Report: AC Milan fell 10 points behind city rivals Inter this afternoon after another uninspiring display at Bologna. Full match report here

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he could not imagine England leaving for the World Cup in South Africa without midfielder David Beckham in the squad. [...]

The 34-year-old hopes playing regularly in Serie A will book him a place in the 23-man party for the finals in June, and his former boss said Beckham should figure in Fabio Capello's plans because of his experience. [...]

Ferguson, who sold Beckham to Real Madrid for £25million in 2003, watched the midfielder in his side's 2-0 defeat to Milan rivals Inter last month.

And despite a quiet performance from the former United man, Ferguson said Beckham's unprecedented set-piece abilities also made him indispensible to the England cause.

He told The People: "'No-one has a better delivery of the ball, and at set pieces in particular, than David Beckham and I would imagine he'll be there at the World Cup with England.

"I can't see Capello not taking him because David has so much experience. He has shown his desire to play at the top, he's shown that by going back to Milan and that's the key to it. Keep reading

Anschutz Entertainment Group - owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Major League Soccer club Beckham plays for - announced the closure in a terse, undated and unsigned memo from AEG spokesman Michael Roth that was distributed to some company employees in December.

"The David Beckham Academy will no longer operate its Los Angeles location," the memo said. "Planning is currently under way with David and senior coaches to develop a program and coaching model that will move beyond the limits of one location and ultimately impact more children in more cities across the United States and worldwide."

The academy was a victim of the worsening economy, sources said, although those involved denied the venture suffered significant financial losses.

"As a private company we don't discuss finances in this way," Roth said Friday. "However, it was not in the millions of dollars." Full article

Labels: ac milan, academy, alex ferguson, david beckham, serie a

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Labels: ac milan, david beckham, serie a

Having a sore back is no laughing matter - unless, like Becks, you've got a top funnyman to rub it better...

The England star, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, stripped off his shirt to get his aching muscles eased with a back massage from comic actor James Corden.

In character as his Gavin & Stacey alter ego Smithy, James stroked David Beckham's weary joints as the footballing hero sighed in contentment. [...]

The Becks back-rub was all part of a fundraising sketch for Sport Relief, to be shown on BBC1 next month. The hilarious skit, masterminded by Bafta-winner James, 31, also stars some of the other biggest names in sport. [...]

After filming their part of the sketch on Monday, David and James - who are new BFFs - celebrated with a slap-up meal in Milan.

Our insider reveals: "The sketch is the biggest and most ambitious in Sport Relief's history. The names involved read like a Who's Who of sporting icons, so pinning them all down to a date and time is a result in itself.

"James and David had a real laugh filming and got on fantastically.

They worked very well as a double act - with James playing the funnyman and David the straight-guy. The pair of them were bouncing off each other brilliantly.

"David took James to his favourite restaurant in the evening and they celebrated their hard work over a glass of red wine and some pasta.

"David thinks James is a comic genius and has invited him to see the AC Milan vs Manchester United European fixture."

After dinner, Becks drove James back to his hotel where they shared a nightcap - a nice cup of tea. Source

DAVID Beckham will leave a lasting legacy with the MLS, claims new Wanderers recruit Stuart Holden.

The midfield ace has forecast a bright future for the game in the States, based largely on the massive interest sparked by the former Manchester United man’s arrival at LA Galaxy in 2008. [...]

And the Whites playmaker — who is due to be in the squad for Saturday’s game against Fulham after recovering from a thigh injury — believes the former England skipper’s influence will ensure “soccer” stays in the nation’s consciousness long after he leaves.

“He brought a buzz to the game,” he said. “When you think of the world’s most famous players, he’s probably right at the top of that list.

“His influence at the Galaxy was immense. He sold season tickets, merchandise and shirts when he first arrived, but didn’t really inspire many results on the field. But this last season, they saw success and made it to the cup final. Keep reading

Labels: david beckham, david beckham football photos, david beckham photos, david beckham pictures, sport relief

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no regrets about selling David Beckham as he prepares to face his former player in the Champions League knock-out stage.

Beckham will line-up for AC Milan when United travel to the San Siro for the first-leg of their round of sixteen clash and it will be the first time the midfielder has faced his former club since leaving Old Trafford seven years ago.

