Is David Beckham gone for good? Kevin McCarra looks at the repercussions of the new manager's decision
Icons lead dangerous lives. A new manager intent on showing he has a fresh approach could have no simpler means of doing so than by abandoning the previous captain. Steve McClaren has duly dispensed with David Beckham, although he denies he did so in order to make a melodramatic show of his independence.
As time passed, Beckham had become an increasingly ambivalent symbol. At 31 he could no longer be the incarnation of England's promise. Beckham scored one goal at this year's World Cup and made two others, but he was mistaken if he supposed that would safeguard him.
With a slip that could scarcely pass unnoticed, McClaren even said yesterday that the door would never be "open" to Beckham, before correcting that to "closed". It is known the player believes the initial statement was accurate and does not expect to add to his 94 caps. It remained only to trade courtesies.
"Having spoken to Steve McClaren this week I can fully understand that a new manager should want to make his mark on the team and build towards the next World Cup," said Beckham in a statement. "I am proud to have played for England for 10 years and my passion for representing my country remains as strong as ever. I'd like to wish the best of luck to John Terry [ the new captain] and will offer him my complete support."
McClaren was as adamantly diplomatic: "He's been a fantastic player with England and he has been a great captain, but now I have decided to move on from that. Let's talk about the future and the younger players that are coming through that we want to establish in the team for Euro 2008."
Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor, however, was not to be let off that easily and had to describe his phone call to Beckham. It was made just before Real set off for the current trip to the US. McClaren argued that the experience had not been so agonising because of "the relationship we've had over many years and the respect we've had for one another".
He was on more harshly realistic territory when he added: "It's a conversation that happens in football quite a few times."
Beckham's moment has seemingly come to be put out to pasture and references to his resolve to stake his claim anew by succeeding in Madrid are no more than token sentiments for the time being. Of the 25-man squad announced for Wednesday's friendly with Greece, only Gary Neville, at 31, is over 30. David James and Sol Campbell have both been ditched, with their prospects of returning at least as poor as Beckham's.
Despite being Eriksson's assistant, McClaren has indubitably distinguished himself from the Swede, even bringing Bill Beswick, the sports psychologist he employed at Middlesbrough, into the fold. "I'm a great believer in the development of young talent," declared McClaren. "The likes of Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kieran Richardson and Stewart Downing, who blossomed in the World Cup, deserve it."
Despite its idealistic tone, there will be a temptation to quarrel with the declaration.
Did Downing, for instance, really flourish in Germany? Considering Wright-Phillips's first goal for Chelsea came on Wednesday against Celtic after a harrowing year at Stamford Bridge, what precisely does he deserve? McClaren, nonetheless, should receive the latitude due any person stepping into the England post.
Much as he fends off any accusation that he is over-dramatising the contrast with his predecessor, few chances were missed to show that he is no Eriksson. "I like width, I like pace, I like penetration," he declared, conjuring up visions of thrilling football on the wings. It remains to be seen how much of that idealism is still intact at Euro 2008, assuming that England qualify.
In one respect, the change of direction was unavoidable. The "nucleus" of Eriksson's squad is intact and that would have been even more conspicuous if players such as Michael Owen, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney were not injured, but space had to be cleared for men who will be nearing their peak in 2008 or 2010.
"I've opened everything up to younger players coming through," said McClaren. "They know they'll get an opportunity if they're performing for their clubs."
In Chris Kirkland, Ben Foster, Michael Dawson and Dean Ashton he named a quartet of uncapped players. Attackers such as Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe are back in the fold, too.
McClaren, portraying himself as a straightforward guy who will not shy away from "massive decisions", insists he has learned "lots of lessons" from the month in Germany. As Beckham now knows, chief among them was McClaren's realisation that no footballer is sacrosanct.
Guardian Service
1975: Born Leytonstone, May 2nd.
1991: Joined Manchester United as trainee.
1992: Made his debut for United against Brighton in the League Cup on September 23rd. Wins FA Youth Cup.
1993: Signed professional contract at Old Trafford.
1996: Helped United win Double, collecting Premiership winners' medal and FA Cup winners' medal.
Scored goal of the season on the opening day at Wimbledon, lobbing goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line. Made his England debut in qualifying win in Moldova.
1997: Collected another championship winners' medal, voted PFA Young Player of the Year. United win Charity Shield.
1998: Scored first England goal, a free-kick against Colombia in Lens on June 26th. Sent off in second round penalty shoot-out defeat against Argentina. Vilified for the retaliatory kick against Diego Simeone.
1999: Responded to World Cup disgrace with consistently good performances for United, who win the Premiership, FA Cup and, memorably, the European Cup after coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich with two late goals.
Voted runner-up in World Player of the Year awards.
2000: February: Left out of Manchester United's team for the Premiership match against Leeds United following reports of a training ground bust-up with Alex Ferguson.
May: Collects his fourth championship winner's medal as United win the title by a record 18 points.
June: Aims gesture at abusive England fans following defeat in the opening game of Euro 2000 against Portugal.
November: Made England captain for the November friendly with Italy in Turin by stand-in boss Peter Taylor.
2001: New England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson appoints Beckham as captain.
May: Collects another Premiership title.
September: Captains England to 5-1 victory in Germany.
October: Curls in a 25-yard last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford to earn England a 2-2 draw and send them into the World Cup finals.
December 9: Voted the BBC Sport Personality of the Year.
2002: April 10: A two-footed tackle from Deportivo's Pedro Duscher in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final results in the England skipper hobbling off the pitch with a broken bone in his left foot.
May 11: Signs new three-year contract reported to be worth between £90,000 and £100,000 a week.
June 7: Beckham, who was able to lead England out for their opening World Cup match against Sweden, scores from the penalty spot against Argentina to seal a 1-0 win.
2003: February: Beckham involved in new controversy after Ferguson reportedly accidentally kicks a boot into his face in frustration at United's FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.
April 23: Left out of the starting line-up for United's crucial Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Real Madrid at Old Trafford. Beckham scores twice as a substitute but it is too late, United lose 6-5 on aggregate.
June 14: Awarded an OBE.
June 17: United accept £25 million bid from Real Madrid.
June 24: Misses a penalty as England lose to Portugal in a shoot-out in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals in Lisbon.
2005: April 10 - Inspires Real to a 4-2 win over bitter rivals Barcelona at the Bernabeu Stadium.
November - Captains England for 50th time in friendly against Argentina in Geneva.
2006: June 25 - Scores winning goal in World Cup second-round match against Ecuador from free-kick.
July 1 - Substituted during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal due to injury.
July 2 - Stands down as England captain.
