Beckham to finish career in MLS!?

[Landon Donovan]

Did anyone else hear this on PTI today on ESPN? I just watched it cuz I saw Beckham and Safin on the list. Anyone read up on his "hinting" at finishing his career at MLS?

[Colm]

Did anyone else hear this on PTI today on ESPN? I just watched it cuz I saw Beckham and Safin on the list. Anyone read up on his "hinting" at finishing his career at MLS?I suppose in when he is about 35 i can see him moving to MLS for a few seasons. Players only go there when they are completley finished and washed up so he'll be in Europe for a while yet.

[Revelian]

Beckham in the MLS? Ah, me bollocks.....I lose more than that running for the bus.

Revelian

[sinner78]

Might have one last fling in the MLS at some point .Look how guys like Valderamma and preki played into their 40s in the MLS.

[Perchik]

Why is it surprising? He may play until he's 33 for Real, and then move on for a year to Asia or MLS to increase his worldwide popularity and get new sponsirship deals.
He won't stay here long though even if he does come to MLS, because it is very unlikely that his wife and kids would want to relocate, and this guy is all about family.

[Raven49er]

Not only did he say at his press conference that he may do it, he was just interviewed on ESPN and said playing in the MLS is a possibility. Soccer is growing in the US, its a huge market, and he could certainly capitalize on it if he came here. He would be a big fish in a small pond, and it could only do well for him, US soccer, and soccer as a whole in this country.

[novascotia]

Why is it surprising? He may play until he's 33 for Real, and then move on for a year to Asia or MLS to increase his worldwide popularity and get new sponsirship deals.
He won't stay here long though even if he does come to MLS, because it is very unlikely that his wife and kids would want to relocate, and this guy is all about family.

i think they have a home in the states anyway, and i guess they love it from what the tele says...the only reason he would come to mls is because people love him so much here because he is gosh darn beautiful

[Femfa]

Really, his only reason to come to MLS would be because many don't know or care who he is. Last time he was in LA, he could walk around and no one cared - because no one really noticed. Cute blond guys are everywhere here in Los Angeles.

His wife apparently hated that, though, since she tried to get a local boutique clothing store closed for her own private shopping. They refused - they didn't know who she was.

Becks kids could have a semi-normal life in America, because, again - few would know or care who their dad is.

I frankly wouldn't want Beckham to come unless it's fairly soon. He wouldn't do well otherwise. MLS is a scrappy, physically demanding league.

[G.PAGLIA]

i think they have a home in the states anyway, and i guess they love it from what the tele says...the only reason he would come to mls is because people love him so much here because he is gosh darn beautiful

have you herd the way he speaks lol that would soon put you off him

[gaijin]

I think he'll do a Lineker and go to the Japanese J-League myself.

And end up on cereal boxes and on TV advertising vaginal cream.

He'll meet a curiously attractive blonde girl, go on a 3 night binge running around Tokyo with her and then mysteriously drive off to the airport leaving her behind to something retro-chiq by Air.

[gaijin]

Really, his only reason to come to MLS would be because many don't know or care who he is. Last time he was in LA, he could walk around and no one cared - because no one really noticed. Cute blond guys are everywhere here in Los Angeles.

His wife apparently hated that, though, since she tried to get a local boutique clothing store closed for her own private shopping. They refused - they didn't know who she was.

Becks kids could have a semi-normal life in America, because, again - few would know or care who their dad is.

I frankly wouldn't want Beckham to come unless it's fairly soon. He wouldn't do well otherwise. MLS is a scrappy, physically demanding league.

There are pros and cons I guess.

There alot of English footballers who travel to the States on holiday for that very reason. No-one knows who they are. But if you have got a glamour hunting and wannabe attention seeking wife, then I guess its gonna be difficult.

I think his kids would have a far comfortable life over there, than over here anyways. The British tabloids would follow him 24/7, and the kids lives growing up would be fairly difficult as well. I guess the media ogres can only hope Rooney develops into a Gazza and then all is forgotten of old Goldenbollocks.

I think if he did go, it would drastically raise the profile of MLS.

But, I am always against this, as it impeeds young American players getting a chance........But if it gets more American kids wanting to play the game, who am I to argue?

