End It like Beckham： David Beckham Announces His Retirement“貝”影遠去：大衛·貝克漢姆退役

2013-12-31 00:00:00趙青奇

新東方英語·中學版 2013年7期

The soccer world， still recovering from the news that the legendary Manchester United manager， Sir Alex Ferguson1）， is to retire at the end of the season， is suddenly dealing with another United icon calling it a day2）. At 38， David Beckham， who left Old Trafford3） back in 2003， confirmed on May 16th， 2013 that he was hanging up his boots4）. \"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United， proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up5） for some of the biggest clubs in the world， I would have told you it was a fantasy，\" he said in a statement. \"I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams.\"

Beckham is the only English player to have won championships in four countries—England， Spain， the U.S.， and France—and helped raise the profile6） of the sport in America by playing for the LA Galaxy between 2007～2012. The tributes7） came pouring in， including from British Prime Minister David Cameron， who tweeted \"Best wishes as David Beckham Retires. His magical free kicks for MUFC8） and England will live long in the memory of all football fans.\" Beckham was also instrumental9） away from the soccer field， playing a significant part in the successful bid to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to London.

Beckham made his name playing for Manchester United， and he represented his favorite team on 394 occasions. He wore the famous number 7 shirt for arguably the world's best known soccer club， which was the same number worn by the iconic George Best10） for United in the 1960s and 1970s. Best wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of Becks， once claiming， possibly with his tongue in his cheek11）， that \"he cannot kick with his left foot， he cannot head a ball， he cannot tackle12） and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right.\" There may have been a tiny bit of truth in Best's pointed13） remark. But Beckham's ability to accurately pass and cross the ball， over both short and long distances， was a sight to behold. Just as impressive were his set pieces14）， which often resulted in goals. Because of Beckham's cultural impact， he arguably deserves his place among the modern greats of the game. After all， the popular 2002 film about women's soccer was called Bend It like Beckham15）.

At United， he established himself as a first-choice midfielder16） during the mid-1990s and won many major honors for the club， including six English Premier League （EPL） titles， two FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999. His off-field stardom17） skyrocketed， thanks to his dashing18） looks and his 1999 marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams， which endures to this day. His club manager， Ferguson， wasn't keen on Beckham's celebrity lifestyle. And by allegedly19） aiming a boot at Beckham in a dressing-room argument in 2003， Ferguson literally struck the first blow20）. Their relationship couldn't really recover.

In 2003， Beckham was transferred to Spanish giant Real Madrid on a four-year deal. He didn't enjoy anywhere near the same success as he managed at United， but did win the domestic league title in his final season. His next move was somewhat stunning： in early 2007， Becks announced that he was coming to America and signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer21）（MLS） side Los Angeles Galaxy. In an instant， the profile of the sport was raised in a country where football means helmets， tackling and tailgates22）. It would be folly23） to suggest that it was a complete success—not once but on two occasions， Beckham returned to Europe to play on loan24） for the Italian team AC Milan—but he surely left the MLS in a better state than he found it. In fact， after finally winning some silverware25） for the Galaxy in the shape of the MLS Cup in 2011， he signed a two-year contract to remain in Los Angeles， where he got to lift the trophy again. And he retains a contractual26） option to buy into an MLS team.

His final club move was back to Europe as he joined Paris Saint-Germain （PSG） on a five-month deal at the start of this year. Sure enough， he went out a winner with the French side， winning the domestic league. It was PSG's first title in 19 years and the 10th league title of Beckham's career.

But as much as Beckham loved playing for club teams around the world， he seemed to save his biggest moments—both good and bad—for his national side of England. He made his debut in 1996 and played for his country 115 times， scoring 17 goals， and also captained the team， with his final game for England coming in 2009. The low-point was probably the red card he received against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France： England ended up losing on penalties， and Beckham was vilified27） by the press and even some supporters. But three years later， redemption28） would prove to be sweet. In the final qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup， played at the home ground of Manchester United， Old Trafford， against Greece in October， 2001， an inspired Beckham simply refused to lose. As England faced the prospect of a shocking defeat， which would have seriously damaged the team's chances at qualifying for the Cup， Beckham stood over the ball and seemingly willed29） the ball into the net to tie the game 2-2. England went through to the World Cup. Beckham would never lift a trophy of note30） when representing England. But he gave his country—and so many others—lasting memories.

