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Real Madrid: Analyzing the complex legacy of David Beckham at the Bernabeu

By Manas Pratim Sharma

Argentinian Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid's honorary president, poses with Real Madrid's new signing, David Beckham at his official presentation at Sport city, Madrid, 02 july 2003. AFP Photo/Christophe SIMON (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Argentinian Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid's honorary president, poses with Real Madrid's new signing, David Beckham at his official presentation at Sport city, Madrid, 02 july 2003. AFP Photo/Christophe SIMON (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Alfredo Di Stefano poses with Real Madrid’s David Beckham  (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Alfredo Di Stefano poses with Real Madrid’s David Beckham  (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images) /

David Beckham’s playing years at Real Madrid

When Florentino Perez was elected for the first time as the president of Real Madrid, he inherited a club in financial ruins. Despite winning the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, they were under a debt of nearly 280 million euros. His Galactico policy was a response to that. Based on Perez’s rejection of orthodox ways of team building and his belief in the supremacy of talent.

David Beckham checked all boxes for Perez, he was a footballing celebrity who could help Real Madrid become the biggest spectacle in World Football, something that was central to Perez’s plans. The 2003/04 season was a promising one but it ended in disappointment. Carlos Quieroz, Alex Ferguson’s once assistant at Manchester United joined the club as the new Head Coach meaning that Beckham would have a friendly face at his new club.

In August 2003, he won his first piece of silverware with Real Madrid, the Spanish Super Cup over two legs against RCD Mallorca. He scored the final goal in a 3-0 win to mark the start of the league season. However, Real Madrid could only manage to finish fourth whilst getting knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinal stages.

The club went through a train of managerial changes in the 2004-05 season. There wasn’t much to note in this season as the Merengues finished second in the league. David Beckham, however, ended the season being the highest assister of the league.

2005/06 season was a key one. David Beckham started building his relationship with the US as he established football academies in Los Angeles and East London. Silverware-wise, it was yet another disappointment. Real Madrid finished second to FC Barcelona with a huge 12 point gap and could only reach the last 16 in the Champions League when they lost to Arsenal. The season ended with Florentino Perez’s resignation as club president.

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