[WALDO]

I predict the year after the WC, he will be playing for the Galaxy. Why the Galaxy? Beverly Hills(shopping).They will also have another kid named Venice. The following year the Spice Girls will launch another comeback in the USA. And will probably end the year opening for Def Leppard. In 2009 Beckham will be caught cheating with another man in West Hollywood, and then anounce the following day, at a press conference with fellow countrymen Sir Elton John, Boy George, & George Michael comforting him, that he is indeed GAY! Only in America! ;)

[Shaydee]

There is a myth still that MLS is a retirement league. Yes Guppy is here and god knows why because he sucks and barely plays. Djorkaeff is here and is still a good player. Outside of them the next oldest Euro player is former Finnish international and Derby player Simo Valakari who is 32. All the other foreign players in the league are pretty young.

For example here are the foreign players for the Metrostars
name age nationality
Youri Djorkaeff 37 France
Abbe Ibrahim 18 Togo
Ramon Bailey 21 Jamaica
Mamadou Diallo 21 Senegal
Amado Guevara 28 Honduras
Sergio Galvan Rey 31 Argentina
Gilberto Flores 21 Brazil
Danilo da Silva 18 Brazil

[WALDO]

There are pros and cons I guess.

There alot of English footballers who travel to the States on holiday for that very reason. No-one knows who they are. But if you have got a glamour hunting and wannabe attention seeking wife, then I guess its gonna be difficult.

I think his kids would have a far comfortable life over there, than over here anyways. The British tabloids would follow him 24/7, and the kids lives growing up would be fairly difficult as well. I guess the media ogres can only hope Rooney develops into a Gazza and then all is forgotten of old Goldenbollocks.

I think if he did go, it would drastically raise the profile of MLS.

But, I am always against this, as it impeeds young American players getting a chance........But if it gets more American kids wanting to play the game, who am I to argue?That is very thoughtful of you, thinking about the American players. But it's only one spot on the roster that Beckham will be taking. I think Americans, as well as myself, welcome him to play here with open arms. It would be interesting to see if Beckham & Victoria become America's darling from England, like Ozzy & Sharon.

[Justin O]

Some NFL exec with good marketing sense will take him on as a kicker or punter to sell jerseys.

[gaijin]

That is very thoughtful of you, thinking about the American players. But it's only one spot on the roster that Beckham will be taking. I think Americans, as well as myself, welcome him to play here with open arms. It would be interesting to see if Beckham & Victoria become America's darling from England, like Ozzy & Sharon.

Hmmmm. Maybe, maybe.

I think he sees himslef as a cultural pop icon, so he needs to break American as it were.

That said, I have been watching some reports from Sky and alot of the American sponsors seemed very happy for him to be there.

[gaijin]

Some NFL exec with good marketing sense will take him on as a kicker or punter to sell jerseys.

Nah. Beckham would kick crap field goals. They need Johnny Wilkinson..... :cool:

[Rise]

Cant see it.

Fair enough, he may express an interest just to get his name into the American media and try to get his image awareness up Stateside now, but looking at it coldly I cant see the logic.

He's the International captain, and will want to stay in the International picture for as long as possible. For that to happen, especially as he gets older, he'll need to remain in a top competitive environment. That aint the MLS.

He's already said that after he stops playing - which hes hinted we will do when his contract finishes at Real - he doesnt want to go into managing. So expect media gigs and product endorsements to be his breadwinner. The options open to him; stick around England or Spain where the lifestyle is one he knows, and his public image is of a decent enough quality to launch himself into whatever field he pleases, or go to America, continue playing as a big fish in a small pond, and hope that that alone raises his image Stateside enough to mirror the cash options open to him in Europe.

Its a gamble, one that I wouldn't see coming off, and one that I cant see Becks taking. At the end of the day, what would be the point?

[Scarecrow]

Is this the qtrly thread on this subject?

Never say never, I could see Beckham coming to the states and MLS in a couple of years. Be an easy way for him to wind down his career since MLS plays a shorter schedule and it would allow him to move into the entertainment market here in America. Plus his wife is well known here so perhaps she will want to make a comeback of sorts of her own.

From MLS' standpoint getting him would be a major coup, it would bring name recognition to them and could give an attendance boost similar to what Pele brought to the old NASL.

While I am not holding my breath on this by any means, it would not surprise me much to see him playing in LA or San Jose before his career is over.

[Revelian]

MLS is a scrappy, physically demanding league.

Unlike the Premiership, yeah?

Revelian