Sports
David Beckham’s field of dreams: The truth behind Becks’ cut-price £18million team
After four years of hard work, David Beckham has realised his American dream of owning a Major League Soccer team.
The former England skipper yesterday unveiled his Miami club, which is set to enter the US top flight in 2020 despite continued wrangling over a site for its controversial home ground.
Locals feel the location proposed for his 25,000-seater Overtown stadium is a nightmare. And 60 days ago, all parties were on the verge of quitting – but continued after finding local investors.
But despite ongoing problems, Beckham described his new club as a “dream come true”.
“This is a city built on dreams and today you’ve made my dreams come true,” he said to thunderous applause.
Welling up, he told fans of the struggles he and his team had faced in the past four years, adding: “I promised my son I wouldn’t get emotional. This is something that has been dream for many, many years.”
Turning to the city’s Mayor and his financial backers, he said: “Thank you for believing in me, in us and for all your support.
“I was drawn to the city because of its diversity. It has been difficult at times but we never gave up.”
Beckham, 42, vowed to build a youth academy in a clear nod to the Manchester United class of ’92 that produced him, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
He would not be drawn on players he has in mind but said he had been contacted by several big names who told him: “I’m in.” He added: “I can’t say their names. There are many. Of course, we want to reach for the stars.”
Asked about potential managers, Beckham ruled out his best pal Gary Neville, saying: “He talks too much.
“On management, all the owners have made it clear, that is my area and that is where my experience will come in.
“We will look for the right manager. It doesn’t have to be a big name. We have to focus on is the philosophy of the club.”
During the launch, Beckham’s showbiz pull was evident as A-list stars from Hollywood and sport backed the club in a video. They included Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Serena Williams and Usain Bolt.
Beckham’s four kids also appeared, wishing him luck along with wife Victoria.
But despite the fanfare launch, not everyone here shares his excitement.
Protests are expected and flyers have been left around the proposed site urging people to “Stop the stadium”, paid for by Overtown Spring Garden Community Collective.
The group has held rallies where speakers promise to detail a “lack of infrastructure” and “diminished quality of life”.
Local Gustavo Alfonzo, 33, said: “They didn’t choose the best spot. Everyone is against anything that changes the neighbourhood.”
Manchester United idol Beckham knows the MLS well after five seasons at LA Galaxy. When he signed there in 2007, he got an option from league bosses to set up a franchise at a knockdown £17.7million rather than the usual £106.5million.
Former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller joined him in the deal, as well as mobile phone firm Sprint’s chief Marcelo Claure and South Florida tycoon Jorge Mas. But since revealing his plans in February 2014, he has had countless kicks in the Golden Balls.
City officials rejected three previous locations. Before yesterday’s news, questions remained as to why the ex-Real Madrid star refused to give up on owning an MLS franchise in Miami.
Undoubtedly, for a stadium that could only be used 25 times a year, it would appear a financial gamble along with the high costs of funding a team.
But with lucrative TV rights and sponsorship, financial experts believe ownership could boost Beckham’s £336.7million estimated fortune.
“We will generate more money than any other MLS team can dream of,” Fuller said at the original launch.
“The marketing power of a sports franchise is immense.”
Beckham revealed plans to build a waterfront stadium on Miami’s Dodge Island, paying for it himself. However, it required the city to hand over public land just east of downtown at PortMiami, which it refused to do.
His next plan was for his team, known as Miami Beckham United, to take over a site near the Miami Heat’s basketball arena, north of downtown Miami – a spot set to be a new park.
Museum Park would give way to a stadium on Biscayne Bay. In return, the Beckham group would fill in a water basin and build a new park on top of it.
Miami had paid £12.1million to improve the basin and Beckham’s group would not pay them back but offered to pay £14.2million to fill it.
Unfortunately, drawings failed to include what a 120ft-high stadium would look like from street level, blocking out most park and water views. City bosses again rejected the plans.
But sensing his determination to stay in Miami, officials offered land in Little Havana, near Marlins Park – a detested, poorly attended white elephant that cost local taxpayers £176million.
It was clear from Fuller branding the site “spiritually tainted” that it was not their first choice. Yet again, the two parties could not agree on a deal.
Then, in December 2015, MBU purchased a six-acre site in Overtown.
The proposed spot, in a downtrodden area of downtown Miami, continues to fuel anger among residents who would prefer affordable housing. A new stadium, home to millionaire stars, is not on their wish-list.
