Beckhams face LA media scrum

David and Victoria Beckham were mobbed by the media today when they arrived in Los Angeles to begin their new lives in the US.

The former England football captain and the Spice Girls’ Posh held hands as they walked out of a Los Angeles International Airport terminal shortly before 8.20pm local time after arriving on a British Airways flight from London.

The midfielder, who helped Real Madrid win the Spanish title last month, will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

He will be introduced by the Galaxy today and make his playing debut in an exhibition match against Chelsea on July 21 in Carson, California.

Dozens of reporters and photographers pushed and shoved behind barriers set up at the terminal before the duo, surrounded by security guards, left in a black sport utility vehicle without commenting.

Their three children accompanied them on the flight, but did not leave the terminal with them. Victoria wore a sleeveless black dress and sunglasses and gave a quick wave to the paparazzi. Her husband wore a black jacket and jeans.

Several people at the airport to pick up passengers became paparazzi themselves, snapping images with their mobile phones.

“It was so awesome, he looks better in person than in the magazines,” said devoted Beckham fan Priscilla Flores, 15.

“I’m really excited to see him play his first game here. He’ll make soccer more popular.”

The media swarm also attracted curious onlookers, though not everyone knew what the big deal was.

“Who’s David Beckham?” asked Austin Baker, an 11-year-old California boy waiting for a connecting flight.