David Beckham to set up his own soccer club in Miami

IN an interview with BBC Sport, the head of MLS (Major League Soccer) in America, Don Garber revealed that when Beckham now aged 40 joined LA Galaxy in 2007, part of his contract gave him the rights to set up his own MLS team.

He had been looking to launch his new team for the 2018 MLS season but has been having difficulty finding a suitable site. According to Mr Garber, this problem appears to have been resolved and he has his eyes set on the site of the famous Orange Bowl, former home of the Miami Dolphins which was demolished in 2008.

“We are as confident as we have ever been that we can move this forward,” he told BBC Sport and as far as the league and David Beckham are concerned, he went on to say “He is a big part of our history. MLS wouldn’t be what it is today if he hadn’t decided to come in 2007.”

With 20 clubs in the USA and Canada, MLS is growing quickly and average match attendance is up to 21,000. The ongoing arrival of ‘older’ players from Europe such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba is considered to be beneficial to both the league and emerging young players as their knowledge and talent is keenly welcomed.

Perhaps with the return of Jermaine Defoe to the Premier League, some of these stars may have their eyes set on a transfer back to Britain at some time in the future.