And any hope the ground would bring jobs to the area also appear ill-founded, with MBU having only promised around 50 positions so far.
Despite yesterday’s fanfare, most locals have opposed the deal. After an agreement to sell the remaining plot last year Bruce Matheson, a local landowner, took legal action. His bid was rejected, although he is appealing and the result is expected in June.
Asked about the stumbling blocks with the stadium, Beckham said yesterday: “I am coming into this wanting to learn, I want to be a good neighbour. I want to make people happy, this is a global city.”
But not everyone is against his club and fan groups are already running.
One fan, Clarence Ruiz, who was at the launch, said: “Soccer cannot come soon enough to this area. It will create a huge buzz, especially among the Latino population. We have to thank David Beckham for choosing Miami and refusing to give up.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber said he was “confident” Beckham’s club would overcome legal challenges.
He said the team has of yet not been officially named and it would be a process that involves the fans, a branding company and Beckham.
Beckham’s American Dream
2007
January 11 – A day after Real Madrid’s sporting director Predrag Mijatovic reveals Beckham will not renew his contract, he announces he has agreed to join MLS side LA Galaxy on a £128million, five-year deal in August.
July 13 – The Beckhams arrive in Los Angeles and the 32-year-old midfielder is later unveiled to 5,000 fans in a ticker-tape welcome and insists he has not gone into “semi-retirement”.
July 22 – Beckham makes his debut as a late substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Chelsea at the Home Depot Center after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
August 16 – Marks his first start by scoring with a trademark free-kick in a 2-0 SuperLiga semi-final victory over DC United.
2008
March 26 – Wins his 100th cap in England’s 1-0 defeat by France.
October 30 – AC Milan announce the midfielder will join them on loan on January 7.
2009
March 9 – Milan announce they have reached a “timeshare” agreement which will allow them to retain Beckham’s services until the end of the season, when he will return to Galaxy.
2010
March 14 – Tears his Achilles tendon in Milan’s 1-0 win over Chievo, an injury which ends his World Cup dream.
2011
November 20 – Plays a starring role as LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup with a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo.
December 31 – His initial five-year contract expires.
2012
January 19 – Beckham commits his future to the Los Angeles club by signing a new two-year deal.
November 20 – Announces he is to leave Galaxy after the MLS Cup final after deciding not to take up the option of the second year.
December 1 – Signs off in style with a 3-1 cup final victory over Houston Dynamo.
2014
February 5 – Announces he has exercised an option in his LA Galaxy contract to buy an MLS franchise in Miami.
2018
January 29 – MLS officially unveil Miami as the next expansion franchise.
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons produced a thrilling comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday, clinching their record-extending 10th continental title.
The win was sweet revenge for Justin Madugu’s side, who were eliminated by the Atlas Lionesses in the semi-finals of the previous edition.
Despite a bright start by the Falcons, it was the Moroccans who struck first in the 13th minute. A loose ball fell kindly to tournament top scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, who rifled her effort past Chiamaka Nnadozie to hand the hosts an early lead.
Nigeria tried to respond through Ijamilusi Folashade, but her tame effort was easily gathered by Moroccan goalkeeper, Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Fatima Tagnaout released Sanaâ Mssoudy, who drove into the box and fired a low, left-footed strike beyond Nnadozie to make it 2-0.
Morocco maintained their advantage into the break as both sides went into the dressing room with the scoreline firmly in the hosts’ favour.
The Super Falcons returned with renewed purpose in the second half, stepping up their intensity and putting the Moroccan defence under sustained pressure.
Nigeria nearly pulled one back when a collision between Er-Rmichi and defender Nesryne El Chad almost gifted the Falcons a goal, but the Moroccan defence cleared their lines in time.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 63rd minute when a ball hooked back into the area by Ijamilusi struck the arm of defender Nouhaila Benzina, resulting in a penalty. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to halve the deficit.
Eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, sprinting down the right flank before cutting back a well-timed pass for Ijamilusi, who made no mistake from close range to level the tie at 2-2.
The Falcons completed their sensational comeback in the 88th minute when Jennifer Echegini reacted quickest to a deep free-kick, stabbing home from close range to spark wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
The victory sees Nigeria reinforce their dominance in African women’s football, securing their 10th WAFCON title and reasserting their status as the queens of the continent.
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