Logan Roy. Mr. Rogers. The Dude. The power cardigan has a long and storied history in pop culture. Now, there’s a cardigan wearer whose place in this pantheon we must duly celebrate: David Beckham.
The new four-part docuseries Beckham, directed by Fisher Stevens, has made quite a stir since it debuted on Netflix. It’s a rare intimate look into the soccer player’s dramatic ascendancy, his marriage to Victoria Beckham (née Posh Spice), and his turbulent relationship to fame and the sport that made him. The docuseries is also a veritable banquet of fits, from Beckham’s ‘90s Manchester United jersey to a cavalcade of the most mind-melting Y2K couples style imaginable. (The matching purple wedding looks! The blonde highlights! The sarong!)
When present-day Becks is featured in Beckham, though, his personal style is noticeably more muted and mature than the flashiness we see in the archival footage. It’s a reflection of how his life, once a rollercoaster, has similarly settled into a comfortable rhythm. Now 48 and retired from the beautiful game, the doc literally opens with Beckham gently tending to his beehives. Even the glimpse we get into his closet shows a hyper-organized wardrobe teeming with timeless classics.
Similarly, the most notable look that he wears while being interviewed is a glorious knit cardigan. It’s a collared, cream-colored number with double-breasted buttons, which Beckham pairs with a chambray shirt and jeans. It’s the rare sweater perfect for both padding around the house on an off day, and for being interviewed for a documentary in which you must reflect on your entire life. In this cardigan, Beckham appears unbothered, moisturized, happy, in his lane, focused, flourishing, and—crucially—supremely cozy.
Bring grit and determination, but also foresight and grace. Surround yourself with people who have your best interests at heart. Celebrate the wins, and reassess the mishaps. And consider an exit strategy while keeping an eye out for new opportunities.
These are just some of the takeaways from soccer legend David Beckham, who spoke before a group of about 700 business leaders and also young athletes at the Long Island Association luncheon at Woodbury-based Crest Hollow Country Club last week.
To achieve great heights, Beckham said, it helps to love what you do.
“It takes sacrifice and dedication, and hard work, but also you have to enjoy it,” he said. “Unless you’re enjoying it, don’t do it, because at the end of the day you have to enjoy what you do.”
Once that highest level is achieved, focus and hard work keep you in the game, Beckham said.
It helps, too, to negotiate contracts with the most potential. For example, when joining the LA Galaxy, Beckham signed a deal that included a cut of the sales of tickets, jerseys, beer, hot dogs and more, according to published reports. The contract also contained a clause that enabled Beckham to purchase a Major League Soccer team for “a set fee of $25 million” when he retired, according to The Athletic, a sports publication.
Now, Beckham is a co-owner of Inter Miami CF, and having recruited soccer icon Lionel Messi from Argentina, the “club’s value could skyrocket from approximately $585 million to over $1 billion,” according to Yahoo!Finance.
Even at this level, a leader’s grit and determination remains one of the most critical assets.
Take Messi. Beckham said he is “the first person in training, and he is the last person out of training. He is 36 years old. He’s won every major tournament and trophy that you can. But he’s still the hardest working. He’s still the most dedicated…that tells you how much work it takes. But he still also has a lot of fun doing it.”
Grace and charm help, too, when conducting business. At the luncheon, Beckham thanked LIA President and CEO Matt Cohen, and the audience for attending, adding a bit of humbleness.
“I do want to thank you all for giving up your morning to be here today, and also to listen to me talk up here,” Beckham said.
Matt Cohen and David Beckham. Photo by Judy Walker
That humbleness permeated the luncheon interview even when highlighting some of the most powerful moments on the field. For example, Cohen referenced a winning goal Beckham had shot from 50 feet away for Manchester United.
“Some people consider that the greatest goal of all time,” Cohen said. “Do you share that sentiment?”
“I’m not sure about that, but it was a pivotal moment, really, in my career,” Beckham said.
And while that goal opened many avenues, Beckham remains grateful for the people who kept his best interests at heart.
He said he was “lucky” that Manchester United had Alex Ferguson as a manger.
“He protected me on every level,” Beckham said, including keeping him from talking to the media during the early winning moments of his career.
Beckham continued to seek to surround himself with people he trusted and whose work he admired. Consider, for example, his four-part documentary series currently airing on Netflix.
“I always said if I was going to do it, I would do it properly,” he said about filming the series.
