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David Beckham going places

The star insists he is focussed on soccer, not Hollywood

MARINA DEL REY: David Beckham's focus will be on the Los Angeles pitch, not the Hollywood glitz.

Forgetting for the moment that Beckham's wife, Victoria, is a former Spice Girl, that they rank Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes among their best friends, and that one of Los Angeles' premier talent agencies negotiated his new contract with Major League Soccer's Galaxy, Beckham is trying to concentrate on soccer.

"I'm coming there not to be a superstar," the 31-year-old said via satellite from Madrid. "I'm coming there to be part of the team, to work hard and to hopefully win things. With me, it's about football. I'm coming there to make a difference. I'm coming there to play football."

Dressed in a black suit with white shirt and black tie, Beckham said he hopes to work with American youngsters and keep them interested in soccer when they are finished with youth leagues.

He is joining a so-so team in Major League Soccer, considered sort of bush league by fans in the more fervent soccer countries around the world.

"I'm not saying me coming over to the States is going to make soccer the biggest sport in America. That would be difficult to achieve," Beckham said. "Baseball, basketball, American football, they've been around.

But I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could make a difference."

A difference

Tim Leiweke of AEG, the sports and entertainment company that runs the Galaxy, believes Beckham can make a huge difference. "Certainly, he will bring an audience, a fan base and an intensity to our sport that we've never had."

The AEG president said Beckham is far from done. "David is still a very good player. Peyton Manning in football, the other football, Allen Iverson in basketball and Tiger Woods in golf are all the same age as Beckham."

Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, who was one of America's best-known players, said the decision to sign Beckham "was based on soccer."

"At the end of the day, this team needs to win on the field," he said.

Mr. Lalas said he did not think Beckham should be blamed for the lack of success by either Real Madrid or England's national team. "It's an easy way out to blame David," he said.

"And to be fair, he has a target on him. And that's OK, that's the pressure he plays under. But the mediocrity of different teams at different times and the blame that's put on him, I think that's unfair. He's 31 years old and I think he has some of his best soccer ahead of him... What could be a fresher start for him than to come to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy?"

Beckham plans to fulfil his ongoing contract with Real Madrid before heading for the U.S. He is not expected to join the Galaxy, whose MLS season begins in April, until August.

His five-year deal with the team, one of three MLS franchises owned by AEG, is believed to be for around $10 million a year.

His representatives have said outside endorsements could run his income to $250 million. — AP

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