Behind the image, a family man who has come back from defeat
Arise Sir David Beckham Gwen Russell Published by John Blake Publishing ISBN 978 1844544165
David Beckham looks cool in front of the media. This book shows you, however, that there is more to him than meets the eye. He is kind-hearted and a family man.
Beckham is one of the most popular athletes today. Arise Sir David Beckham traces Beckham's development as a footballer, including Manchester United's 1998-99 season, which was the pinnacle of Beckham's career. The club achieved a historic 'treble' by winning the English Premier League, the FA Cup and Uefa Champions League. A year later, Beckham was named captain of the national team.
Yet the book makes it clear that it was not always plain sailing for Beckham. He suffered several professional setbacks, especially later in his career. He stepped down as England captain in 2006, and an injury prevented him from playing in last year's World Cup. Beckham explains how he dealt with such setbacks and how he carried on undeterred.
The book also looks at Beckham's achievements off the pitch. He is a Unicef goodwill ambassador and has founded several football academies in developing countries. He has set out to help children learn to play better to overcome their difficulties.
