Sunday mornings at the Beckham household are getting a lot more musical, thanks to Cruz Beckham.
Proud parents David and Victoria haven't been shy about showing off their 11-year-old son's musical talents with cute 'grams and videos, and the former premiere league footballer's latest post about his youngest son is too cute.
The 41-year-old took to Instagram on Sunday to share a shot of the family's gorgeous backyard, complete with big trees, lights, and a small tent. The talented musician can be seen playing a guitar while one of his brothers sits next to him listening.
"My favorite part of this Sunday was listening to my little man playing something to his older brother and sister at 7am whilst waiting for daddy's boiled eggs and soldiers," Beckham captioned the sweet brother moment.
It is a brutal, but brave decision. Out go the ball players in the centre of midfield. In come the worker bees.
THEY were supposed to be the future of English football.
Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley were our Xavi, our Andres Iniesta.
Jack Wilshere has missed out on the squad after controversial Euro 2016 call
Ross Barkley has also been dropped by Sam Allardyce
That is what we were told when they made the breakthrough, and we were more than happy to believe it.
Big Sam has blown that idea to bits. As statements go, this is not quite in the same league as Steve McClaren dropping David Beckham from his first England squad in 2006.
Still, England’s new head coach has defined his tenure because Wilshere and Barkley will watch England’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on Sunday from the sofa like the rest of the country.
One is not starting for his club. The other is not playing well enough to be picked for England.
It is a brutal, but brave decision.
New England boss Sam Allardyce has shown he not afraid to make a big call
Out go the ball players in the centre of midfield. In come the worker bees.
It is only a matter of time before an ex-England player says that they lack identity.
What a quandary for the FA, watching this drive-by from St George’s Park last night after Allardyce kicked the pair out of the England squad. The flak will be flying for a while because they are two of the most skilful, yet inconsistent, players in English football.
David Beckham shows off his tattoo sleeves while he picks up some groceries at Erewhon Natural Foods on Friday (July 15) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The 41-year-old retired soccer star has been coaching celeb chef Gordon Ramsay in how to quickly recover from an Achilles tendon injury, which the chef endured after he took a fall while running in his garden last month with his son.
“David has vowed to help him get back playing football before the end of the year,” a source told the New York Daily News. “They have made a vow to be running together when they spend Christmas together.”
David is a pro in Achilles recovery advice, as he suffered the same injury himself in 2010 and helped Kobe Bryant through the healing process a few years later.
15+ pictures inside of David Beckham at the grocery store…
Ramsey v Rooney, Bale striking fear into the England back four, but will Harry Kane rediscover his scoring boots... we assess key tactical talking points ahead in Lens
Wales and England have football history that dates right back to the 1800s and there have been some titanic tussles down the years in the World Cup, European Championships and Home Internationals.
But never before in the history of the fixture has there been a clash quite as important as the one in Lens on Thursday afternoon.
Can Chris Coleman's Euro 2016 aces follow up their victory over Slovakia by defeating the old enemy as well?
Here we take a look at the key areas that will determine whether Welsh fans will be in dreamland again, or whether England will put a sudden spoke in the Euro bandwagon and leave us nervously awaiting the outcome of the Group B finale with Russia.
THE HODGSON FACTOR
Roy Hodgson looks a worried man as England only draw with Russia
Roy Hodgson, it is fair to say, isn't flavour of the month with an awful lot of the England fans and pundits.
He somehow kept his job despite England's worst World Cup in history and predictably put his conservative hat back on for the opening Euro match with Russia by dropping Jamie Vardy, despite the public clamour for inclusion of the Leicester Premier League title winner.
Hodgson also opted not to go with Everton's highly-rated, ball-playing and pacy young centre-back John Stones, preferring the physicality of Gary Cahill instead.
After the disappointing 1-1 draw with Russia, Hodgson was adamant his team had played well and that probably means he will go with the same X1 against Wales.
And that has to play into the tactical hands of Chris Coleman and his team.
Wales won't want want a genuine goal poacher like Vardy using his pace and general nuisance value against them. And Gareth Bale would much rather run at the more ponderous Cahill, than someone like Stones who pundits have been likening to Rio Ferdinand.
THE WELSH MIDFIELD VERSUS ROONEY?
