High and lows of Beckham's career

High – Manchester United take him on as a trainee in 1991 and next year makes his debut for first team and is part of the side who win the FA Youth Cup.

High – Signs professional contract at Old Trafford in 1993.

High – In 1996 helps United win the double, collecting Premiership winners’ medal and FA Cup winners’ medal.

High – Scores stunning goal on opening day of the 1996 season at Wimbledon, lobbing goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line.

High – Makes his debut for England in the 3-0 World Cup qualifier win in Moldova in September 1996.

Low – A month later is quizzed by police after Southampton fans allege he hitched up his shorts revealing his buttocks. Beckham denies the accusation and no action is taken.

High – Collects another championship winners’ medal in May 1997.

High – Voted PFA Young Player of the Year for 1997.

High – In July 1997, signs £1m (€1.41m) sponsorship deal with Brylcreem and new five-year deal with United, worth £8m (€11.31m).

Low – Has bullets with his name carved on them sent to him through the post.

Also complains to police that he has been targeted by a mysterious stalker who has lurked near his home and at the team’s training ground.

High – Picked for Glenn Hoddle’s World Cup squad for France 98.

Low – Left out of the starting line-up for England’s opening two World Cup matches against Tunisia and Romania, as Hoddle says he is “unfocused”.

High – Recalled for third match against Colombia and scores his first England goal from a free-kick.

Low – Sent off in second-round match against Argentina for a retaliatory kick against Diego Simeone, and England go out on penalties. Angry England fans later hang an effigy of him in a United shirt outside a London pub.

High – Signs new United deal and makes impressive start to new 1998 Premiership season, even brushing off gauntlet of hate against West Ham.

High – Becomes a father when fiancée, pop star Victoria Adams, gives birth to son Brooklyn.

Low – Criticised by church leaders after appearing in a magazine photo-shoot draped in crucifixes.

High – Helps his club complete the treble of FA Cup, Premier League title and Champions League after United stage a remarkable late recovery to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Barcelona.

High – Marries Victoria Adams in a lavish ceremony at Luttrellstown Castle, just outside Dublin.

Low – Caught on camera aiming a V-sign at Leeds fans after some of the visiting supporters sing offensive chants about Beckham’s wife and child during league match at Old Trafford.

Low – Beckham’s wife admits her husband likes to wear her underwear, but later claims it was a joke.

Low – Sent off for a high challenge on Jose Milian as United are held to a 1-1 draw by Mexican club Necaxa in the opening game of the World Club Championship in Brazil.

Low – Left out of Manchester United’s team for the Premiership match against Leeds in February after reporting late for training because his son Brooklyn was ill.

High – Collects his fourth championship winner’s medal as United win the title by a record 18 points in May 2000.

Low – Aims gesture at abusive England fans following defeat in the opening game of Euro 2000 against Portugal. England bow out in group stages of the tournament.

High – Made England captain for the November friendly with Italy in Turin by stand-in boss Peter Taylor.

High – New England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson appoints Beckham as captain for his first match in charge, the friendly against Spain at Villa Park.

High – Collects another Premiership title with Manchester United in May 2001.

High – Scores last-minute free-kick equaliser in 2-2 draw against Greece in October which ensures England’s World Cup qualification.

High – Short-listed by FIFA for World Footballer of the Year in November.

Low – Rested for United’s Champions League match against Portuguese side Boavista and for the Premiership defeat at home to West Ham.

High – Voted the BBC’s 2001 Sport Personality of the Year in December.

High – Runner-up behind Luis Figo in World Footballer of the Year award.

High – Scores the opener as United beat Nantes 5-1 in the Champions League.

High – Scores twice as Man Utd beat West Ham 5-3 at Upton Park in March, including a spectacular chip from the edge of the box.

High – Scores a sensational goal from 30 yards to set United on the way to a 2-0 away success over Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Low – His night is marred by an horrific tackle from Diego Tristan and he is stretchered off with an ankle injury.

Low – Beckham returns to the team for the return leg against Depor but hobbles off after breaking a bone in his foot following a first-half tackle by Pedro Duscher.

High – Makes rapid recovery to feature in the World Cup for England, scoring a memorable penalty winner against Argentina before a quarter-final defeat by Brazil.

High – Wife Victoria gives birth to the couple’s second son, Romeo.

Low – Five men are arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap his wife but later cleared.

Low – Captains England in the first half of a humiliating 3-1 defeat by Australia at Upton Park.

Low – Suffers a gash above his eye amid reports the injury was caused accidentally by a boot kicked by boss Alex Ferguson.

Low – Left out of the starting line-up for the crucial Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Real Madrid. He comes on as a second-half substitute and scores twice, but the damage has already been done and United lose 6-5 on aggregate.

High – United lift Premiership trophy at Everton.

Low – Less than two weeks later suffers suspected fractured thumb in 2-1 win over South Africa.

Low – United accept bid from Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta on June 10, five days before election which could ultimately result in him moving to the Nou Camp.