LA Galaxy bend it like Beckham with a statue at home ground

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A statue of English soccer icon David Beckham has been unveiled on Saturday at the home ground of the Los Angeles Galaxy – the Major League Soccer (MLS) team for which the superstar played between 2007 and 2012. The 43-year-old is the first soccer player to be honored in the United States.

The statue depicts him executing one of his trademark free kicks. The former Manchester United legend, who retired in 2013 after playing his farewell season with French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, said, "I want to thank the club and the sculptors of this statue, because thanks to them, I will stay forever young."

"When I think of Los Angeles and the Galaxy, the word that immediately comes to mind is family. I have been greeted with open arms and I have since always felt like being part of this family," Beckham added.

He was accompanied by his wife Victoria, a former singer of the all-girl pop group "Spice Girls," who was also known as Posh Spice, during the unveiling event in the newly built Legends Plaza outside LA Galaxy's Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The event took place hours before the LA Galaxy's MLS season opener against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Former professional soccer midfielder David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham pose for a photo with his statue at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, U.S., March 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

During his visit to the Galaxy, "Becks", who also played for two other European giants Real Madrid and AC Milan, won two MLS Championship titles – in 2011 & 2012 with LA Galaxy and scored twenty goals in 118 matches for the MLS side in all competitions combined.

"When I came to the United States, I wanted my victories not to be confined to the field. I wanted to participate in the development of MLS and soccer in this country, I wanted to convince other players to come. I think we have achieved that goal, although there is still a lot to be done," he mentioned while looking back at his much-publicized relocation to the USA.

LA Galaxy coach and former US soccer player, Bruce Arena, lauded his erstwhile player, "I had the chance to train an extraordinary player, a great professional, but also and above all an exceptional human being and family father."

Beckham still remains involved in the MLS as a co-owner of the franchise of Inter Miami, which is likely to make its debut in 2020, after many difficulties in finding a plot to build its stadium.