Rooney looked great on the ball for England, but Wales will deny him similar time and space
The Wayne Rooney dilemma continues. England's captain and record goalscorer went into the tournament with demands for him not to be picked, but there was not the remotest chance Hodgson would make such a big call as that.
England managers just don't do that sort of thing. Remember Sven with the Gerrard-Lampard combination that patently didn't work?
Hodgson did accommodate the critics a little by moving Rooney away from his customary position and deploying him in a deeper midfield role against Russia.
The Manchester United man received lots of plaudits for the way in which he pulled the strings, prompted and probed, got England ticking.
But while Rooney looked superb on the ball at times, this was a very ordinary Russian midfield he was up against.
The Welsh midfield of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and one of Joe Ledley or David Edwards have greater legs. They will look to hunt down Rooney when he is in possession, affording him no time to spray his passes, and zip their own passes around him when Wales have the ball.
There will be far more athleticism and speed to the Welsh midfield, particularly in what will be a typical derby showdown.
In other words, not only will Rooney have less time on the ball, he'll also be forced to do a lot more chasing, too.
GARETH THE GREAT
Bale heads down the touchline to celebrate his goal
You can guarantee that when Hodgson and his No2 Gary Neville start planning in earnest today for the Wales match, the name of one man will dominate their thought process.
How do they stop Gareth Bale?
Better defenders than England's have tried and failed and if Wales can get the ball to Bale's feet so he can run at Hodgson's back four, there has to be real hope for Coleman's Dragons.
Give away any free kick and as we have seen time and time again, Bale can be lethal.
Even though Wales beat Slovakia and Bale more than played his part, not least with his goal, we've actually seen him have much better matches for his country.
He will be fired up as never before, desperate to produce his finest in this match in particular, so just watch him go.
Eric Dier will have to shield the suspect English defence from Bale's barnstorming runs, but while the Spurs youngster has been earning rave reviews himself, this is another ball game entirely.
WATCH OUT FOR ENGLAND'S WIDE MEN... AND HARRY KANE
Chris Gunter was regularly one of Wales' most advanced players against Slovakia, while Neil Taylor is also encouraged to bomb on. The Swansea man was even inside the penalty box when Hal Robson-Kanu hit his perfectly scuffed winner.
But if England pick Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana wide again and play a high game themselves, the overlapping of Gunter and Taylor could leave Wales exposed at the back.
Wales certainly can't afford to give those two oceans of space, because if Sterling and Lallana provide a quicker delivery to Harry Kane, it could prove costly.
Gunter and Taylor each have terrific engines and can get up and down the flank speedily enough, but this time they may need to adopt a more cautious approach and defend deeper.
That suits Wales anyhow, because then it will be a case of hitting England via Bale on the break.
As for Kane, well he hasn't suddenly become a bad striker just because he was rarely a threat against Russia. He will be relishing the opportunity to right the wrongs against Wales and needs to be watched like a hawk.
Kane and Vardy together could be an incredibly potent goal-getting duo for England, provided Hodgson uses them correctly... not stuck out on the wings as was the case in the final warm-up friendly versus Portugal.
But that would mean dropping Rooney. That isn't going to happen.
What will be the result of Wales versus England in our next Euro 2016 match?
WILL KANE KEEP TAKING THE CORNERS?
Harry Kane prepares to take a corner against Russia. Baffling
England must be the only team in world football, whether at club or international level, who instruct their centre-forward and main goal-getter to stay out of the box for corner-kicks.
Instead of poaching in and around the six-yard area, as he should have done, Kane was perversely stuck out on the wing taking the set-pieces himself.
It's not as if England are short of players capable of delivering a wicked cross. Wayne Rooney and Adam Lallana may not be David Beckham, but they each have an excellent technique.
Yet there was Kane, crossing the ball when he should have been trying to get on the end of those very crosses.
Wales aren't brilliant at defending set-pieces, but at least Kane not being inside the box will play in their hands.
Alan Shearer made his views perfectly well known.
COLEMAN'S WELSH CHANGES
While England are likely to stick with the same X1, Coleman may well make as many as three changes to his team in Lens.
They say never alter a winning side, but Wayne Hennessey will definitely return in goal ahead of Danny Ward if he is fit. Joe Ledley may start in place of David Edwards, while Hal Robson-Kanu may also come into the mix for Jonny Williams.