Beckham was near the height of his powers when he was sold by United to Real Madrid in 2003 but Ferguson feels the matter has long since been consigned to history. The United boss is more concerned about how his players will handle the inevitable attention that will accompany Beckham.

When asked about the player's £25 million move from Old Trafford, Ferguson told Inside United: "No regrets. We move on." Keep reading for his opinions about the split & David's World Cup future

The Gavin & Stacey star was spotted dining with Becks in Milan yesterday where the pair talked about doing another charity sketch together, this time for Sport Relief.

It could see the rotund comic's character Smithy giving the sportsman a massage.

The 31-year-old star has revealed he is working hard to get Beckham on board, following their Comic Relief effort last year.

It saw Smithy give members of the England football team, including Beckham, a pep talk.

Becks, 34, is keen to get involved this time round, but is only free on the day Corden is filming his new quiz show.

Corden said: 'I hope he's going to be involved in the sketch.

'Amazingly the one date he could do, I can't do. So we're trying to rearrange it.'

The scene, due to be aired on 19 March, will also feature F1 champion Andy Murray, Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff and 15-year-old diver Tom Daley. Keep reading

Labels: ac milan, alex ferguson, david beckham, manchester united, sport relief

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Labels: ac milan, david beckham football video, football video, serie a

Victoria and David Beckham, who will make their first ever appearance on the cover of the fashion magazine “his and hers”, recently did a photo shoot for the same.

Victoria, 35, and David, 34, shot for the 10th anniversary of the magazine, with almost 40 pages dedicated to the golden couple, reports mirror.co.uk.

Victoria also gives a few fashion tips, as David admits he’s still a bit embarrassed by his revealing exploits as an undies model.

“It was daunting stripping off in front of a roomful of people. But after a while you get used to it – although my mum still hasn’t!” says David. Source

David Beckham will not retire after this summer’s World Cup finals, according to one of his most recent club managers.
Ruud Gullit,the Dutchman who coached Beckham at LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, believes that contractual obligations and continuing good form while playing on loan with Milan in Serie A, will see the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder carry on playing beyond his 35th birthday in May.

“I ask Milan players how he is doing at the moment and they say he has done very, very well ,” Gullit, himself a former world player of the year, said in a BBC radio interview. Read more

Most people hope to immortalize their life with an autobiography or a golden plaque, but David Beckham is bucking the trend again, as he’s reportedly set to detail his life achievements in a series of comics.

The L.A Galaxy star, who has recently hit headlines with a rumored return to the UK, where he it’s believed he hopes to end his career with Manchester United, will be one of many celebrities due to appear in a series of picture books highlighting the lives of the rich and famous. Keep reading

Labels: ac milan, david beckham, england, la galaxy, mls, ruud gullit, serie a, victoria beckham, world cup

Victoria and David Beckham both shot covers for the latest issue of 10 magazine. 10 is a true fashion magazine that is actually about fashion and art instead of celebrities and dieting and pleasuring your man, so it's surprising to see celebrity faces on the cover. After Lindsay Lohan shot the cover of Muse, though, maybe the few true fashion tomes left out there will venture into celebrity-cover land more and more. Anyway, they can get away with putting Victoria on the cover, kind of, because she has her own successful dress range.

She tells 10 that she plans to be designing twenty years from now. She also said Marc Jacobs is determined to get her to wear flats this spring, and that she and Jennifer Lopez have something in common.

David, meanwhile, discusses the collection he designs for Adidas, and being basically naked in those Armani ads (It's awkward! No, really!). The issue also includes a 40-page editorial of the couple. Source

The England international, who is currently on loan with Italian giants AC Milan, plans to see out his two-year deal with the Galaxy following his stint in Italy and the World Cup later in the year and will step into ownership straight after.

Reports suggest Beckham is keen to buy an expansion franchise and a source has stated that a place like Canadian city Montreal would be ideal.

“Montreal is a cosmopolitan, European-style city. As a result, they have a huge passionate support for football that doesn't necessarily exist in the US," a source said. Source

Labels: david beckham, david beckham images, david beckham photos, david beckham pictures, mls, victoria beckham