“It was quite a difficult two-and-a-half years of filming,” Beckham said. “We did 55 hours of filming and Fisher Stevens was a director.” Beckham is a fan of Stevens, an actor and filmmaker, who won an Oscar for his 2010 documentary, “The Cove,” and, according to published reports, was recommended by Leonardo DiCaprio, who had worked with Stevens on two environmental documentaries.
The Beckham series looked at some of the roughest moments for the soccer superstar, including England’s World Cup match against Argentina in 1998. That was when Beckham was red-carded for deliberately kicking the back of Diego Simeone’s leg. England’s World Cup hopes were crushed, and Beckham instantly went from hero to villain.
David Beckham playing for Real Madrid in 2007. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Asked at the luncheon about that moment, Beckham said, “I always say there’s not one thing that I regret in my career. That moment was a difficult moment. And of course, I wish it never would have happened, but it happened for a reason, and it’s taken me a long time to find out why: It pushed me into a place where I had to grow up as a person, as a player, and become stronger.”
As for planning an exit strategy, Beckham said he’d planned in advance, keeping an eye out for new opportunities.
When he did exit in 2013, Beckham received a standing ovation from stadium fans. At last week’s luncheon, he grew teary viewing a clip of him bidding farewell to fans and teammates. He’d never expected to get emotional about hanging up his cleats. But, he said, “even now, I still miss the game every single day.”
Moving forward, Beckham looked to existing business partnerships, and developed new ones.
“I always prepared myself for that moment to jump into something else. And the thing that I jumped into straight away” was his already-established business through which he served as an ambassador for various brands, he said. “I have a great team in London, with which I’ve surrounded myself.”
His post-soccer career includes partnerships with Adidas, Diageo, H&M, L’Oreal and Tudor, as well as Sands, the company that is seeking to build a casino at the Nassau Hub and was the luncheon’s presenting sponsor.
Beckham believes in giving back, both at a charitable level in his ambassadorship with UNICEF, and in cultivating a love of U.S. soccer.
His work includes increasing the sport at a grassroots level, starting with youth leagues.
Here, he said, “soccer has a real opportunity of growing, even bigger than it is.”
“I’m always looking for what’s next,” he said. “So I’ll continue to be passionate about building this game because it’s a game that I love. And the reason I wanted to own a team in America is because I believe in this country. I’ve always loved this country.”
David, 48, and Victoria, 49, might have attended the UK “Beckham” premiere in his-and-her suiting, rocking midnight navy and white, respectively, but they’ve coordinated in plenty more styles throughout the ages. From all-black leather at a Versace store appearance to acid wash denim at a Whitney Houston concert in 1999, they’ve managed to keep their wardrobes in sync. On Sept. 29, David supported Victoria at her Fashion Week runway show in Paris, sitting front row with his children and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, just as he does each and every season. The athlete and fashion designer also enjoyed a trip to Versailles for the Jacquemus Le Chouchou presentation this past June, where they sported lightweight separates from the brand at the photo call, accessorizing their neutral pieces with dark sunglasses.
Ahead, look back at 25 of David and Victoria Beckham’s most iconic moments together, from casual courtside appearances and dinners at Nobu to the British Fashion Awards and the annual Met Gala.
David and Victoria Beckham continue to remain as strong as ever 24 years after tying the knot. The longtime couple met in 1997, though David himself had a crush on the former Spice Girl during her days with the popular British girl group long before they connected for the first time. In a 2008 interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the former soccer star revealed that he was watching TV when he experienced love at first sight. “I was in a hotel room with my best friend, who was my best man at my wedding, I remember turning around — before I’d even met Victoria — and said, ‘I want to marry that one,’” he said.
The Beckhams said “I do” in July 1999, and went on to have four children together: Brooklyn (born March 1999), Romeo (born September 2002), Cruz (born February 2005), and Harper (born July 2011). Throughout their years-long relationship, the couple have withstood criticism, in addition to divorce and infidelity rumors, but have always maintained their strong bond during the toughest of times.
From sweet Instagram posts to gushy interview moments, David and Victoria are what many consider couple goals, and the two aren’t shy about sharing their love for one another. In an interview on “The View” in October 2019, Victoria sang David’s praises, gushing, “Obviously, he’s incredibly good-looking, but David is the most wonderful husband and fantastic father and a real inspiration to all of us. He’s hardworking . . . I’m lucky to have him as my soulmate.”
Read on for the couple’s complete relationship timeline, from when they first met to starring in David’s Netflix docuseries, “Beckham,” which hits the streamer Oct. 4.
The Beckhams and the Sussexes’ friendship has reportedly fizzled out.
