 | |
| Author | Grant Wahl |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Sports |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Crown |
Publication date | July 14, 2009 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-0307408594 |
The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America is a non-fiction work by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl. The book chronicles David Beckham's move to Major League Soccer and his impact on American soccer.
Wahl, a veteran soccer writer for Sports Illustrated, was asked to cover David Beckham's move from Real Madrid to Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. [1] He was granted one-on-one access to Beckham and his handlers. The original concept for the book was to follow Beckham and Galaxy, but due to his injuries the book was halted. Initially, Wahl approached Beckham's management about a potential book deal. However, Beckham's management gave Wahl the indication he would have to pay to write a book about the English midfielder. Wahl refused to pay for interviews and used his resources at Galaxy to obtain interview time with Beckham. Over a two-year period, Wahl interviewed Beckham after games as well as Ruud Gullit (Galaxy head coach from November 2007 until August 2008), Landon Donovan (Galaxy player), and Alexi Lalas (Galaxy general manager at the time). [2]
In January 2007, 31-year-old Beckham, one of the world's most famous soccer players, at the time playing with Real Madrid, shocked the sports world by signing a five-year contract with MLS team LA Galaxy, effective from the end of the 2006–07 La Liga season, which was in progress when the announcement was made. In addition to playing soccer, under the advisement of talent manager Simon Fuller and his company 19 Entertainment, Beckham set out to conquer the U.S. celebrity scene. [2] At this time, Wahl was given unprecedented access to the English player, his inner circle, and team to promote his arrival to the league. To 19 Management's dismay, he would not relinquish control of his articles or methods of procuring information. As a result, he was able to give a behind-the-scenes account of Beckham's impact on LA Galaxy. [2]
Initially, Beckham had a great financial impact on LA Galaxy drawing sold out crowds, additional owners, additional sponsors, and an increase in sold merchandise. [3] [4] Behind the scenes, Beckham's management was seeking control over the team and league. Beckham's designated player status as well as his overall stature and celebrity enabled him to seek preferential treatment including the captaincy, his own parking spot right next to the dressing room, and his own hotel room on road trips.
This preferential treatment along with Beckham's salary (much higher than that of his teammates) greatly affected the team. Ripping the captaincy out of Donovan's hands had heavy consequences. Both years when Beckham was captain, the team failed to make it to the MLS playoffs. The book also delves into larger issues such as the MLS's failing structure.
The book was released on July 14, 2009 in accordance with Beckham's return to LA Galaxy from his first loan spell at A.C. Milan. The book debuted at number 9 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. [5]
The book was released just as Beckham returned to LA Galaxy from a loan spell with AC Milan in Serie A. The loan deal agreed in December 2008 had originally been scheduled to end in March 2009, so that Beckham could return to Los Angeles in time for the start of the 2009 MLS season, however, it was extended until the end of the 2008–09 Serie A season. At this point, LA Galaxy along with the players were fed up with Beckham. The tension between Beckham and Donovan was high. Donovan had participated in the book and was very critical of Beckham, stating he was a bad teammate who took over the team but did not care about American soccer, MLS, or his teammates. Beckham retaliated by calling Donovan's statements unprofessional. [6] The pair have since made up. [7]
Upon Beckham's return, LA Galaxy fans as well as MLS fans booed Beckham. Fans taunted Beckham with signs and chants. [8]
David Robert Joseph Beckham is an English former professional footballer, the current president and co-owner of Inter Miami and co-owner of Salford City. Known for his range of passing, crossing ability, and bending free-kicks as a right winger, Beckham has been hailed as one of the greatest and most recognisable midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the best set-piece specialists of all time. Due to his talent and achievements for both club and country, Beckham is lauded as one of the greatest Manchester United footballers of all time, as well as one of the best English players in the history of the sport. He is the first English player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the United States and France.
Los Angeles Galaxy, also known as the LA Galaxy, are an American professional men's soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began play in 1996 as one of the league's 10 charter members.
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American former professional soccer player. Donovan is also the co-founder and vice-president of soccer operations for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC, and serves as a strategic advisor for English side Lincoln City. Considered as the greatest American player of all time, he is frequently debated with Clint Dempsey for the title. Donovan holds the world record for the most international assists (58) and is tied with Dempsey for the most international goals scored by an American player (57).
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Donovan Ricketts is a Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is currently an assistant coach for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship. Ricketts played more than 100 games for Bradford City in England, and has more than 100 appearances in Major League Soccer and has twice been named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also the captain of the Jamaica national team, earning 100 caps for his country, until his retirement from international football in 2013.
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The 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy season was the club's fifteenth season of existence. It was also the Galaxy's fifteenth season in Major League Soccer and their fifteenth-consecutive year at the top-flight of American soccer.
Grant Wahl was an American sports journalist and soccer analyst for CBS Sports, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and a correspondent for Fox Sports, based in New York City. He was also the author of the book The Beckham Experiment (2009).
Vítor Gomes Pereira Júnior, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, who is currently the head coach of the LA Galaxy Academy U-19 team playing in the United Premier Soccer League. He is commonly known as Juninho or Vitor Junior, and is the older brother of footballer Ricardo Goulart who plays for Santos.
Terry Byrne is an English businessman and a director of various companies connected to football that are active in the United Kingdom and the United States. He is best known for his business relationship and close friendship with the footballer David Beckham, spending years as his personal manager and business adviser.
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The History of Major League Soccer began in 1988, when the United States Soccer Federation pledged to create a Division 1 professional soccer league as a condition to FIFA awarding the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States. Major League Soccer was officially formed in 1995. The league began play in 1996 with 10 teams, and in 1998 grew to 12 teams. MLS experienced some difficulties in its first seasons, with the league losing money in the early years, resulting in two teams folding after the 2001 season. MLS has rebounded since then, with increased attendance and the development of soccer-specific stadiums. With an average attendance of over 20,000 per game, MLS has the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), and is the seventh highest attended professional soccer league worldwide. MLS currently has 29 teams, with further expansion to 30 teams planned with the addition of San Diego FC in 2025. As of 2023, MLS is the largest first division professional soccer league in the world by number of clubs.