David Beckham awarded knighthood

He had lengthy dreamed of changing into a sir and King Charles III made it a actuality when he introduced his birthday’s honours checklist on Friday, marking the tip of a decades-long journey travelled together with his Spice Girl spouse Victoria, creator of the eponymous style model.

The honour, one of many highest bestowed by the UK state, “is a powerful symbolic marker”, Marie Agnes Parmentier, professor of selling on the University of Montreal and creator of a number of papers on “#Posh and Becks”, defined to AFP.

It “reinforces his image as a respectable, committed, and, first and foremost, British man,” she added.

The knighthood may current new alternatives for the 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid participant, “particularly in diplomatic, charitable or political spheres”, mentioned Parmentier.

The former free-kick ace, from a modest East London background, diversified his profession after retiring from soccer in 2013, however success was the results of planning lengthy earlier than he hung up his boots.

“I knew my career was going to end at some point and I wanted to have a career after football,” he mentioned within the documentary sequence “Beckham”, which aired on #Netflix in 2023.

Pioneer

At the peak of his soccer profession, Beckham was signing offers with high clothes and wonder manufacturers, constructing an viewers that lower throughout gender, age and nationality — changing into the primary England participant to crack the US market.

The profitable model was constructed on his at all times immaculate look and nearly-always exemplary off-field behaviour, coupled with an unwavering drive to turn out to be a pioneer.

This required a specific amount of braveness, on condition that English soccer within the Nineteen Nineties was typically the protect of no-nonsense lads extra within the pub than the catwalk.

His look in a sarong through the 1998 World Cup, revelations that he used make-up, and his eccentric hairstyles have been all feverishly devoured up by the UK’s tabloid press.

Beckham remains to be capitalising on the fascination, nearly 30 years later.

He unveiled his first assortment for #Hugo Boss in April, is the founding father of the Inter Miami soccer membership and the “Studio 99” manufacturing firm, and has been a UNICEF ambassador for 20 years.

He is now finest identified not for soccer, “but for being Beckham, the brand”, mentioned sociologist #Ellis Cashmore.

It is a model price £500 million ($676 million), in response to The Times newspaper’s 2025 rating.

From Outcast to Hero

The #Netflix present uncovered the couple to an rising youthful viewers, cementing their fame for the foreseeable future.

Beckham “embodies a celebrity at the intersection of sport, fashion, entertainment and business,” defined Parmentier.

The couple’s enduring visibility “is based on a sophisticated media strategy and an ability to embody universal values such as work, family and style,” she added.

But it has been an extended and bumpy highway, Cashmore identified.

In 1998, Beckham was known as essentially the most hated man in England after he petulantly kicked out at Argentina’s #Diego Simeone throughout their World Cup spherical of 16 recreation.

Beckham was harshly despatched off and England misplaced to their bitter rivals in a penalty shoot-out. Those who had bitten their tongue about his off-field flamboyance gave full vent to their emotions.

National headlines the following day included “10 Heroic Lions, One #Stupid Boy” (#Daily Mirror) and “You’re Just A Joke Becks” (#Daily Mail).

Months of “hell” adopted, with loss of life threats, spitting and boos accompanying Beckham wherever he went.

“Wherever I went I got abused, every single day,” he mentioned.

“I find it hard to talk through what I went through because it was so extreme. The whole country hated me.”

But the ordeal solely sharpened Beckham’s focus.

A yr later, he completed second within the Ballon d’Or as he helped Manchester United declare an unprecedented treble, profitable the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

It was usually mentioned that Beckham’s profession gave the impression to be scripted by a film author, by no means extra so than when the fallen idol took his revenge by scoring the profitable objective in opposition to perennial rivals Argentina within the 2002 World Cup, redeeming his nationwide hero standing.

The royal household have been fast to embrace him, inviting Beckham to the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Previous rumours of an impending knighthood got here to nothing, however his star as soon as once more rose in 2022 after the loss of life of Queen Elizabeth II.

While different celebrities got here below fireplace for skipping the queue to view her coffin, Beckham lined up with members of the general public for nearly 12 hours to pay his respects.

Since then, it has appeared that “Sir David” was solely a matter of time in coming.