WATCH the Netflix David Beckham series and you come to a number of conclusions; firstly that the former England captain is a product of his time; secondly, that he is more complex than he sounds or appears; and ultimately, that he constantly needs his family around him. It is part documentary, part marketing film and something of a football history lesson.
In his early days, he was a tremendous player; he had energy, drive and could take a mean free kick. Once he became “Brand Beckham”, he seemed to be a different person, obsessed with image, media and attention. Despite claiming he does not like attention, it is hard to agree with someone who has been in the spotlight for so long.
Beckham’s transition from footballer – Gary Neville: “It was never enough for David” – to celebrity increasingly brought him into conflict and meant he became somewhat misaligned with the team ethic. Human nature allows individuals to aspire to a place on any pedestal, but if the followers are disappointed, the response can be venomous. In 1998, Beckham’s red card in the World Cup supposedly “let the nation down”, but it was because of his rising profile the fans turned against him.
England coach Glenn Hoddle had already tried to manage Beckham by leaving him on the bench, which is now seen as a treasonable offence by his family in the film. You half expected his parents to stick in a pin in an effigy of the Tottenham legend as they recalled the summer of 1998. Whatever your views on Hoddle or Beckham’s impetuous kick at Diego Simeone, the post-World Cup reaction from people was ludicrous and undeserved.
For a person who can hardly be considered a fiery individual, Beckham appears to have experienced a trail of disconnection with his employers. His relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson deteriorated and peaked with the infamous “bootgate” incident which now seems like a stunt to highlight the tension between player and manager. Sir Alex considers his protégé to be a stubborn man, while Beckham’s peers, as well as his boss, sometimes raise their eyebrows at his boundary-pushing antics.
His move to Real Madrid seems to have been a disappointment and he was unreasonably exiled within training sessions for a while. He was certainly not the first player to find Real a major challenge, but at least he ended his stint in Spain with a trophy.
Many thought his next step to be a career mistake, although it did play to his celebrity status. Los Angeles and Hollywood gave Beckham a new profile but it did nothing for his footballing credibility. The standard was poor and he was told that he needed to be in Europe to be considered for England duty. He temporarily moved to AC Milan and wanted to stay there, but LA Galaxy had a hold on him. Again, the relationship was tarnished and the supporters were very unhappy, calling him a traitor among other insults. Finally, he ended his career at Paris Saint-Germain, playing 14 games in 2012-13 season. He admitted he was tired and at the end of the road as a player.
Beckham has rarely been out of public view, undoubtedly by design, and there is still a fascination with a character who has stage-managed most of his career. From his gaudy wedding in purple to his Peaky Blinders appearance paying respect to the dead Queen, the story has been documented in detail. And yet, despite the conspicuous consumerism that has accompanied him, he retains an air of slight humility.
The roadshow has continued into club ownership and both the Beckham and Inter Miami brand received a boost with the acquisition of Lionel Messi. As the little Argentinian made his bow, Beckham and his entourage were surrounded by A and B-list celebrities. It wasn’t football, it was show business – and that, in so many ways, is the Beckham experience.
Beckham is worth a watch, as he was at the peak of his playing days. It tells us very little that we didn’t know about the man, but the story is still quite compelling.
GAME OF THE PEOPLE 