David Beckham: from pro footballer to jet-setting entrepreneur

WHEN David Beckham arrived in Singapore for a visit last week, such was the secrecy surrounding his itinerary that one would have to be really lucky just to catch a glimpse of the former England, Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar as he traversed the island.

The only certainty known to the public was an appearance at a closed-door event at Adidas’ new Brand Centre along Orchard Road. Unsurprisingly, a public plea by the organisers for fans without an invitation to not turn up fell on deaf ears as at least 250 people crowded the front of the store, craning their necks in the hope of seeing the dashing 47-year-old in the flesh, even if just for a split-second.

It’s been nearly a decade since Beckham retired from competitive football after a successful 20-year career with some of the world’s most recognisable teams, but it’s clear he still has tremendous star power wherever he goes.

Ever since he hung up his boots for good, the father-of-four has been busy building a global business empire. He frequently jets around the world to work with numerous international brands, with his name and image rights commanding a princely sum. In 2003, at arguably the peak of his football career, he inked a lifetime deal with Adidas that is reportedly worth US$160 million.

During his short stay in Singapore, he paid a surprise visit to The Cage at Kallang; attended a football clinic at The Arena sports park at Woodleigh where he also met Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong; snapped selfies at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark’s infinity pool; and had dinner at a 2-Michelin-star restaurant with close friend and former remisier king Peter Lim.

At the Adidas event, Beckham met some 200 fans - most of whom scored an invitation in an online contest - and talked about almost everything under the sun, including his most memorable goals for his clubs and country, his love for travel, and the mystery phone call he received the morning after getting red-carded at the 1998 World Cup in France. This is an edited excerpt of the lively 45-minute session:

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When you were younger, what sort of ambitions and dreams did you have?

I just believed in myself all the time. I was a very quiet kid off the pitch. I didn’t say much, I was short and skinny, and I was once told that I would never play for my country because I was too small and not strong enough. 

But having ambition is about believing in yourself. I have 4 children and I want to see them dream big and have ambitions. I actually wanted to have kids at a very young age because I wanted them to live through my career. I wanted them on the pitch with me when I was lifting trophies with my teams. On the day I played my final match for Real Madrid (in June 2007), my 3 boys were on the field with me, with the Spanish league trophy.

As a footballer, how do you stay focused and overcome obstacles?

When I look back, there were some obstacles that I don’t know how I got over them. I’m talking about 1998, when I got a red card when playing for England at the World Cup (in the defeat to Argentina, which eliminated the Three Lions from the competition).

The most important people to me at that time were (then-Manchester United manager) Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United fans. Without them, it would have been very difficult for me to get over that moment.

The only thing I knew I had to do was to work harder - not to prove myself to others, but to try and prove to myself that I could still play at the highest level and be a Manchester United player. 

Every single game of that next season was difficult, whether I was playing away from home or at Old Trafford. But I remember during one game when I walked over to the corner flag, everyone in the stands rose and applauded and cheered and sung my name. Those were the Manchester United fans who stood by me.

What do you remember from the day after getting that red card?

I was up early and we were about to fly back to England, and I wasn’t really looking forward to going back because we had just got knocked out of the World Cup. Obviously the way I came out of that game, I knew it was going to be difficult for me to go back home. 

I woke up to my phone ringing, and it was from an unknown number. I answered and it was the boss (Ferguson) and I said good morning to him. He asked me how I was feeling, and I think I got quite emotional on the phone. 

He said to me: “Son, go away for 3 weeks and rest. And when you come back, you’re going to get looked after here in Manchester.” And that was what got me through that particular season (in 1998/99), which ended up being the year we won the treble (of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League).

Were there any other difficult moments in your career?

There was never a point where I could step back. Because when you’re a professional footballer, whether you win or lose a game, you have to move on to the next game and you turn up for training the next day. It’s not as if you can just go to the beach for 2 weeks. There will always be ups and downs, whether it’s in sports or life in general.

I suppose the other difficult period was when I ruptured my Achilles (in 2010 while on loan at AC Milan). I remember asking the surgeon when I would play again, and he said: “If you play again, it will be in 11 months”. But I ended up being able to play in 6 months, because I was determined to return.

The last-minute free kick you scored in 2001 against Greece to help England qualify for the World Cup, and the winning goal - a penalty - against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup. Which do you think was more important in terms of redeeming yourself?

It has to be the goal against Greece. That was possibly the moment when most of the nation forgave me for what I did in 1998. It’s when England fans - whether they were supporters of West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool - finally said ok, enough is enough. It was a special moment to play in such an important match, at Old Trafford, and as the captain of England.

Would you say that was your favourite goal of all time, or the one you scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996?

Gosh, can I not pick both? One is for England, and one is for Manchester United. (laughs) 

Was it easy pivoting from being an athlete to a full-time businessman?

When I was young, all I cared about was football. I played professionally for 20 years. Most players around my era played until they were 34 or 35, but I continued until I was almost 38. I played in multiple countries with great teams.

I really started preparing for my life after football when I was around 30. I’ve been with Adidas for almost 26 years now, and many of my other long-term partnerships have lasted for over 10 to 15 years. 

Even today, I miss playing football every single day. I miss being with the other players and being with the fans, but I was ready to step into the business world. The day after I ended my career with Paris Saint-Germain (in May 2013), I was on a plane to Florida to announce the launch of (American professional football team) Inter Miami.

With borders now mostly reopen, you’ve been on quite a hectic travel schedule recently.

I enjoy travelling so much. I feel very blessed and lucky to be able to travel to many different places around the world. The thing is, as a footballer travelling for 25 years, you fly in, go to the hotel, play the match and then fly out. You don’t really get to see many parts of the country, meet the people or try the food. But in the last 9 years since I retired, I was able to travel to many countries and do all that. 

It can be a crazy schedule. I was in Venice the other day with my daughter eating gelato at 9 am, which I got into trouble with my wife Victoria. And then we did the Soccer Aid (charity event in London) and we raised so much money for Unicef. After that I came here to Singapore. Yes, the travel is tough at times and often I’m on a very complicated schedule, but we somehow make it work and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

If you could say something to yourself at 15 years old, what would it be?

It would be to enjoy the moment. When you’re that young, you don’t really think about the future so much. You are living in the present and enjoying yourself, and then all of a sudden it’s finished. One day I was lifting the Youth Cup for Manchester United (in 1992), and the next minute I was walking off the field in Paris and that was the end of my career. 

So what I would tell myself at 15 is, to enjoy the moment because it goes by quickly. And also, by the way, that you’re going to meet a Spice Girl and marry her. That would have been nice to know when I was 15.