英國曼聯足球俱樂部傳奇主教練亞歷克斯·弗格森爵士將于本賽季末（編注：指今年5月）退休一事引發的足壇震動尚未平息，曼聯另一標志性人物又突然宣布退役。2003年，大衛·貝克漢姆揮別了曼聯老特拉福德球場，如今，38歲的他又于2013年5月16日正式宣布掛靴?！凹偃缥倚〉臅r候，你對我說，我將來會為從小就向往的曼聯足球俱樂部效力并贏得獎杯，會光榮地擔任英格蘭足球隊的隊長并代表我的國家出戰上百次，會先后加盟數個世界頂級的足球俱樂部，我那時準會告訴你，這是異想天開，”貝克漢姆在一次聲明中說，“但我很幸運，我實現了這些夢想?！?/p>

貝克漢姆是唯一一個在英國、西班牙、美國和法國四個國家都贏得過足球聯賽冠軍的英國球員，他在2007～2012年效力洛杉磯銀河隊期間，更是促進了足球運動在美國的形象提升。貝克漢姆宣布退役的消息一出，人們對他的溢美之詞便紛至沓來，這其中就包括英國首相戴維·卡梅倫，他在推特上這樣寫道：“對貝克漢姆的退役衷心表示祝福。他為曼聯隊和英格蘭隊踢出的神奇任意球將在所有球迷的記憶中長存?！必惪藵h姆還在足球場外立下功勞，曾為倫敦成功申辦2012年奧運會發揮了重要作用。

貝克漢姆的成名路始于效力曼聯。曼聯是貝克漢姆最喜愛的足球俱樂部，他共代表曼聯出場394次。在這家堪稱世界最知名的足球俱樂部中，貝克漢姆穿的是著名的7號球衣，與20世紀60～70年代曼聯代表人物喬治·貝斯特的球衣號碼相同。但貝斯特并不一定就對小貝推崇備至，他曾說（可能只是在調侃）：“他（譯注：指貝克漢姆）不會用左腳踢球，不會頭球，不會截球，進球也不多。除了這些，他還不錯?！必愃固剡@番言辭犀利的評論可能道出了丁點事實，但貝克漢姆精準的長短傳球技法著實讓人嘆為觀止，同樣令人稱奇叫絕的還有他常常直接破門的定位球。由于貝克漢姆的文化影響，他躋身當代足壇巨星之列可謂當之無愧。就連2002年一部講述女足的熱門電影也被冠名為《我愛貝克漢姆》。

20世紀90年代中期，貝克漢姆確立了自己作為曼聯首屈一指的中場球員的地位，他為球隊贏得過許多重大榮譽，包括六次英超聯賽冠軍、兩次英格蘭足總杯冠軍和1999年的歐洲冠軍聯賽冠軍。因為外表優雅迷人，再加上他1999年與原“辣妹”組合成員維多利亞·亞當斯結婚并且攜手至今，貝克漢姆在足球場外的明星地位也一路飆升。但曼聯主教練弗格森卻并不欣賞貝克漢姆這種名人般的生活方式。2003年，弗格森與貝克漢姆在更衣室發生爭執，據說弗格森將一只球鞋徑直砸向了貝克漢姆，確確實實地率先挑起了沖突。此后，兩人再也沒能真正重修舊好。

