The journey from football to soccer starts now for the most famous footballer ever born in the history of world football, David Beckham. David Beckham, the heartbeat of Real Madrid is finally departing Europe in order to join LA Galaxy of North America after 4 up and down years with the white half of Madrid. After winning La Liga with Real Madrid, David made sure he didn’t end his tenure at Madrid without a trophy. His years with Real or famously known as the Gallecticos weren’t sadly as illustrious as his time with Manchester United but before saying goodbye to the Spanish game he made sure that the world behind will remember him as Beckham The Footballer rather than Brand Beckham.

Beckham in 2003 decided to put to end to his time with Manchester United after 14 years with the club and moved from the Giants of England to the Giants of Spain. But David was unfortunate to join Real Madrid at a time when well-known names of football such as Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Ronaldo, Raul and Hierro were aging and weren’t the same team together which won 2 Champions League titles and 2 La Liga titles from 2000 to 2003. Still Beckham time after time showed his class even though he had to play in the centre of midfield rather than his beloved and more preferred right wing position which was occupied by Luis Figo at that time. In the January 2004 things were looking as bright as you like when Real rocked to the top of La Liga and made their way to the finals of Copa Del Rey under new manager Carlos Queiroz who left his number 2 position at Manchester United to take over at Real from Vicente Del Bosque. But it wasn’t to be for David because Real lost their lead in La Liga to Valencia and lost the final to Real Zaragoza 2-1 even though Beckham free kicked them into the lead, this was a start of 3 more seasons without a single trophy.

The season ended in a disaster with Real Madrid collapsed from the top of La Liga at one time to ending 4th.The critics were out to get Beckham who was slammed for his performances and was questioned about his commitment to the team. His decision-making also came into questioning with the world starting to think that his all so famous wife Victoria (Posh Spice) was making the decisions for David Beckham and that his high profile fashionable lifestyle is affecting his game. David Beckham tried his best to ignore the critics and worked his socks off for Real who were trying to mount a challenge in Spain as well as in Europe but were constantly failing. After the first season Carlos Queiroz was sacked and the club was in disarray.

The aging Gallecticos couldn’t do their magic which they were renowned for and who would have guessed that it was the beginning of the end of the great Real Madrid team which the world feared and David was no different. David tried to put his poor Spanish season behind him and focus on England and their push for Euro glory. He being the captain of the English national team had the burden on his shoulders but as always he decided to take over the never say die attitude which made David a star in the eyes of millions. England and their dream came to a dramatic end after they were beaten by Portugal in the quarter finals on penalties and Beckham was left to fight another day. He moved on and was determined to put things right with his club but again failure was all he came across. Real could only watch a rejuvenated Barcelona team coming out from the shadows of crisis, spending millions and taking away the La Liga title. It was as simple as the cliché goes ‘They came, they saw and they conquer’. Barca who are Real’s archest rivals were becoming big and huge and their stars such as Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Larsson, Guily and Xavi were taking the lime light away from Real, a lime light which the people of Madrid badly craved for.

Disappointment again came Beckham’s way who could see his career which was laminated which medals and trophies going another season without a title. Catastrophe was the perfect word for Beckham and Real Madrid when they ended another season trophy less and were left to lick their wounds after watching Barcelona become the champions of Spain and Europe. The names Beckham and Real were dying a painful death and unfortunately all their fans could observe was The End of the two.

Then came the World Cup and again a glimmer of hope popped in the eyes of David who was leading his team in the 3rd consecutive tournament. David Beckham and all his fans crossed their fingers to think as if they could be third time lucky but Portugal again had different ideas. Cristiano Ronaldo, the person who took over the number 7 shirt and the right wing position from Beckham at Manchester United sent England down again with his final penalty kick and England faced another shoot out misery. Ronaldo after scoring screamed his way in joy and the noise echoed in every corner of England but most importantly in the ears of Beckham for days and days to come. But as they say misery doesn’t come alone and this is what exactly happened because this time the pain was double.

Beckham left the post as England’s captain the day after England were knocked out and to make it worst, he after some time was axed from England’s squad by new manager Steve McCLaren who with England was starting their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Beckham seemed finished and over but it’s David Beckham after all and his never say die mind-set came into practice again. His mentality was severely tested and his physical attributes as well in the coming season with Real Madrid. 4 Months in the new season and Fabio Cappello decided to show Beckham the bench and the new name such as Reyes and Robinho took over his work at Real.

Time couldn’t be harsher on David Beckham who in simple words wasn’t playing football at all, a game which he loved more then anything in the whole world and all he could do was to witness England’s Euro campaign hit by a hammer and Real’s season going down the drains. After the start of new year Real were 7 games without a single win in all competitions and Capello’s sacking was on the cards. David was never bought into the team neither by Steve McCLaren for England who had problems of their own or by Fabio Capello but they didn’t know whom they were leaving behind and what was missing from their respective squads. And when David decided to sign a pre-contract with LA Galaxy, which was worth millions, it was quiet obvious that he just blew his last chance to play for Capello and McCLaren. Beckham seemed unfazed by the whole saga surrounding him and was training hard, even though Capello said ‘that he would never play Beckham again’ .

Beckham after all the disappointments decided to prepare for life in America because his Spanish nightmare was coming to an end until suddenly Capello went back on his words.

After Real’s miserable start to the new season Capello decided to bring in some new flavour plus the most committed player of the squad and that had to be David Beckham. He was bought into the squad on the 10th of February against Real Sociedad and the effect was swift, Real won that game 2-1 away with David Beckham scoring the first goal and providing for the second for Ruud Van Nistelrooy. A former Manchester United connection doing the trick for Real Madrid who thought that it would be another lowly season for them. Things got better for Real and David in La Liga at least because they were on verge of a great motivated run but situation was the same for England who after the laying off of David Beckham weren’t able to find their feet for the new Euro campaign and found themselves in a miserable 4th position.

Now came the time to call the King on, and after such dejected showing McClaren strong-willed to call on David who was doing unbelievable things for Real on the other hand. Then came the master himself to guide England to some safety with a 3-0 win over Estonia and prove Capello and McClaren both wrong and to show the world that his main trade is still Football. Now the time has gone and Europe wont see the curls and swerve of Beckham and his magical right foot again but before he said adieu to Spain he made sure that people behind him would regret his departure and the fans would remember his as the best.

Today Real fans alike Manchester United fans believe that Beckham was the most dedicated player to ever embrace Barnabeu and Old Trafford respectively. David Beckham before his ending his stay in Madrid made sure that Real became Campeones of Spain for the 30th time their history after facing only one defeat since his arrival back into the squad.

David Beckham for the last time touched the grass of Santiago Bernabeu on the 17th of June and for the last time inhaled the European air. This is the journey of the master of football.