According to the Mail on Sunday, David Beckham was “absolutely bloody furious” after it was reportedly suggested that the Beckhams had leaked stories about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
A source who is said to be close to the Beckhams told the paper, “David and Victoria went to Meghan and Harry’s wedding and were very supportive when Meghan arrived in the U.K.”
The accusations were said to have come up during a tense phone call.
The source said, “Any making up now is so unlikely.”
The couples first became pally because Izzy May — who is David Beckham’s communications director — was friends with Markus Anderson; chief membership officer for Soho House.
Anderson was said to have helped arrange Harry and Meghan’s secret dates at the private members social club.
The Duchess of Sussex is now thought to have formed a friendship with cosmetics pioneer Victoria Jackson.
An insider in Montecito, California — where Harry and Meghan live near neighbour Jackson — said: “Victoria is a dynamic force. She’s someone who built a business but has also overcome adversity in her private life. She and Meghan bond on many levels. They are extremely close, they adore each other.”
Victoria Beckham and her husband, David Beckham, spiced up their life with a karaoke performance of “Say You’ll Be There” by the Spice Girls in Miami on July 22. On July 23, Victoria shared a video of her and David performing the ’90s hit on TikTok. In the TikTok, the fashion designer/woman formerly known as Posh Spice holds hands with her husband as they dance and belt out the iconic song.
“Warming up the vocals in Miami! More to come,” Victoria captioned the TikTok. Meanwhile, she teased the full-length video on her Instagram, writing, “Just a casual night out in Miami! check out my tik tok to see the full performance no really I did not drink that much.” The official Spice Girls account commented on her post with two heart emoji.
Victoria and David’s throwback Spice Girls sing-along appeared to have taken place shortly after Lionel Messi made his Inter Miami debut (David co-owns Inter Miami). The Beckhams were there to cheer on Messi along with a number of their famous friends, including Kim Kardashian and her son Saint West, LeBron James, and Marc Anthony. Two of the Beckhams’ children — Harper and Cruz — attended the match, as well.
After the match, Victoria shared a post featuring candid shots from the afterparty. She captioned the joyful photos, “Work hard play hard! wow!! What a night celebrating with friends in Miami!!!! I love you @davidbeckham x.”
The couple’s big night may have inspired Victoria to indulge in a bit of Spice Girls nostalgia, but fans of the band shouldn’t expect to see her on tour anytime soon. In a 2022 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” she told host Andy Cohen that she’s too busy to suit up as Posh Spice again.
“I had so much fun being in the Spice Girls. But I think now with everything else I’ve got going on — with my fashion, and my beauty line, four children — I couldn’t commit to that,” she said of a potential reunion tour. She also confirmed that she still loves to sing the band’s songs during karaoke (as evidenced in the video below). “I had so much fun in the Spice Girls. I love the girls,” she added. “I really, really enjoy singing Spice Girls when I’m doing karaoke.”
English football great David Beckham has addressed criticism over his role as an ambassador for Qatar during the World Cup, saying it is “positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region.”
British comedian Joe Lycett called on Beckham to step down from his role fronting the tournament due to Qatar’s human rights record, particularly its stance on homosexuality, which is illegal in the Gulf state, and said he that he would shred £10,000 ($11,800) if he did not receive a response from the football star.
Lycett said he did not receive a response from Beckham by his imposed deadline, which led to him sharing a video of himself appearing to shred the cash when the tournament kicked off on November 20 – but he later claimed he had “donated to LGBTQ+ charities” and not shredded any money.
“We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region,” Beckham’s spokesperson told CNN via a statement Friday.
“We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved,” the statement went on to say.
“David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and an ambassador and he has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world. Football, the most popular sport globally, has a genuine ability to bring people together and make a real contribution to communities,” Beckham’s spokesperson added.
The tournament has been mired in controversy, with much of the build-up focusing on human rights, from the death of migrant workers and the conditions many have endured in Qatar, to LGBTQ and women’s rights.
A report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) published in October documented alleged cases of beatings and sexual harassment while in detention. According to victims interviewed by Human Rights Watch, security forces allegedly forced transgender women to attend conversion therapy sessions at a “behavioral healthcare” center sponsored by the government.
“Qatari authorities need to end impunity for violence against LGBT people. The world is watching,” said Rasha Younes of Human Rights Watch.
A Qatari official told CNN that the HRW allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false.”
Lycett took aim at Beckham last month and said in a video: “You’re the first Premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans.”
“Now, it’s 2022. And you signed a reported £10 million deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.”
Lycett was not the first person or group to criticize Beckham for his ambassadorship.
Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo, who came out as gay last year, told CNN Sport he would like to see Beckham using his platform to support the LGBTQ community instead of promoting the Qatari government.
“If someone like David Beckham with his platform does get around us and becomes an ally that we are wanting him to be, it is really helpful.
“If he could take that next step and show what he means to the LGBTQ community, that would be fantastic.”
The World Cup ends on Sunday with Argentina facing defending champion France in the final in Qatar.
The fever of FIFA World Cup 2022 has not died down yet. With just a few days to go before the final match, several Bollywood celebrities have been spotted visiting Qatar to catch live glimpses of the World Cup. A few days ago, actors Nora Fatehi, Manushi Chhillar, and more were seen having a gala time enjoying watching the football matches live in the stadiums. And now, to add to the bandwagon, Ananya Panday has marked her attendance in this list.
Ananya Panday watches Argentina vs Croatia match in Qatar
A few hours ago, Ananya Panday posted a story on her Instagram handle wherein she can be seen flying to Qatar to watch the match. Upon reaching her destination, she can be seen flashing her sweet smile while watching Argentina vs Croatia match live in front of her eyes. Soon, she got a glimpse of popular footballer David Beckham from a distance and we can say that Ananya felt elated from within to watch his glimpse.
In the glimpses, we can also figure out that Ananya was supporting Argentina and was dressed accordingly.
Notably, Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez helped Argentina lead to a 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday that set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday’s title match.
David Beckham’s “status as a gay icon will be shredded” if the former England captain and Manchester United star continues in his role as a Qatar World Cup ambassador said British comedian Joe Lycett on Sunday.
In a video posted on Twitter, Lycett, a British comedian who describes himself as queer on his website, said he would donate £10,000 ($11,000) to charities supporting “queer people in football” or put the money through the shredder along with “Beckham’s reputation as a gay icon” if the former footballer did not cut ties with Qatar.
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has recently told CNN that the 2022 World Cup will “be an inclusive, safe tournament” and said “everyone is welcome, regardless of race, background, religion, gender, orientation or nationality.”
World football governing body FIFA referred CNN to the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for all comment relating to Lycett’s criticism of Beckham and Qatar.
Beckham, contacted by CNN through his representatives, declined to comment on the criticism around his ambassadorship.
CNN contacted the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for comment but has not received a response.
“Homosexuality is illegal, punishable by imprisonment and, if you’re Muslim, possibly even death,” said Lycett in an Instagram post.
A report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) published in October documented alleged cases of beatings and sexual harassment. According to victims interviewed by Human Rights Watch, security forces allegedly forced transgender women to attend conversion therapy sessions at a behavioral healthcare center sponsored by the government.
“Qatari authorities need to end impunity for violence against LGBT people. The world is watching,” said Rasha Younes of Human Rights Watch.
A Qatari official told CNN that the HRW allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false.”
World’s only openly gay active pro footballer is concerned for LGBTQ community ahead of Qatar 2022
04:39
– Source:
CNN
Lycett, however, is taking aim at Beckham.
“You’re the first Premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans,” Lycett said.
“Now, it’s 2022. And you signed a reported £10 million ($11.7 million) deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup.”
Under Qatari law, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison.
Lycett said that Beckham has “always talked about the power of football as a force for good” and encouraged him to use his platform to campaign for LGBTQ rights.
“If you do not, by midday next Sunday [November 20, 2022], I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website I’ve registered called benderslikebeckham.com.”
Lycett is not the first person or group to criticize Beckham for his ambassadorship. Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo, who came out as gay last year, told CNN Sport he would like to see Beckham using his platform to support the LGBTQ community instead of promoting the Qatari government.
“If someone like David Beckham with his platform does get around us and becomes an ally that we are wanting him to be, it is really helpful.
“If he could take that next step and show what he means to the LGBTQ community, that would be fantastic.”
HRW has also recently highlighted “arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment” of LGBTQ people in Qatar.
“There are just a few days until the World Cup kickoff, but that’s plenty of time for the Qatari government to end ill-treatment of LGBT people,” HRW said in a November press release.
“Qatari authorities should publicly condemn violence against LGBT people and formally recognize that having same-sex sexual attraction is not a mental health condition.”
:quality(85):upscale()/2023/10/05/686/n/1922564/d18c8d61651ed6351f1ca3.32059449_.png)
:quality(85):upscale()/2023/10/02/863/n/46712211/adfbd6b7651b1d6e054ce6.18387567_.jpg)
:quality(85):upscale()/2023/07/23/922/n/1922398/a3e40e8e64bd96e9504e75.84166478_.jpg)
