Will David Beckham lift American soccer to a another level in few years time?

Question

It's a mission impossible but LA Galaxy is serious in paying a record fee for a star player to pull in the crowds or rather business..I would think Beckham will end up acting in Hollywood!!

Answer 1

Beckham will not change attitudes to football by himself. Other European players need to be tempted to play in the States too. This will only happen if they secure the same sort of financial deal as Beckham. Basically, if the USA wants to compete with the rest of the world then they'll need to invest a lot of money. Footballers are a greedy lot.

Also, everyone knows that you dont play top flight football in the USA so you will only attract players who are coming to the end of their career and will never play internationally again.

Answer 2

David Beckham will raise the expectations of MLS Soccer. His fame and popularity will probably be able to attract other big names players with him. Whether he will perform well as a player is yet to be seen, but his interest will be more on appearing on TV shows. But once the hype is over, he will end up acting in Hollywood with his wife. Ready for "Bend it like Beckham 2" or "Cruise it with Beckham". LOL.

Answer 3

He agreed to play at MSL because of the money they are paying and celebrity status that he has been craving (influenced by Victoria). If he is a genuine footballer, he fights for his right be it at Barca, MU or England. The most ironic part is that, he used to be a genuine footballer that fans used to awe his 'bent like Beckham' freekicks where he had played some fantastic footballs. His moved to the States has been largely his believes that he can no longer fight with the likes of Ronaldinho, Robbie van Persie, Arjen Robben etc day in, day out at the international scene, be it in the EPL, La Liga or Champions League. The are many conflicting ideas and inside him which ultimately make use by his wife who seeks to use her husband popularity to extend her unpopular celebrity status. May be after this he'll land the role as the next James Bond giving the current James Bond a boot for exit.

Answer 4

It seems highly unlikely that one player will change soccer from the fifth sport that it is here, behind baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Each team in the MLS would have to sign a Beckham level player, and at $250 million for 5 years, that's not too likely. The amount that Beckham is getting shows that he and his agent are not convinced that the MLS will be around for him to fulfill his entire 5 year deal.

Answer 5

Just from reading the question I can tell the one who wrote it is not well informed about soccer. so I will start by identifying who is Beckam.

David Beckam (31yrs) is a very famous soccer player, x-captain of the English national team, and excellent free kickers.
In the world of soccer broadcasting there are 2 types of players: a player who make the news(real hero), or news makes him (paper hero). Beckam is the second type with no doubt.
Beckam was never world class superstar because of his great game; he was famous due to all the paparazzi around him. He started as a young good soccer player in Man U. His charm and handsomeness lead him to Victoria (former spice girl) heart, and there he started to get famous. They are the most famous couple in whole UK. All these huge paparazzi around him show that he is untouchable player, unfortunately not. If he was one of the greatest why her never got even the 5th rank of FIFA annual best player award???? Because he can’t reach to that level.

In 2003, when Beckam moved to Real Madrid they asked Pele about him and he said " Beckam is more like a pop start than a soccer player" . The same question was asked to Maradona and he answered with " Beckam is very beautiful man that u might think that he is a women”. They both wanted to say who is beckam in soccer??? He is just another player deserve no special admirers...

So I wonder how can average good player, in the end of his active soccer age, who is out his normal form, lift American soccer????

The true question is why LA Galaxy wanted him so bad? And they are willing to pay 250million US dollar to bring such a player?

The answer was given by the General Manager of real Madrid. He announced that real Madrid will have financial drop due to the loss of Beckam merchandises’ and advertisement income. No body care any more about him as a soccer they all care about him as merchandiser.
And I think it is a good deal for Beckam too. A part from the good money, he will get more famous in USA. the low league level will help him to show up as a super star even that he is actually not. And when he retires he can change to be a singer or actor or any thing in TV. He might even make his own soccer shows, who knows??

Answer 6

Beckham went to LA for money ... nothing to see with football . And do you really think that only one player can raise the level of a whole league ??

Only Jordan did it , and it took him a whole career .... not 3 years. Talking about talent, i will not insult Jordan comparing him with Beckham ....

Answer 7

Maybe, it should raise the profile a little

The problem is that American sports invole someone scoring every couple of minutes or so; the result of this mindset is that Americans often get bored with football (or soccer as they like to call it), so I don't think football will ever be huge in the states

Answer 8

Professional soccer was unpopular here before Beckham arrived, it'll be unpopular after. I have not heard anyone say they will watch it because they heard he has arrived. It may get a few new fans due to the hype of the announcement, but that's about it.

Answer 9

I think he's there to benefit his own career, regardless of what he says. Real Madrid only offered him another deal because of the replica shirt money that they make from him in the Asian market. As for landing up in Hollywood? I think he'd have to get rid of that gay sounding voice and toughen up a bit. Unless of course he was to get typecast into gay roles - then he'd be ideal.

Answer 10

I doubt it. Soccer hasn't been much of a draw for Americans, not for lack of star power, but more because there are other games which Americans consider more interesting.