British soccer star David Beckham was officially introduced Friday as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and he said he was looking forward to taking on the biggest challenge of his career.
"This is one of the biggest challenges that I've taken on in my career, to move to a different country, the other side of the world, " Beckham told reporters and cheering fans at Los Angeles's Home Depot Center, the Galaxy's host stadium. "I think it has the potential in the (United) States soccer could be as big as it is everywhere else around the world."
"Now my family have moved to Los Angeles -- something we're looking forward to, something we're very proud of. And in our life, everything is perfect," he said, adding that he has always looked for challenges in his career and something exciting.
The soccer superstar's signing by the Galaxy is seen as the latest attempt to increase the sport's popularity in the United States, where it has been met with a combination of apathy and derision.
In most places of the world, the sport is not even known as "soccer," and even Beckham stumbled as he spoke at Monday's ceremony -- starting to use the word "football" as he spoke to the crowd.
Beckham was greeted by confetti and rousing cheers from about 3,000 fans gathered at the Home Depot Center, where team, city and Major League Soccer officials hailed his arrival.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presented Beckham with a proclamation welcoming him to the Los Angeles area.
"This is an important day not just for the Galaxy, not just for soccer at the professional level, but a great day for the future of soccer," said the mayor.
The Galaxy announced January 11 that the 32-year-old midfielder agreed to a five-year contract that could bring him as much as 250 million dollars to join the Major League Soccer team following the June 30 expiration of his contract with Real Madrid.
Beckham is expected to play for his new team for the first time July 21 against England's Chelsea FC in the World Series of Football exhibition tournament at the Home Depot Center.
Beckham and his Spice Girl wife, Victoria, arrived at Los Angeles Thursday night, met by paparazzi, television camera crews and hundreds of fans at the airport.
He said Friday that he and his wife plan to start their own charity and reach out to the local community in Los Angeles.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article