David Beckham's Soccer Skills »

David Beckham, who currently plays for Real Madrid, is the soccer world’s biggest star.

Have you dreamed about scoring from the halfway line, bending a free kick past a wall of defenders, assisting in the perfect goal, or leading your team to the biggest soccer tournament in the world?

David Beckham has fulfilled his ambition to give something back to soccer and to his fans across the globe. Thanks to The David Beckham Academy, aspiring young soccer players now have the opportunity to realize their dreams.

This unique book features Beckham sharing his knowledge of the game, his skills developed from playing for the best clubs in the world, his experiences as England's captain, and his life in Madrid—all captured as never before.

VOYA

Beckham has landed in the United States. In case anyone does not know, Englishman David Beckham is an international celebrity and superstar footballer known primarily for his play with Manchester United, Real Madrid, England's National team, and currently, Los Angeles Galaxy. He is also a popular fashion plate and product endorser, controversial media subject, television show host, philanthropist, and the husband of a former Spice Girl. But this book is all about Beckham the Soccer Player. Using first-person narration, he describes growing up in a middle-class, soccer-mad household in Southeast London. There he honed his skills under his father's tutelage and played on boys' clubs until he was signed by Manchester United at age fourteen. Most of the book contains a combination of Beckham's humble and grateful reflections on his career, with instructions about how to improve soccer skills in such areas as ball control, passing, crossing, and free kicks. He emphasizes the important of continuous practice and teamwork, while acknowledging that not everyone can be a star-and that's okay. The book is heavily illustrated with color photos of Beckham-wearing a blue soccer uniform, sporting short brown hair and displaying no obvious tattoos-demonstrating soccer moves and techniques. Other photos feature boys and girls in similar uniforms who are attending Beckham's Academy. Ah, yes. The book contains much information on those academies, located in London and Los Angeles. Beckham insists that his schools are for everyone, not only the talented. His main goal is for kids to have fun, be safe, and learn. Soccer fans, players, and coaches will enjoy and learn from this personalnarrative/instruction manual.

Getting Prepared     8
The Academy_Aim and Vision     18
Childhood Dreams     22
Ball Control     28
The Academy_Concept     38
Making Space     42
Living the Dream     46
Turning     52
The Academy_Staff and Set-Up     66
Passing     68
So Many Memories     84
Dribbling     90
The Academy_The Programs     96
Defending     102
The Academy_The Classroom     108
More Than a Soccer Player     112
Crossing     118
It's All in the Cleats     130
Finishing     132
On the World Stage     142
Free Kicks and Penalties     146
Parents, Kids, and Teachers     156
Factfile     158