DAVID ROBERT JOSEPH BECKHAM

Born: May 2, 1975, Leytonstone, east London

Marital status: Married to former Spice Girl Victoria Adams. Two sons: Brooklyn, 4, and Romeo, 9 months.

Height: 6' 0" (1.80m)

Weight: 11' 13" (74kg)

Current salary: 80,000 pounds/week basic plus 20,000 for image rights.

Career Highlights

Manchester United: 1991-2003. Appearances: 394. Goals: 85

England: Caps: 60. Goals: 11

July 1991: Signs as trainee for the club he had supported as a boy.

May 1992: Member of United's FA Youth Cup winning team.

1992/1993: Makes first team debut, coming on as a sub in a League Cup match at Brighton but the slightly-built teenager is banished back to the reserves for two full seasons.

1994/1995: Sent to Preston on loan in February for first-team experience. Beckham fears his United career could be over but after playing five matches and scoring two goals for the Lancashire club, he is recalled by United manager Alex Ferguson and finally makes his league debut against Leeds at Old Trafford in April.

1995/1996: Beckham becomes first team regular after sale of Andrei Kanchelskis creates an opening on the right of midfield. Scores winner in FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea as United win double.

1996/1997: Starts season in style by scoring from halfway line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. Makes his England debut in Moldova on September 1.

United retain the league title and reach semi-finals of Champions League. Beckham named young player of the year.

1997/1998: Disappointing season for United as Arsenal knock them off their domestic pedestal.

But Beckham continues to progress and establishes himself in England team for France 98. His World Cup ends in tears as he is sent off for a petulant kick at Diego Simeone during the second round defeat by Argentina.

1998/1999: Despite abuse over his role in England's World Cup exit, responds with his best season yet as United claim a treble of league, Cup and Champions League titles.

In March 1999, first son Brooklyn is born. Four months later marries Victoria.

1999/2000: United retain the Premiership and Beckham finishes second to Rivaldo in polls for both European and world player of the year.

But the season is also marked by start of rift with United manager Alex Ferguson as Beckham is fined for attending a celebrity party the night before a Champions League match and, later in the season, for missing training because his son Brooklyn was sick.

2000/01: United retain Premiership. Beckham is made England captain for the first time in a friendly in Italy and keeps the armband after the appointment of Sven-Goran Eriksson as coach.

2001/2002: In October, he secures England's place in the World Cup finals with a trademark last-gasp free-kick in the final qualifer against Greece.

In the spring, Beckham suffers his first serious injury - a broken metatarsal bone in his left foot that, to nationwide consternation, threatens his participation in the World Cup.

A half-fit Beckham eradicates the memories of 1998 by scoring the penalty which sinks Argentina in a first round group match.

England go on to reach the quarter-finals, losing to eventual winners Brazil.

2002/2003: Beckham's form is disappointing and relations with Ferguson reach an all-time low in the aftermath of United's FA Cup defeat by Arsenal in February. A boot kicked by the furious manager hits Beckham on the forehead.

First transfer rumours appear immediately and Ferguson is further enraged when Beckham sports an Alice band to allow photographers to capture his wound. The two men have barely spoken since the incident.

Transfer speculation is confirmed in June when United announce they have done a deal to sell Beckham to Barcelona - apparently without informing the player who is on holiday in the United States.

However on June 17 Real Madrid step in and announce they have agreed a 35million euros deal to sign him.

Beckham is formally presented as a Real Madrid player on July 2.