The Crystal Palace youngster was a revelation against Slovakia, tormenting with his creativity and running, while also winning the free kick from which Bale scored.
But he could get submerged by the power and physique of men like Dier and Dele Alli.
Wales will probably play Ramsey in a deeper role, let Bale float free and push Robson-Kanu up top as lone striker.
His task would be to run the legs off Cahill and Smalling, create the space for Bale to rampage into and drop his grenades.
It is a role Robson-Kanu regularly performed during qualifying.
USE OF THE BENCH
Hal Robson-Kanu celebrates after his winning goal (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Conversely, Coleman may decide that Robson-Kanu can be Wales' super-sub during this tournament, someone to come on in the final quarter to run at tiring defenders.
There is no doubt Coleman directly influenced the outcome of the Slovakia match by sending on Robson-Kanu and Ledley, who were each involved in the winning goal.
By contrast, Hodgson is receiving criticism for taking off Rooney as England lost their way somewhat in the second half.
There is absolutely no doubt England have a superior squad of players to Wales, but how the two managers use their substitutes could prove decisive once more.
Hodgson has some frightening talent at his disposal, but Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford each remained unused as England stuttered in the second half against Russia.
BALE'S AERIAL POWER
As if Bale wasn't good enough already, in recent times he seems to have taken his game to another level again with phenomenal heading ability.
He set up Real Madrid's Uefa Champions League goal with a flick on, scored a wonder header during qualifying against Cyprus and almost grabbed another against Slovakia, producing incredible power from a standing start before the effort was beaten out by the goalkeeper.
England conceded from a header against Russia when Vasili Berezutski climbed above Danny Rose to loop an effort beyond Joe Hart.
England's full backs, Rose and Kyle Walker, are quick and adventurous, but that makes them susceptible defensively, particularly to back post headers.
Bale will relish getting in above each of them if such opportunities arise in Lens.
CAN CHESTER AND DAVIES PLAY AS WELL AGAIN?
James Chester and Ben Davies each had their finest matches in a Wales shirt against Slovakia, impressing consistently with their defensive excellence.
For a change, they each outshone Ashley Williams, who was strangely struggled at times.
But can those two perform to those levels once more against England?
Chester punches above his weight for Wales, having been an outcast at times for West Brom this season, or played out of position at right-back. Yet he has usurped James Collins as Williams' first-choice defensive partner and justified that selection versus Slovakia.
Davies, remember, is a left-back by trade, yet he slipped seamlessly back into the centre in Wales' three at the back system and was utterly majestic.
They'll each need to be right on top of their game again because Kane is a lethal goal-getter. And if Hodgson has the courage to pick Vardy, too, then Wales' defence will be stretched an awful lot more than was the case against Slovakia.
CONTRASTING MOODS IN THE TWO CAMPS
Momentum is so important in sport and it's fair to say Wales and England head to Lens in contrasting moods.
Wales are absolutely upbeat, buzzing, confident, a proper TEAM. That last minute Russia goal, by contrast, left England feeling dejected and analysing what went wrong.
There are obviously different expectation levels upon the two teams for these Euros, but suddenly Wales has become something of a must-win match for Hodgson.
Coleman can afford to hedge his bets, because Wales will be more than happy with a draw.
As for a Bale-inspired win, that would send a Welsh nation into even greater dreamland.
David Beckham will speak at JW3 community centre next month.
The former England captain is to be interviewed by BBC Radio 4 presenter Kirsty Young on June 14 about his football career and ‘7: The David Beckham Unicef Fund,’ a charity which helps children around the globe.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League while becoming a British icon, created the fund last year after 10 years as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.
Tickets are only available to JW3 members, and will be free through a ballot which opens at 12pm on May 6 and closes a month later, at 12pm on June 6.
The Alan Howard Foundation, which is sponsoring the JW3 Speaker Series, has underwritten the costs of the event.
Of all the sports, football manages to elevate its star players to a greater level of stardom than perhaps any other.
The game’s international nature pits regional neighbors against one another with gold and glory on the line, while club play creates the same level of passion within cities and neighborhoods. Those special players who possess both the physical skill and psychological strength needed to excel on football’s greatest stages are lionized both at home and abroad, becoming legends.
