Leaving Real Madrid, still somewhere in the prime of a career and having just lifted the trophy to celebrate winning La Liga, is not something many players actually opt for. David Beckham did exactly that—though the circumstances had already dictated his need to depart, having not been in the side earlier in the 2006/07 season before winning his way back into the XI under Fabio Capello.
Beckham’s destination was not back to the Premier League, nor on to the other major European leagues he would grace fleetingly in the future, but to MLS: LA Galaxy, as a star name in an unstylish league, still trying to find its feet, its focus and its share of fans.
Englishmen abroad in America are nothing new, but Beckham was something else—an absolute megastar, in world football terms but also in popular culture. His wife, his looks, his brand, his money, his on-pitch stardom—everything about him was, seemingly, made for success in the States. Looking back on his time with LA and what has gone on in Major League Soccer since his departure, in 2012, it’s undeniable that Beckham’s impact on the sport Stateside was huge, and his influence long-lasting.
For starters, his signature alone required a rule change.
MLS clubs are bound by a salary cap, but the Designated Player rule allowed a signing with wages unrestricted by such laws. It came into being for Beckham’s arrival in 2007, and since then more than 100 players have been signed to clubs—who are now allowed three DPs—under that allowance. Without it, the current MLS crop of stars such as David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco and Kaka would have been unable to head Stateside, while those domestic players who have achieved higher standing elsewhere in world football—Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore et al—may also not have returned ‘home’ without being able to sign DP contracts.
Big players and big money aside, Beckham’s influence extended to the stands and to people's homes: the fans, the very fabric of the game. He was a celebrity in a nation which places status on the word like no other, and he was worth listening to, worth watching.
His former manager at the Galaxy, Bruce Arena—now in charge of the USMNT—paid enormous tribute to his No. 7 when he departed, even without touching on his on-pitch attributes.
“We in the United States, in MLS and specifically the LA Galaxy were honored to have David here for seven years. He really has meant a lot to the professional game in the US ...in our market, he brought a lot of attention to our club, but as we traveled across the United States and the world, there was always sold out stadiums.
“We all know that he’s a global icon and a real terrific ambassador for the game. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.”
Alexi Lalas, one of the first big stars of US football and now an analyst, suggested Beckham gave “worldwide credibility” to MLS. Even the bad points of Beckham’s time left turning points:the Guardian reported on a confrontation between the midfielder and a fan, angry at Beckham extending a loan at AC Milan rather than returning to Galaxy, being a “moment when fan culture took a step forward,” as fans began to unite, in groups and factions, many of which are seen in the game Stateside now.
A “fanatical fan base,” and “higher visibility” are some of the measured conclusions drawn by Reuters in assessing Beckham’s brand impact on MLS post-departure, with the number of team franchises, attendances and all-round league growth all surging upward since 2007.
Beckham did, it must be remembered, also enjoy sporting success with Galaxy himself; they won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012, and the Supporters’ Shield in 2010 and 11. He left Galaxy as he had left Manchester United and Real Madrid: a champion, a winner, an icon. Don Garber, the MLS Commissioner, is not universally loved by football fans around the US, but his words on Beckham are simple, to the point and above all else, reflective of just why the Beckham effect lingers on in MLS. “Without him,” Garber told the LA Times, “the league wouldn’t be where it is today.”
That was while Beckham still plied his trade Stateside, and the consistent upsurge in interest and success, productivity and appeal since the English midfielder departed the scene, only serves to further prove that his impact was not just a positive one for the league, but a pivotal one.
