by Grant Wahl
First published 2009
In 2007, soccer superstar David Beckham made a shocking decision that stunned the sports world. He signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy, leaving behind European glamour to attempt what no player had ever achieved: making soccer a major spectator sport in America. Even Pelé had failed at this challenge in the 1970s. Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl gained unprecedented access to the Galaxy organization, conducting exclusive interviews with Beckham himself, leading scorer Landon Donovan, manager Simon Fuller, controversial coach Ruud Gullit, and Victoria Beckham. Wahl reveals the behind-the-scenes drama as Beckham's management conducted a shadow takeover of the Galaxy organization. The book exposes what teammates really thought of their superstar captain, the ego clashes that erupted in the locker room, and the epic winless streaks that followed. Cultural collisions and class conflicts created a volatile mix of celebrity and professional sports. As Beckham's experiment unfolded, the stakes remained enormous. Failure would mean missing a crucial opportunity for the team, the league, and American soccer itself.
Genres: biography, american, sports, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, underdog
Setting: America, Europe, Los Angeles
Period: 2007
304 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype