Former football player David Beckham arrives with his wife Victoria Beckham for the premiere of the Netflix documentary “Beckham” on October 3, 2023 in London. (Portal/Maja Smiejkowska)
Not everything was going smoothly for former British footballer David Beckham. Although he has a fortune worth $450 million, according to the Celebrity Networth portal, his life was characterized by endless chiaroscuro, which even caused him severe depression at a young age.
This and more is covered in the new documentary series about the former football star called Beckham, which is available on Netflix. In this film, divided into four parts, the opening minutes show a consolidated, retired athlete collecting honey in his own beehive.
The documentary, directed by Fisher Stevens, penetrates the intimacy of the Beckham home and collects evidence from his parents’ lives; from his wife and model Victoria; even former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson; and a close colleague on the pitch, Gary Neville.
Mia Regan, from left, Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of “Beckham” on October 3, 2023 in London. (AP Photo/Vianney Le Caer)
The documentary is a portrait of Beckham that touches on at least four key points that shaped his sporting career but also seriously influenced his personal life. Here’s a count of them:
Victoria Beckham’s pregnancy: One night before David received a red card in the game against Argentina during the 1998 World Cup, Victoria Beckham called the former soccer player to tell him that she was pregnant with her eldest son, who would be named Brooklyn. During the call, the model was also in the city of Brooklyn, New York; for this reason the name.
David Beckham’s depression: In the documentary, Victoria reveals that David, aged just 23, was clinically diagnosed with depression after suffering an incessant wave of hate following his unfavorable performance during the controversial match at the 1998 World Cup. “I was absolutely depressed. Hatred and public harassment [fueron] to another level. “I still want to kill these people,” he said.
Neither forgiveness nor forgetting for the former England coach: Both Victoria and her mother Sandra agree that former England national football team coach Glenn Hoddle sparked national anger towards David after the game against the Argentina national team. This year, Hoddle would have publicly blamed Beckham for the defeat. “Glenn didn’t protect David. And how old was David? Only 23 years old. “You’re a child at 23,” Victoria commented.
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Beckham’s alleged affair: At another point in the documentary, the couple speaks publicly for the first time about rumors of an alleged affair between David and his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos. The woman in question would have received this position after the footballer was transferred to the Real Madrid club in July 2003; She claimed in an April 2004 interview with News of the World that she had a four-month affair with now businessman and owner of MLS’s Inter Miami. “It was the first time Victoria and I had been subjected to such pressure in our marriage,” David reveals, without confirming or denying the accusation.
Beckham is available on Netflix.