· By joining the LA Galaxy, Beckham would become the highest paid footballer in the MLS, earning an estimated $6.5 million per year. The announcement that Beckham was moving to Los Angeles made top news across the globe. This event would be talked about and remembered for ever.
· Beckham gained two provisions from the transfer to LA Galaxy. One unique contract provision was giving him the option of buying an MLS expansion franchise at a fixed price whenever he stopped playing in the league - an allowance that the league's owners had never given to a player before. Another provision was the opt-out clause after the 2009 season, meaning that should he decide so, Beckham was free to leave the club after completing year three of his 5-year contract.
· In April 2007, he and wife Victoria bought an $18.2 million home on San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.
· Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy took effect on July 11th, and on July 13th, the famous Englishman was officially unveiled as a Galaxy player at the Home Depot Center to much fanfare and world media. There were more than 5,000 gathered fans and some 700 accredited media members at the Depot Center to welcome David to America. Beckham chose to wear number 23.
· In parallel, Beckham's handlers at 19 Entertainment succeeded in putting together an unprecedented US media rollout designed to expand his carefully crafted personal brand in America. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated, a few weeks earlier Adidas launched the extensive 13-part ad campaign "Fútbol meets Football" starring Beckham and NFL running back Reggie Bush. “W magazine” published a racy photo spread featuring David and wife Victoria. Meanwhile, ESPN sports network was running "Hello, Goodbye" promotional campaign and it also agreed to air David Beckham: New Beginnings documentary produced by 19 Entertainment before the friendly match versus Chelsea, which was expected to be Beckham's American debut.
· David Beckham became the Los Angeles Galaxy captain immediately upon joining the team.
· On Saturday afternoon, 21 July, despite still nursing the injured left ankle that he picked up a month earlier during the final match of La Liga's season, Beckham made his Galaxy debut, coming on for Alan Gordon in the 78th minute of a 0–1 friendly loss to Chelsea as part of the World Series of Soccer. The television cameras were firmly focused on Beckham who spent most of the match on the bench. The match's added time featured a scare for already injured Beckham when he got tackled by Steve Sidwell, whose cleats struck Beckham's right foot, sending him airborne before he crumpled hard to the ground. ESPN's presentation of Beckham's debut earned a 1.0 TV rating, meaning it was seen in an average of 947,000 television homes in the US, a disappointing figure given the national media buzz.
· As far as sporting events that were televised that weekend in the United States, Beckham's much publicized debut drew less TV viewers than British Open golf tournament, a regular season national baseball game, and even the Indy Racing League's Honda 200 motor race.
· Back on the soccer front, Beckham missed the next four Galaxy matches - three in the North American SuperLiga and an MLS game away at Toronto FC though he still made the trip with his teammates, sitting on the bench in street clothes.
· It was in Toronto on August 5th that the team got its first taste of what life would be like on the road with Beckham on the roster. Due to security concerns, it was the first time the team flew on a charter for a road match, rather than flying commercial.Also, instead of the usual MLS-mandated modest hotels, LA Galaxy stayed at the five-star Le Méridien King Edward in downtown Toronto.
· Two weeks after his 12-minute appearance vs. Chelsea, still not fully healed Beckham finally made his league debut as a substitute on August 9th away game versus DC United in front of the sellout crowd of 46,686 at the RFK Stadium. Coming into the nationally televised match on ESPN, played under a heavy downpour with his team down a man and down a goal, even if only 70% fit, Beckham left a mark during the remaining twenty plus minutes, although the Galaxy lost 1-0.
· Beckham returned to the pitch the following week, again facing DC United, in the SuperLiga semi-final on August 15th. During this game he had many firsts with the Galaxy; his first start, first yellow card and first game as team captain. He also scored his first goal for the team, from a free kick, and also made his first assist, for Landon Donovan in the second half. These goals gave the team a 2–0 victory and a place in the North American SuperLiga final versus Pachuca on August 29th.
· During the SuperLiga final against Pachuca, Beckham injured his right knee, with an MRI scan revealing that he had sprained his medial collateral ligament and would be out for six weeks.
· He returned to play in the final home match of the season. The Galaxy was eliminated from playoff contention on October 21st, in the final MLS match of the season, a 1–0 loss to the Chicago Fire. Beckham played as a substitute in the match, bringing his season totals to eight matches played; one goal scored; and three assists.
· Beckham trained with Arsenal from 4 January 2008 for three weeks, until he returned to the Galaxy for pre-season training.
