MLS Soccer News: America Keeps David Beckham - LA Galaxy's Romance Continues

LA Galaxy's David Beckham Video

Superstar soccer player is also a family man who loves LA.  Frequently a soccer dad on the sidelines, Beckham opts to keep his family's life the same and earn more trophies for the LA Galaxy. Bruce Arena thrilled and so are soccer fans.  One of the best benefits of David Beckham playing on American soil?  The exponential growth of soccer in America.

The LA Galaxy re-signed midfielder David Beckham to a two-year contract, extending his stay with the MLS Cup Champions. Beckham, who had the best season of his five-year MLS career in 2011, helped lead the Galaxy to their first MLS Cup title since 2005.

Since joining the club as the first Designated Player in MLS History, the Galaxy have reached MLS Cup twice and won the Supporters’ Shield twice while also seeing the club reach new heights in terms of international recognition and popularity.

"I've seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I'm as committed as ever to growing the game here," he added. "My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here."  Beckham has four children including a son playing in the Galaxy academy and a new baby girl.  

According to the LA Galaxy website, "In five years with the Galaxy, Beckham was twice named to the MLS All-Star Team and finished the 2011 season with a career-best 15 assists, earning him a spot on the MLS Best XI. Beckham’s individual success helped translate to team success last season as the club repeated as Supporters’ Shield winners, finishing the season with a 19-5-10 record for 67 points, which were the second most in League history. That form continued into the postseason where the Galaxy won all four of their postseason games, culminating with a 1-0 win over Houston at The Home Depot Center in MLS Cup 2011. Beckham had an assist in that game, just as he did in each of the club’s first three playoffs games, giving him a league-best four postseason assists on the year."

David Beckham, on the player bench at the recent Legends Cup youth soccer tournament

Bruce Arena, Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach for the LA Galaxy was quoted as saying “I am thrilled that David has chosen to re-join the Galaxy, especially as he had numerous options where he could continue his career. I felt that he was one of the best players in all of MLS last season and we could not have achieved the success that we did without him. We look forward to trying to replicate that success this season with David once again in a Galaxy uniform.”

Nothing would help the growth of soccer as much as another thrilling MLS Season where fans are treated to exciting games and soccer action.  As the momentum built last season, the LA Galaxy gained traction as the team not to miss with sell out crowds and excited fans.  America needs Beckham to stay and help light the fire in our hearts for the great game of soccer.  

As the Galaxy says, "In the past five years, the Galaxy emerged as a truly international club with worldwide recognition through tours that have drawn record crowds and major sponsors in such countries as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Korea. Locally, the Galaxy have hosted sellout crowds against international powers such as AC Milan, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid, playing in front of more than 330,000 fans at The Home Depot Center, L.A. Coliseum and Rose Bowl in those matches." 

While often the media reports that soccer's popularity is growing in America, finally the statistics are supporting this often wished for trend.  

The MLS has grown substantially since Beckham has been playing in the league. Originally at 12 teams when Beckham joined, the MLS now proudly has 19 teams with the newest expansion being from Canada with the Montreal Impact. Even the expansion fees have increased from $10 million to $40 million.  The LA Galaxy reported that the MLS has raised $170 million in expansion fees since the start of the 2007 MLS season and the average attendance has grown to 17,872 for 2011. Now, the MLS has reached a new global milestone, it is the 10^th top attended soccer league in the world.  

MLS commissioner Don Garber, who was appointed on August 4, 1999, is determined to grow the MLS into one of the top soccer leagues in the world, increasing the level of soccer to eventually allow American soccer to rank with the great leagues such as the EPL. 

Is this all Beckham? Of course not, but his impact on the field is huge, raising up the level of soccer played and delighting fans with his poise and passion for the world's most loved game. The MLS Superdraft and Supplemental drafts are now over for 2012 and the newcomers to the MLS need vetrans like Beckham on the field, to inspire them and to help them learn the game. 

In 74 career regular season games in a Galaxy uniform, Beckham has 31 assists to go along with 11 goals with the club going 15-2-4 in the past three seasons when he scored a goal or recorded an assist. Additionally, the 36-year-old has helped lead the Galaxy to the postseason in each of the last three seasons, tallying seven assists in 11 postseason games. 

“There has been much speculation in the past four months on where David was going to play and we did not get caught up in this and remained focused on re-signing him,” said Tim Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG.  “David had many options and we are pleased he felt comfortable, not only with our organization but also with Los Angeles, and will remain an important part of our club, our AEG family and our City”.

“The Galaxy had an unbelievable year in 2011, David had a great year individually and the club were deservedly crowned Supporters’ Shield winners and MLS Cup Champions,” added Leiweke. “The 2011 Galaxy team may have been the best club in MLS history and like David, we are focused on repeating that success in 2012 and fielding the most exciting team for our fans.”

"When David and I discussed making the move from Real Madrid to the LA Galaxy back in 2007, our minds were firmly focused on the massive opportunity of helping to grow soccer in the United States,” added Simon Fuller, Beckham’s Business Partner and Manager. “We have made great progress over the past 5 years in raising the profile of soccer domestically and the MLS on a worldwide stage, and we are encouraged by all the results. However, clearly this is an ongoing mission and this new deal confirms our commitment to continuing our journey and making sure the world's biggest sport, soccer, continues to grow in the world's most passionate sports loving nation, the USA.”

Beckham and the LA Galaxy will open preseason ahead of the 2012 MLS season next week at The Home Depot Center. They will return to competitive action on Wednesday, March 7 when they take on Toronto FC in the first leg of their 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal, which will be played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They will open the 2012 MLS season three days later on Saturday, March 10 when they host Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center in MLS First Kick 2012, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and tickets are on sale now as part of season ticket packages as well as three and six-game plans.

Fans who reserve their 2012 Season Tickets by Sunday, January 22, 2012 will receive collector’s edition season tickets, featuring images from the Galaxy’s championship 2011 season. For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit the LA Galaxy's official website at www.lagalaxy.com.