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Beckham quits - now he'll hit the ￡300million jackpot: At 38, England hero hangs up boots - and now he's set to make some serious money
Beckham was capped 115 times by England during an amazing career
'I love the game so much - I just feel it's the right time' says emotional star
The sportsman, worth ￡165million, can concentrate on ambassadorial roles
Branding experts believe 'Brand Beckham' will become worth ￡300million
He played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint Germain in a career spanning 21 years
He is the only English player to win a league title in four different countries
Wife Victoria describes husband as 'an inspiration to millions'
How does the richest football player in the world get richer? By retiring.
David Beckham yesterday announced he was hanging up his boots for good and giving that famous right foot a well-deserved rest because he wanted to ‘go out on the top’.
That may mean no more balls being curled into the back of the net in his trademark style, but the former England captain can console himself with the thought that his earnings are set to soar.
The east London-raised star and his wife Victoria are set to become worth at least ￡300million with marketing experts predicting his ‘unique’ appeal will last for the next 20 years.
It will mean an ever-upwards trajectory for ‘Brand Beckham’ now that the 38-year-old can concentrate solely on his commercial career.
The Beckhams are already one of the richest celebrity couples in the country with a combined fortune estimated to be worth ￡190million.
David’s football earnings had become such a small part of his total income that he was able to give his estimated ￡3million salary from new club Paris St Germain to charity.
The couple are now set to base themselves in London after their four children – Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, ten, Cruz, eight, and 21-month-old Harper – settled in the capital.
David will play a greater role in supporting his wife’s perfume and fashion brand dVb, which is valued at ￡30million.
And he will concentrate on exploiting sponsorship and endorsement deals such as those he enjoyed with Diet Pepsi, Samsung and Marks & Spencer.
The ex-Manchester United star has already lined up a ￡20million role as an ambassador for Sky television, in addition to a ￡50million deal he has signed to be an ambassador for the Chinese super league. He is also fronting Sainsbury’s move into the sports sponsorship arena.
In March, Beckham beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to be crowned the richest player in the world according to the Goal Rich List.
Long-term sponsor Adidas took to Twitter to mark Beckham’s retirement with a tactical tweet saying: ‘David Beckham – always #allin.’
The post links to a close-up of the star’s Predator football boots with the brand’s global slogan ‘always all in’.
Victoria Beckham, 39, last night described her husband as an ‘inspiration’ and a ‘true ambassador for sport’. ‘We are all excited about the next chapter in our lives and the adventures we will explore as a family,’ she said.
However her husband appeared to have regrets that people focused more on his activities away from football.
He told former best man and Manchester United teammate Gary Neville in an emotional interview yesterday: ‘Over the years people have obviously looked at other things that have gone on in my career and sometimes that’s overshadowed what I’ve done on the pitch.
‘As much as I say that doesn’t hurt me, of course it does.
‘At the end of the day I’m a footballer who has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, with some of the best players in the world, and under some of the biggest and best managers, and achieved almost everything in football. It hurts when people – not question it – but think about other things.’
BECKHAM'S 19 TROPHIES
Man Utd
6 Premier League Medals
2 FA Cups
4 FA Community Shields
1 Champions League
1 Intercontinental Cup
Real Madrid
1 La Liga
1 Supercopa
LA Galaxy
2 MLS Cups
Paris ST Germain
1 Ligue 1
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Post time 4-5-2013 02:01 PM
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