· Beckham scored his first league goal with the Galaxy on April 3rd against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 9th minute. On May 24th, 2008, the Galaxy defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3–1, giving the Galaxy their first winning record in two years and moving the club into first place in the Western Conference. In the match, Beckham scored an empty-net goal from 70 yards out. The goal marked the second time in Beckham's career that he had scored from his own half, the other being a 1996 goal from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
· Beckham gained two provisions from the transfer to LA Galaxy. One unique contract provision was giving him the option of buying an MLS expansion franchise at a fixed price whenever he stopped playing in the league - an allowance that the league's owners had never given to a player before. Another provision was the opt-out clause after the 2009 season, meaning that should he decide so, Beckham was free to leave the club after completing year three of his 5-year contract.
· In April 2007, he and wife Victoria bought an $18.2 million home on San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.
· Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy took effect on July 11th, and on July 13th, the famous Englishman was officially unveiled as a Galaxy player at the Home Depot Center to much fanfare and world media. There were more than 5,000 gathered fans and some 700 accredited media members at the Depot Center to welcome David to America. Beckham chose to wear number 23.
· In parallel, Beckham's handlers at 19 Entertainment succeeded in putting together an unprecedented US media rollout designed to expand his carefully crafted personal brand in America. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated, a few weeks earlier Adidas launched the extensive 13-part ad campaign "Fútbol meets Football" starring Beckham and NFL running back Reggie Bush. “W magazine” published a racy photo spread featuring David and wife Victoria. Meanwhile, ESPN sports network was running "Hello, Goodbye" promotional campaign and it also agreed to air David Beckham: New Beginnings documentary produced by 19 Entertainment before the friendly match versus Chelsea, which was expected to be Beckham's American debut.
· David Beckham became the Los Angeles Galaxy captain immediately upon joining the team.
· On Saturday afternoon, 21 July, despite still nursing the injured left ankle that he picked up a month earlier during the final match of La Liga's season, Beckham made his Galaxy debut, coming on for Alan Gordon in the 78th minute of a 0–1 friendly loss to Chelsea as part of the World Series of Soccer. The television cameras were firmly focused on Beckham who spent most of the match on the bench. The match's added time featured a scare for already injured Beckham when he got tackled by Steve Sidwell, whose cleats struck Beckham's right foot, sending him airborne before he crumpled hard to the ground. ESPN's presentation of Beckham's debut earned a 1.0 TV rating, meaning it was seen in an average of 947,000 television homes in the US, a disappointing figure given the national media buzz.
· As far as sporting events that were televised that weekend in the United States, Beckham's much publicized debut drew less TV viewers than British Open golf tournament, a regular season national baseball game, and even the Indy Racing League's Honda 200 motor race.
· Back on the soccer front, Beckham missed the next four Galaxy matches - three in the North American SuperLiga and an MLS game away at Toronto FC though he still made the trip with his teammates, sitting on the bench in street clothes.
· It was in Toronto on August 5th that the team got its first taste of what life would be like on the road with Beckham on the roster. Due to security concerns, it was the first time the team flew on a charter for a road match, rather than flying commercial.Also, instead of the usual MLS-mandated modest hotels, LA Galaxy stayed at the five-star Le Méridien King Edward in downtown Toronto.
· Two weeks after his 12-minute appearance vs. Chelsea, still not fully healed Beckham finally made his league debut as a substitute on August 9th away game versus DC United in front of the sellout crowd of 46,686 at the RFK Stadium. Coming into the nationally televised match on ESPN, played under a heavy downpour with his team down a man and down a goal, even if only 70% fit, Beckham left a mark during the remaining twenty plus minutes, although the Galaxy lost 1-0.
· Beckham returned to the pitch the following week, again facing DC United, in the SuperLiga semi-final on August 15th. During this game he had many firsts with the Galaxy; his first start, first yellow card and first game as team captain. He also scored his first goal for the team, from a free kick, and also made his first assist, for Landon Donovan in the second half. These goals gave the team a 2–0 victory and a place in the North American SuperLiga final versus Pachuca on August 29th.
· During the SuperLiga final against Pachuca, Beckham injured his right knee, with an MRI scan revealing that he had sprained his medial collateral ligament and would be out for six weeks.
· He returned to play in the final home match of the season. The Galaxy was eliminated from playoff contention on October 21st, in the final MLS match of the season, a 1–0 loss to the Chicago Fire. Beckham played as a substitute in the match, bringing his season totals to eight matches played; one goal scored; and three assists.
· Beckham trained with Arsenal from 4 January 2008 for three weeks, until he returned to the Galaxy for pre-season training.
· Beckham scored his first league goal with the Galaxy on April 3rd against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 9th minute. On May 24th, 2008, the Galaxy defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3–1, giving the Galaxy their first winning record in two years and moving the club into first place in the Western Conference. In the match, Beckham scored an empty-net goal from 70 yards out. The goal marked the second time in Beckham's career that he had scored from his own half, the other being a 1996 goal from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
