Happy birthday, David Beckham! This soccer stud, loving dad, and devoted husband to Posh Spice (AKA Victoria Beckham) turns 45 today, and we’re bringing you all the Beckham fun facts you didn’t know you needed. This very, very handsome athlete-slash-model-slash-entrepreneur has had an incredibly interesting life, devoting himself to soccer from the age of 16 and falling in love with Victoria at first sight. Over the years, his career has taken the family to Paris, Madrid, Los Angeles, and beyond — meanwhile, he’s never lost sight of what’s really important.
David and Victoria pride themselves on being a tight-knit family, and work hard to ensure they get to spend time with kids Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper despite their busy and travel-heavy schedules. These superstar parents have a strict family dinner time (when they’re all in the same place), and the kids are super-involved in their parents’ work, attending David’s soccer games and talks, Victoria’s fashion shows, and more.
For so many years, David has been held up as the gold standard — impossibly handsome, a crazy talented athlete, and a genuinely well-meaning family man to boot. But what’s beneath that polished veneer? Many don’t know that David struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, once hired a vocal coach after being teased about his voice, and had to drop out of high school to train for soccer full-time. This Manchester United superstar may make his success seem effortless, but there’s more to this strong and silent celeb than meets the eye.
For more little-known facts about our favorite football pro, check out more things you may not know about David Beckham below.
A version of this article was originally published November 2015.
He’s been married over two decades
Beckham has been married to his wife, Victoria Beckham, for nearly 21 years.
He has four kids with Victoria
David and Victoria share daughter Harper Seven and sons Brooklyn Joseph, Cruz David, and Romeo James.
He has a lifetime contract with Adidas
Beckham was given a contract worth $160M by the sportswear company.
He has a kick named after him
The “Beckham” is a free kick that curves like a boomerang.
He got a voice coach to improve his elocution
In his early days, Beckham was sometimes made fun of for speaking in a high voice or dropping consonants when he talked. A vocal coach put all that behind him.
He can cook
Word has it Mr. Beckham makes a mean risotto.
He grew up in a family of Manchester United fans
London-born Beckham’s parents and siblings were all mad for Man U, the football club with which he went on to begin his career.
He has an unbelievable net worth
Beckham’s net worth is reportedly $450 million.
He doesn’t take himself too seriously
As evidenced by the numerous spoofs he’s been in with James Corden, Beckham appreciates comedy.
He was the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ 2015
Beckham was the first athlete on whom People ever bestowed the honor.
He wrote an autobiography
Beckham—Both Feet On The Ground came out in 2004.
He looks good in a grandpa hat
Or is that an Indiana Jones hat? Either way, we wish we were the straw in that iced tea.
He’s been paid millions to model
Beckham is also an iconic global advertising brand, modeling for such companies as Calvin Klein and H&M.
He’s got two middle names
His full name is David Robert Joseph Beckham. He was born May 2, 1975, in Leytonstone, East London, England.
Football brought him to Victoria
Beckham met Victoria Adams, better known back then as Posh Spice, at a charity football match in 1997.
He does tons of charity work
He’s been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005. In 2015, he launched The David Beckham UNICEF Fund for children.
He considers himself half Jewish
Beckham’s mother’s father was Jewish, and Beckham considers himself “half Jewish.”
He inspired a movie
The 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham, starring Keira Knightley, was inspired by him. Hence the name.
He dropped out of school at 16
Beckham began his professional soccer career at just 17 years old, playing for the Manchester United team.
He moved from Europe to America in 2007
Beckham joined the LA Galaxy soccer team in 2007 and says his family loves living in America.
He founded the David Beckham Academy
He founded the David Beckham Academy, a soccer training school in both London and Los Angeles.
He’s frequently Googled
In 2015, Beckham was the most googled athlete in the world.
He has a ton of tattoos
Beckham’s body is covered with at least 33 tattoos (that we know of), including the names of his kids.
He has one tattoo of his wife
Beckham has a tattoo of Victoria in her underwear on his left arm.
He has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
He revealed in 2006 that he has OCD, even keeping three refrigerators to separate the food, drinks and salads.
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