2003年，貝克漢姆轉會西班牙足球豪門皇家馬德里俱樂部，簽下為期四年的合同。進入皇馬的貝克漢姆沒能續寫其在曼聯努力獲得的輝煌成績，不過他確實在他參加的最后一個賽季贏得了西甲聯賽冠軍。貝克漢姆接下來的動作有點出人意料：2007年初，小貝宣布進軍美國，與美國職業足球大聯盟球隊洛杉磯銀河隊簽下為期五年的合同，足球在美國的關注度立刻得到了提升。要知道，在美國football一詞指的可是以頭盔、擒抱和車尾派對為特征的橄欖球。說貝克漢姆此次轉會大獲成功那是瞎話——貝克漢姆不是一次而是兩次被借調到意大利AC米蘭隊，重返歐洲賽場踢球——但可以肯定的是，他離開時的大聯盟比他初到時發展得更好。事實上，2011年貝克漢姆帶領銀河隊贏得了大聯盟冠軍，總算為銀河隊捧回個獎杯。此后，貝克漢姆與銀河隊續簽了兩年的合同，繼續留在洛杉磯，并且再次為銀河隊拿下大聯盟冠軍獎杯。此外，貝克漢姆還在合同中保留了購買一支大聯盟球隊的權利。

今年年初，貝克漢姆重返歐洲進行了其最后一次俱樂部轉會，加盟了巴黎圣日耳曼俱樂部，簽下為期五個月的合同。當然，貝克漢姆帶領這支法國球隊奪冠，贏得了2013年法甲聯賽冠軍。這是圣日耳曼隊19年來首次奪得冠軍，也是貝克漢姆職業生涯中斬獲的第十個聯賽冠軍。

然而，不管貝克漢姆多么樂于轉戰全球的各大足球俱樂部，他似乎將自己最為重大的時刻——既有輝煌，也有挫敗——悉數留給了自己國家的英格蘭隊。從1996年第一次上場，貝克漢姆共代表英國出征115次，17次進球，還曾擔任英格蘭隊隊長一職，直到2009年為英格蘭隊最后一次出征。貝克漢姆職業生涯的低谷可能出現在1998年法國世界杯上英格蘭對陣阿根廷的那場比賽，當時貝克漢姆被紅牌罰下，英格蘭隊最終在點球大戰中落敗，貝克漢姆為此遭到了媒體甚至他的一些球迷的口誅筆伐。然而，三年之后，貝克漢姆又將功贖罪，迎來美譽。2001年10月，英格蘭隊與希臘隊在曼聯主場老特拉福德球場展開2002年世界杯預選賽的決戰。貝克漢姆斗志昂揚，求勝心切。英格蘭隊眼看就要慘敗，很有可能因此而無緣世界杯，此時貝克漢姆停球射門，鬼使神差地射進一球，將最終比分扳平為2：2。英格蘭隊最終順利入圍世界杯。盡管貝克漢姆代表英格蘭隊參賽時從未捧回過重量級的獎杯，但他卻為他的祖國——包括其他多個國家——留下了經久長存的回憶。

10.George Best：喬治·貝斯特（1946～2005），北愛爾蘭職業足球運動員，曼聯前成員，被公認為英國足球史上最偉大的球員之一。

11.with one's tongue in his/her cheek：調侃地，開玩笑地

12.tackle [?t?kl] vi.【足】阻截；【橄】抱住并摔倒對方抱球隊員

13.pointed [?p??nt?d] adj. （意見、言語、舉止等）尖銳的；犀利的

14.set piece：定位球，包括任意球、球門球、角球、點球和中圈開球。

15.Bend It like Beckham：《我愛貝克漢姆》，2002年上映的一部電影，主要講的是印度少女杰西的追夢故事。杰西夢想著能和自己的偶像貝克漢姆踢球，并像貝克漢姆一樣出色。

16.midfielder [?m?d?fi?ld?（r）] n. 中場隊員。足球運動對中場隊員的技術及體能要求都很高，足球場上也素有“得中場者得天下”之說。

17.stardom [?stɑ?d?m] n. 明星的地位（或身份）

18.dashing [?d????] adj. 優雅迷人的，自信的，有風度的

19.allegedly [??led??dli] adv. 根據（人們）宣稱

20.strike the first blow：先動手；先發制人

21.Major League Soccer：（美國）職業足球大聯盟