Beckham talks about purchasing MLS team or starting franchise

August 8, 11:21 AMBoston Pro Soccer ExaminerL.E. Eisenmenger

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David Beckham
Photo: AP

Friday, to promote the LA Galaxy's Saturday game with the New England Revolution, David Beckham met with an intimate group of Boston media and graciously answered a mix of questions on topics ranging from future ownership of an MLS team, MLS referees, the recent controversy from Grant Wahl's critical book, and his wife Victoria's new role on American idol.

Perhaps most notably, Beckham confirmed his commitment to MLS in speaking of his interest to "purchase an MLS team or start a franchise." An expansion franchise takes years to develop, but the purchase of an established team could be more immediate.

Below is the transcription of the press conference:

Can you talk about your interest in purchasing a franchise when your career is over?

Beckham: It’s definitely something I’ve talked about and have got the option to do. It’s something I’m very interested in because when I stop playing I still want to be involved in the game and I still want to be an ambassador of this league because, like I said, it’s a long-term plan, it’s not something where I’ve come over for a couple years and just going to walk away. It’s something I am passionate about and something I do believe in so I want to stick to that.

There’s a deal in place where I can purchase an MLS team or start a franchise, so it’s something that I’m definitely interested in and I wouldn’t have something in my contract without wanting to do it. I can’t go into specifics but the option is there.

Might you play for that team?

Beckham: No, I don’t think it would mean me going to play for that particular team but you never know. I’ve still got two more years left on my Galaxy contract and I’ll be 37 by then so we’ll see.
 

David Beckham
Photo: AP

Do you think the controversy surrounding the recent book [The Beckham Experiment] is just a necessary evil of a growing sport?

Beckham: Definitely. There is more pressure on our team and our organization because of some of the players we’ve got on our team. When you have success off the field – we haven’t had it on the field yet, well, we haven’t done well in the last few years – there’s more of a focus on you as a team. People look for criticisms or just try to knock the organization or knock the ideas that they're trying to bring to this league and to this game in the US.

There’s always going to be the bad out there, but we as an organization and me as a person and us as a team, we always look at the positive sides and there’s a lot more positives than negatives.

There’s always going to be someone out there that’s going to say something about it not being a good idea me being here or it’s not working, but statistics show that it is. So at the end of the day, you have to take the rough with the smooth.

So the criticism is proof that it works?

Beckham: Yes, that’s how we look at it. Without the good stuff that happened, it’s not an easy ride and you have to have some bumps along the way and they’re definitely small ones so far.

How do you handle the pressure of the crowd's expectations that you score goals?

Beckham: It’s something you have to deal with and enjoy, because if you don’t enjoy these moments when all these thousands of fans come to see you then you’re never going to enjoy it.

Can you talk about the beautiful free kick goal you scored against Barcelona last week?

Beckham: I must admit it was one of the ones I enjoyed, I’ve watched it a few times since. Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don’t, and you can practice them as much as you can, but when they happen in a game like that it’s a great feeling. I haven’t scored one like that for a while, so to do it against Barcelona, great rivals of mine when I was at Real Madrid . . .. I know they’re only in their preseason, but they’re champions of Europe, champions of Spain, and they won the Spanish Cup as well, so to play against them as a team was a great honor as well.
 

David Beckham celebrates his goal against Barcelona
Photo: AP

The Barcelona LA match drew 95,000. Have you seen a difference in enthusiasm and in the crowds?

Beckham:  Playing against Barcelona was a great experience for myself and for the rest of the team. It’s not every week that you play in front of 95,000. There was a great atmosphere there and we enjoyed that game. We need to continue that interest in the game here in the US and if we continue that then the crowds will keep growing, so it’s important that happens.

What is it going to take for MLS to get more European players to play here, instead of Americans going overseas to play?

Beckham: I’ve always said that the league will grow in the next five or ten years and that’s what players in Europe look for, they look for a challenge. Coming over would be a challenge because it’s a different league and a different style of soccer. In years to come there will be more players that come over from Europe, but the whole system is different. In Europe you’re contracted two, three, four, five years at a time and players see out those contracts, so that’s what’s difficult, a different situation with the system, but eventually there will be more players that come over from Europe and play in this league.

What do you think of the quality of MLS referees and how can it be improved?

Beckham: Refereeing is always a touchy subject because as players you’ve always got something to say about referees because you’re passionate and you think when mistakes are made they’re never your fault or your team’s fault - you always look at referees. But they’ve got a tough job whether it’s in this league or any league in Europe, referees are more scrutinized these days, sometimes more than players. If there’s a mistake in the game, people always look at that side of it. There are many things that can be improved in this league with certain systems, but like I said referees have got a tough job, so I’m not going to stand here and criticize them because I prefer playing the game rather than refereeing it.

Tomorrow you play the Revolution, where your former teammate Chris Albright now plays, although he's injured now.

Beckham: I was always sad to see Chris go because he became a really good friend of mine while he was at the Galaxy and we still always speak now. He’s a great person and of course a great player and I was really sad to see him go as a person and as a player. He got a bad injury and he’s had another operation now, so I wish him well and hope he gets back soon. He’s a good player to have in the league and I’m sure the Revolution are missing him as well.

What is your wife Victoria's new involvement with American Idol?

Beckham: She’s doing one or maybe a couple of the episodes that are coming up, I think. It’s just happened in the last few days for her so she’s really excited about that, but everyone’s sad to see Paula [Abdul] go of course. She was loved by many people and I’m sure she’ll go on and do great things. Victoria has been given the chance to stand in at the moment and she’s looking forward to it.

What else will you be doing in Boston when you're here?

Beckham: Focusing on the game. It’s a shame because I know Boston is a great city, so it’s unfortunate when soccer players come to different places around the world, you don’t really get to see the best parts of it. You’re kind of in and you’re out, you only see the hotel room and you eat and you sleep and you play the game and you go directly out. It’s unfortunate you can’t spend more time walking around the town and seeing different things, but that’s the way it is.

I’d love to see a Celtics game, obviously it’s out of season now, but I’ve always been a big fan of the Celtics – not as big as the Lakers of course. I know how passionate the fans are and they’re a team I’ve always enjoyed watching when they come to Staple Center because it’s always a great atmosphere and they’re passionate players with a passionate coach.

Saturday August 8, at 6PM, the New England Revolution play the LA Galaxy at Gillette Stadium, broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.