Beckham unveiled as Galaxy player
Friday, 13 Jul 2007 22:20
The moment finally arrives for LA Galaxy
David Beckham has been presented as LA Galaxy's newest player as he begins his life in the United States spotlight.
The 32-year-old former England captain was formally introduced to American fans in a press conference organised by LA Galaxy this afternoon.
Thousands of supporters packed into the Home Depot Center stadium to see Beckham hold up his new shirt.
"This is one of the biggest challenges that I've taken on in my career. I think potentially in the States soccer could be as big as it is everywhere else around the world and I'm very proud," he said.
"For me the most important thing is my family. The second thing is the foot - the soccer. I'll get used to that at some point, I'm sorry," he added.
Head coach Frank Yallop said he felt Beckham's arrival was "the last piece of the puzzle to get our season moving in the right direction".
"I'm very excited and the team cannot wait to get him here on the field with his boots on," he said.
LA Galaxy are current second from bottom in Major League Soccer.
Beckham, whose move from Real Madrid was arranged in the January transfer window, is expected to play his debut match for the US club on July 21st in an exhibition match against
Chelsea.
Screaming fans and a horde of TV crews and photographers greeted the Beckhams as they arrived in Los Angeles last night with their three sons.
Barricades erected at LA's airport added to the red carpet-style feel of their arrival, indicating that the Beckhams may yet prove to be as famous in the US as they are elsewhere.
Victoria has already been busy trying to make a name for herself in America, with a reality TV documentary about her move there due to be aired on NBC on Monday.
However the Spice Girl, who is reuniting with other members of the 1990s girl band for a reunion tour which kicks off in LA in December, has insisted she is not planning to launch an acting career in Hollywood.
Despite being friends with high-profile couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Posh Spice also insists that most people in the US don't know who she and her footballer husband are.
Speaking in an interview for America's Today Show she said: "It might be a bit crazy when we first get here, because we're new, but then I think people will probably realise, you know what, I'm actually quite boring."