Beckham - the football, the lifestyle, the wife

David Beckham began life with Los Angeles Galaxy last night by claiming that he had no regrets about leaving European football at 32. After a glitzy presentation ceremony in front of 8,600 screaming fans, the former England captain defiantly insisted he was not winding down his career and retained the same hunger for success that he had as a teenager.

Beckham, who has signed a five-year contract worth £128 million, described the move to Major League Soccer (MLS) as “one of the biggest challenges” of his career.

“Of course I don’t regret this move and it’s not come too early,” Beckham said. “It’s a huge move for me, a huge move for my family and a huge move for my career. I’m back in the England team now but I can handle it. I’m as fit as I was many years ago and I’ll just be clocking up more air miles than I was before, that’s all.

“I don’t see this as a winding-down period. Many people may be saying that, but they haven’t played in the MLS. I know the expectations and enthusiasm the American people have to take soccer to another level and I want to be part of that. I may be 32, but I’m as fit as I was when I was 22. I’m as eager as I was when I was 14.”

Beckham was adamant that he was drawn to LA to perform on the pitch at the Home Depot Centre rather than on the red carpets of Hollywood. “Until the first game starts I’m sure there’s a lot of that going through people’s minds,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of that since I signed my contract, people questioning the reasoning behind me coming to America, but for me it’s always been about the soccer — the football to you guys. That’s always been the reasoning behind every move I’ve made in my career.”

Beckham, who has recently recovered from an ankle injury, should be fit to make his debut against Chelsea next Saturday.

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football