During their time on the pitch, football stars are the center of attention, sending packed stadiums into a frenzy with a flick of their talented foot, but eventually every professional career must come to an end. These days, retirement announcements are made on social media more often than not. For many athletes, football players and otherwise, transitioning from a fast-paced and action-packed lifestyle to early retirement can be a jarring adjustment. Most football players retire in their late 30s or even earlier, which leaves them with plenty of time to ponder their next step in life.
While many players settle into the same routines they’ve always enjoyed, remaining involved in the sport as coaches or owners, other stars pursue entirely different paths. Some begin investing their exorbitant salaries into entrepreneurial opportunities, while others devote themselves to their families or explore new outlets for their competitive nature.
We’ve chosen five football legends that have embraced alternative avenues following their retirement, embarking on their new journeys with the same drive they once displayed for club and country.
David Beckham
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, no football star on the face of the planet shined as brightly as David Beckham. Hailing from the Leytonstone area of London, England, the natural born striker led elite English club Manchester United to the pinnacle of professional football.
Blessed with an uncanny ability to bend the ball to his will, Beckham starred for Manchester United as the juggernaut won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one European Cup and one Intercontinental Cup during his tenure. Beckham went on to play for Real Madrid, the L.A. Galaxy, Milan, and Paris Saint-German throughout the rest of his storied career. In all, Beckham scored 97 goals in club play while adding 17 goals to England’s national team score.
With a blend of remarkable athletic talent, good looks, and an evident eye for style, Beckham crossed over to become a certified celebrity. His wedding to former Spice Girl and fashionista Victoria Adams in 1999 was practically a royal event, and in 2002 a feature film titled Bend It Like Beckham used his stardom as the young protagonist’s inspiration to succeed.
After a stellar 20-year career on the pitch, Beckham announced his retirement in 2013, but he has stayed busy ever since. Both he and Victoria lend their names to a variety of fashion labels, advertising campaigns and other marketing endeavors. David launched his own fashion brand in 2011, designing day and evening suits, which was followed by a fragrance line in 2013, includingClassic and Beyond.
Once a feared striker, Beckham is known today for his sharp sartorial sense, and alongside fashion design he is also a successful model. He has appeared in advertisements for clothiers like Giorgio Armani and H&M. In an interview, Beckham described his fascination with the fashion industry:
“I think it’s important to always look after yourself whatever your age. For me it feels instinctive and I don’t wear something because of what anyone would think. It has to feel right for the person and if people are complimentary, then it’s a bonus.
I’ve always had a liking toward clothes, but when I met Victoria, she directed me in the right way. When she tells me something doesn’t look good, I believe her. We have a connection that way.”
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lim
For Brazilian-born football players, the World Cup trophy is nothing short of the Holy Grail. After winning the title three times out of four between 1958 and 1970, Brazil then suffered a drought which lasted until 1994.
That year, a 17-year old striker nicknamed Ronaldinho (to distinguish him from the elder Ronaldo who starred for Brazil at the time) watched his teammates win the most coveted cup in all of football. Four years later, the younger Ronaldo had blossomed to become widely regarded as the best player in the world, and he led Brazil back to the World Cup final. Although that team was defeated by France, Ronaldo won the “Golden Ball” as the tournament’s top player.
In 2002, Ronaldo recovered from a devastating knee injury suffered two years earlier to lead Brazil to their third straight World Cup final appearance. He scored twice in the finals, tying with legendary Pele for World Cup goals by a Brazilian player, and securing the fifth title for his homeland.
Ronaldo retired in 2011 after 18 years as a dominant striker, having scored 320 goals in 456 professional fixtures. He also won the coveted Ballon d’Or – which is awarded to FIFA’s best all-around player –in both 1997 and 2002.
Since his retirement, Ronaldo has been pursuing poker as a hobby and an outlet for his competitive spirit. In addition to becoming a spokesperson for online poker platform PokerStars in 2013, Ronaldo is frequently spotted playing in poker tournaments all over the world. As a member of the brand’s Team SportStars, he even enjoyed a deep run in $10,300 buy-in Main Event held in the Caribbean in 2015, outlasting a field of 826 opponents to finish in 26th place. Now imagine sitting down in a tournament to find the legendary striker playing opposite you!
