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David Beckham awarded MLS franchise as he finally gets Miami football team
The former Manchester United star has been chasing his dream of owning a football team in the MLS for the last four years.
BY JACK RATHBORN
19:21, 29 JAN 2018UPDATED22:19, 29 JAN 2018
David Beckham's MLS dream is about to come true after he was awarded a franchise in Miami.
Beckham's ownership group have finally secured the 25th team in MLS - four years after the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said he'd front the new franchise, reports the Mirror .
"Everyone knows that we did the announcement for Miami four years ago, and then we've had a lot of bumps along the road and that's been frustrating," Beckham told ABC News .
"But now we're in such a positive place."
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David Beckham has been awarded a franchise(Image: Reuters)
Beckham joins his fellow Class of 92 in moving into football ownership, with Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes', Phil Neville and Nicky Butt's journey with Salford City.
The former England captain will front the long-awaited arrival of MLS to South Beach, following commissioner Don Garber's initial interest in the move back in 2012.
"It is with tremendous pride that we welcome Miami to Major League Soccer,'' said MLS Commissioner Garber in a statement.
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David Beckham played for Los Angeles Galaxy for five years and is now setting up his own club in Miami.(Image: PA Wire)
"We know the right people are in place and the time is right for Miami to become a great Major League Soccer city.
"This ownership is committed to bringing Miami the elite-level soccer team, stadium and fan experience it richly deserves.
"We look forward to working with the entire organisation on a strategic and successful launch for Miami's MLS club.''
The ownership finalised plans for a stadium last June, with land secured in the Overtown neighbourhood in Miami.
Beckham has sort the help of new investment with local investors Jorge and Jose Mas becoming majority partners back in December.
The cost of starting the franchise will be $25million - a heavily discounted price from the current $150m fee required in the league.
(Image: Miami’s Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture)
(Image: Miami’s Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture)
Beckham will hope to tap into the Latino community in Miami, for whom football is one of the most popular sports.
The former LA Galaxy star was joined at the official announcement by Garber, Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, MasTec co-founders Jorge and José Mas, SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, Simon Fuller, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Beckham's journey in American
2007
January 11 - A day after Real Madrid's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic reveals Beckham will not renew his contract, he announces he has agreed to join MLS side LA Galaxy on a £128million, five-year deal in August.
July 13 - The Beckhams arrive in Los Angeles and the 32-year-old midfielder is later unveiled to 5,000 fans in a ticker-tape welcome and insists he has not gone into "semi-retirement".
July 22 - Beckham makes his debut as a late substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Chelsea at the Home Depot Center after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
August 16 - Marks his first start by scoring with a trademark free-kick in a 2-0 SuperLiga semi-final victory over DC United.
2008
March 26 - Wins his 100th cap in England's 1-0 defeat by France.
October 30 - AC Milan announce the midfielder will join them on loan on January 7.
2009
March 9 - Milan announce they have reached a "timeshare" agreement which will allow them to retain Beckham's services until the end of the season, when he will return to Galaxy.
2010
March 14 - Tears his Achilles tendon in Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo, an injury which ends his World Cup dream.
2011
November 20 - Plays a starring role as LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup with a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo.
December 31 - His initial five-year contract expires.
2012
January 19 - Beckham commits his future to the Los Angeles club by signing a new two-year deal.
November 20 - Announces he is to leave Galaxy after the MLS Cup final after deciding not to take up the option of the second year.
December 1 - Signs off in style with a 3-1 cup final victory over Houston Dynamo.
2014
February 5 - Announces he has exercised an option in his LA Galaxy contract to buy an MLS franchise in Miami.
2018
January 29 - MLS officially unveil Miami as the next expansion franchise.
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