Living Goldenballs -- 11.15.2000/07.02.2006

"Good ole baldy Becks has just been chosen by new England coach Peter Taylor as captain of the national team! Aye, aye, Cap'n!"

This was an entry dated November 15, 2000 in my Things That Make Us Happy notebook. I bet I got teary eyed the moment I got this piece of news. This announcement came after England's early exit in the Euro 2000 and then squad captain Alan Shearer retired from international duty. And what an honor that announcement it was.

And in the close to six years that followed, I would see Becks lead England from one win to another. There were times when he would get fingerpointed after a disappointing result. But what a wonderful five and a half years it had been. A trip down memory lane is an absolute treat. Countless memories abound but there are some that stand out for me. Two of my faves being the 5-1 rout England dished on Germany on September 1, 2001 during the WC 2002 qualifiers; and Becks' free kick against Greece a little over a month later that sealed their trip to Korea/Japan.

But that trip hadn't been smooth-sailing. During the ManUtd-Depo Champions League quarterfinals in 2002, Becks almost lost his chance to captain his country that summer. In the first leg, he scored in the fifteenth to help ManUtd to a 2-0 win over the Spaniards. But then a tackle had sprained one of his ankles and fears of a more serious injury surfaced. It was reassuring to see him start in the second leg. But what didn't succeed in their first match was accomplished in the second--as Becks got stretchered off right before halftime. Another tackle (from an Argie , no less) broke a metatarsal bone--that wasn't something an England fan (or a squad captain!) would like to have with the WC in the horizon. A lot could relate to that experience to this year's Wayne Rooney injury saga. (Did the Argies have a grudge against Becks? After France '98 and this unfortunate incident, my personal grudge against Argie footballers--except for Juan Sebastian Veron because he played alongside Becks at ManUtd and Seba is just unhateable--had become the size of old USSR.)

Thank God for modern medicine and technology because Becks was back on his feet (casts off!) and running again a month ahead of schedule. He then led his country to the quarterfinals of Korea/Japan 2002. They might have lost to eventual winners Brazil but not before the England captain exacted revenge on the Argies. England defeated Argentina in their group match, 1-0. It was a penalty awarded to Michael Owen after he was brought down inside the box. Guess who converted it? It was a long time coming but revenge was nothing but sweet. It ended four years of pain and was an exorcism of sorts. (Of course, after this match and just last November 2005's 3-2 friendly win over the Argies have reduced my grudge against them to the size of modern day Russia.)

Becks has always played key roles wherever he happens to be playing. But also because of his lifestyle and popularity outside of the game that he has become a target for footballers prone to sophomoric displays. Like being spat at by a Turkish player after their 0-0 draw against Turkey, sealing qualification for Euro 2004. But skirmishes like that had to be forgotten on November 2003 as David Robert Joseph Beckham finally received his OBE, the first step into becoming a Knight of the British realm. It could either mean Order of the British Empire or Order of the Big Earners.

Euro 2004 in Portugal was another disappointment--in English standards, that is. We lost to the host country in spot kicks in the quarterfinals. That's the downside of a country whose club football scene is the most popular in the world. Because popular does not automatically translate to being the best. And that's what the England squad have to always endure during every major international tourney. They are always favorites early on, which might be justified by a constant supply of young talent (that somehow just couldn't get it together under pressure). Whenever their performances fall short of expectations, Becks has learned at weathering criticism especially from the vicious British media. Not only did the leadership end there. He has proven doubters wrong time and again--about his personal performance as well as about the national team's.

Sure, there were a lot of times in the Beckham captaincy that I look back on with triumph and pride--and sometimes with a shake of my head. During England's Germany 2006 qualifier against Wales in October 2004, he scored a free kick from Beckham country that turned out to be the game winner. But that win was overshadowed by his admission later on that he committed an intentional foul in the second half of the game so he could serve the ban while being sidelined for a plaguing injury. Unethical, some say. I say, no more unethical than Maradona's Hand of God in the 1986 WC was. Even up to now, I still don't know whether to admire him for having the guts to commit the foul or the fact that he admitted to doing it on purpose.

He rallied a rather despondent England team and scored another trademark free kick against Ecuador in the knockout stage of WC 2006, winning 1-0. Becks became the first Englishman to score in three consecutive WCs (he scored against Colombia in '98)--that definitely beats the heck out of being the first player to be sent off twice in his England career after a questionable second yellow during a WC qualifier in late 2005. For me, I have seen my gold squad play in Germany 2006. Oh, I'm sure there will be other golden squads for other England fans in the future (who knows, that selection could finally bring home that golden trophy) just as the WC-winning team of '66 was the golden squad of that generation.

It was sad to be eliminated through penalties (Portugal is fast becoming a pain in my neck). It was even more heartbreaking watching an injured Becks being subbed in that quarterfinal game. But all through those mind-numbing defeats, we always see the leader in him trying to console the other members of his squad. Becks never failed to approach each and every teammate to offer some sort of comfort. he might have been captain but he's still human, too. Even if he himself obviously had his hopes dashed, he was never too selfish as to offer word, or even a little pat on the back, to alleviate disappointment.

I never thought then that July 1, 2006 would be the last time I would see him wear the captain's armband. When I read: "Football: Beckham resigns as England captain" on the sports tickerbar the following day, I almost felt nothing. Almost. But in my mind were images of him in white and red over the years--either I think that or start crying my heart out. I hope he will still be able to get his wish of capping 100 for his country though--he's currently at 95. After all, he's still the squad's free kick specialist. And I hope that he realizes that winning a WC does not measure a player but what he has done to impact the game--and you can't find him wanting there.

On July 2, 2006 in Baden Baden, Germany a David Beckham barely able to hold back tears read:

"On 15 November 2000 Peter Taylor gave me the greatest honour of my career in making me captain of England and fulfilling my childhood dream. Now almost six years later, having been captain for 58 of my 95 caps, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter in a new era under Steve McLaren.

It has been an honour and a privilege to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McLaren in any way I can. I came to this decision some time ago but I had hoped to announce it on the back of a successful World Cup - sadly that wasn't to be.

This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and the closest to me I feel it is the time is right.

Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress and both myself and all the players regret that and are hurt by that more than people realise. I wish to thank all the players for their support during my time as captain, as well - Peter Taylor, Sven and all the coaches. I would also like to thank the press and of course the England supporters who have been both great to me and my teammates and I want them to know for me it has been an absolute honour.

Finally I have lived the dream. I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will always be grateful.

Thank you."

Thank you for five years and a half worth of leadership, of both good and bad memories, of lessons learned, of proving critics wrong, of the never-failing tonsorial entertainment in the international stage. Life goes on from here but the near to six years past are worth reliving.