Eric Cantona
French footballer Eric Cantona has always been a bit of a theatrical figure, even during his playing days.
Between 1983 and 1997, Cantona played for a series of French and English clubs, including Marseille and Manchester United, where he wore the number 7 shirt donned by several of the team’s legends over the years. Known as “King Eric” to Manchester United supporters, Cantona made a name for himself by playing with his collar “popped” well before it was a trend, turning the white collar of his kit up and standing out from the crowd.
Due to the passion he displayed on the pitch, and the 64 goals he scored in 143 fixtures, readers of team magazine Inside United voted Cantona as the greatest player in team history in 2001. The crowds of 67,000 supporters at Old Trafford still sing Cantona’s name during home games.
After retiring from the game in 1997, Cantona embarked on a new career as an actor. Over the years, he has appeared in films such as Elizabeth (1998), French Film (2008), and Looking for Eric (2009). Cantona made his debut as a stage actor in Face au Paradis, a French play, in 2010.
Currently, Cantona has 29 acting credits to his name, along with three producer credits and two more as a director. In 2014, he directed the television documentary “Foot et Immigration, 100 Ans D’histoire Commune,” which translates to “Football and Immigration, 100 Years of Shared History.”
Pelé
Perhaps the greatest player to ever step foot on the pitch, Brazilian Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the one we got to know as Pelé needs no introduction.
In 1958, then the youngest player to ever compete in the World Cup, Pelé notched a hat trick in the quarterfinals before scoring two more in the final to give Brazil its first World Cup title. Four years later, Pelé assisted and scored to open the tournament’s first match, and although he was forced to bow out due to injury, Brazil went on to secure its second consecutive title. Brutal fouling by European teams intent on stopping Pelé marred the 1966 World Cup, but in 1970 he closed out his career by winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, powering Brazil to its third title in four tries.
During his 14 years as the star of Brazil’s historically dominant national squad, Pelé scored an astounding 77 goals in just 91 fixtures.
When Pelé retired in 1977, he was universally lauded as the greatest player in the game’s storied history. Using his tremendous influence as a global superstar, Pelé became active in humanitarian causes both in Brazil and abroad. In 1994 he was named as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).
In 1995, Pelé became the Extraordinary Minister for Sport, acting at the request of Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Pelé spoke out in defence of athlete’s rights, leading to the passage of “Pelé’s Law” in Brazil, which sought to promote financial transparency between leagues, teams, and players.
Pelé was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. Reuters and the International Olympic Committee selected Pelé as the Athlete of the Century in 1999, and in 2006 he helped to inaugurate the World Cup Finals. In 2012, he received an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh, which celebrated Pelé’s “significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements.” A legendary retirement for a legendary sportsman.
All these football stars saw retirement as a new start to their careers and chose to focus on their passions and interests, which is possibly why they have been as successful in retirement as in their days on the pitch. We can’t help but wonder about those players that are still active – what will they choose to do with their retirement?
David Beckham is hot, hot, hot, in this revealing shoot for his new fragrance Beyond! The star stripped down for the new scent — and we’re not complaining!
David Beckham, 40, is revealing his latest scent Beyond and it is Beyond sexy. With notes that capture David’s tenacity, energy and strength, this new fragrance perfectly embodies his essence and his motto: “No matter how small you start, always dream big.”
Shop David's Scents
Buy David's Other Scent
David’s new scent is masculine and bold. It’s for a determined and driven man. Like David, the man who wears this fragrance will be one of a kind.
David is a soccer star, model, fashion icon, father, husband and now perfumer — he can do it all.
David spoke about the new fragrance in a press release: “Incredible things happen when you dream big. That’s what I have always believed in. My relationship with Coty started over 10 years and they believe big like I do. David Beckham Beyond is the next stage in our successful partnership and I look forward to people trying the new contemporary scent.”
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There is no need to find a model for this scent — David can do it himself!
David Beckham Shirtless For Beyond — New Fragrance & Pics Are Sexy
The design is trendy and modern, elegant and refined. It’s sophisticated and will look amazing on your husband or boyfriend’s nightstand!
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Here are the exact notes from the brand:
“Beyond is a fougère herbaceous fragrance:
Top Notes: Mojito Accord, Grapefruit, Cardamom Heart Notes: Geranium, Cedarwood, Black Pepper Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Leather”
