. Personally, I say good bye. Thanks for trying to bring soccer to the forefront in the USA. Enjoy Paris. I think the MLS will survive without Beckham.
And speaking of surviving...
Women's pro soccer in this country is struggling to say the least. Now down to just five -- that's 5! -- teams, we need to wonder:
What Will Women's Professional Soccer Do?
Can the league actually play with just five teams? Can't the MLS help out? Can't the U.S. Soccer Federation help out? Does anybody really care?
With all the girls currently playing soccer in this country, how does this league NOT survive? Actually, with all the girls playing soccer in this country, how does the WPS NOT flourish?
It all comes down to marketing. The WPS and its predecessor WUSA had incredibly awful marketing people involved. They marketed the league and its players to adults, most of whom could not give a hoot about women's soccer. And when they marketed the league and the team and its players to the youths, they did so by offering camps (which come with fees) and other things (that came with fees).
When the WPS first came to being I contacted the local team in New Jersey. At that time, I was coaching one girls' team and training four others. I wasn't looking for any type of compensation. I wanted to help them. I asked them to give me flyers and posters and stickers and I would be happy to promote the team. I asked them to send me their practice schedule and I would arrange a trip for my teams to come watch. I asked them to send a player to our club or to one of our practices.
Their response was cordial, to say the least. I received some posters and some WPS stickers. All of which I handed out to the many girls whom I was in regular contact with. I talked up the WPS. Some girls became fans. Some of them even convinced their parents to attend games.
But the fact is, the WPS games were unwatchable. Coaches coaching not to lose. Games ended in scoreless draws. Attacking seemed to be a foreign concept. And it has not changed all that much since.
It's ridiculous to think that this country can't support a women's soccer league. There are far too many female soccer players out there.
If the WPS is reading this, call me. Let's talk. I want a women's league.
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