- The former England captain revealed his sadness today after he was told the bad news by manager Stuart Pearce
- Beckham helped win the Olympics for London but has been cruelly overlooked
- Angry former footballers Gary Lineker and Robbie Savage call the decision 'terrible' and 'clueless'
By Martin Robinson
|
Former England captain David Beckham received the greatest snub of his illustrious career today when he was not selected for Great Britain's Olympic football squad.
Despite his age, the 37-year-old had hoped his efforts to bring the Games to his native east London would get him into manager Stuart Pearce's side.
But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder has been cruelly denied his Team GBÂ dream and revealed he is 'very disappointed' by the shock snub.
England legend Gary Lineker said it was 'terrible' Becks had been denied the chance to play in the Olympics 'having given so much' for British football and London 2012.
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Snubbed: David Beckham, pictured bringing the Olympic torch to Britain from Greece this year, has revealed he is 'very disappointed' to have been left out of the Team GB 2012 football squad
Disappointment: Last month Becks lit the flame seven years after he fought so hard with others to bring the Olympics to London
Only last month he flew in from Los Angeles to light the Olympic torch when it landed in Cornwall from Greece, marking the flame's arrival on UK soil.
THE CELEBRATED CAREER OF DAVID BECKHAM
1975: Born Leytonstone, east London.
1991: Joins Manchester United as trainee.
1996: Helps United to Premier League and FA Cup double.
1999: Helps United win the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup
2000: Collects fourth championship winner`s medal as United win title by a record 18 points.
2003: Awarded an OBE, above right, in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to football. Joins Real Madrid for £25million.
2005: Captains England for 50th time and helps win Olympics for London in Singapore.
2008: Wins 100th cap in the friendly against France.
2010: Part of England's backroom staff for World Cup.
2011: Wins the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy.
2012: Announces he has not been included in Team GB's squad for the Olympic Games.
He was also a key part of the delegation that travelled to Singapore in 2005 and won the Games. The rival Paris bid had been expected to win but in an amazing turnaround London beat them.
He also represented Britain at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by kicking a golden football.
Beckham, who has more than 100 England caps and is seen as one of the country's greatest ever players, had seemed to be certain to be part of the summer event but Micah Richards, Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs have been picked as the over-23 players.
Beckham said today: 'Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me. So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad.'
He added: 'Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.
'As a Londoner, I will have been really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town as part of Seb's [Coe] team, and I can't wait for the games to begin and enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain.'
The celebrated midfielder is also a proud Londoner, so the snub is a double blow.
Whenever he's in the capital, Beckham always makes the effort to visit a restaurant for his favourite meal, pie and mash, having been a fan of the traditional English meal since childhood.
In fact, Beckham paid for a delivery of pie and mash for all the Tottenham Hotspurs players when he finished training at White Hart Lane last year.
Star: Despite being 37, Becks is still playing regularly for LA Galaxy, pictured here last week after a 3-0 win over Toronto
Watching: Stuart Pearce went to see Beckham in action before he made his decision and told him he was not making London 2012
He had trained with Spurs during the US close season in order to try to play for England again after he was dropped by Fabio Capello.
Yet Pearce called dedicated Beckham on Wednesday night to inform him of the decision to leave him out, explaining that he had enough midfield players and he wanted to add experience to his defence.
The 37-year-old superstar, who currently plies his trade for MLS side LA Galaxy, played a massive role in Britain securing the Games seven years ago, and has stayed involved in a huge capacity since.
Beckham was included in Pearce's 35-man shortlist for the Games but will now not made the final cut.
As a football's biggest star, Beckham would have been a big pull for fans to come and watch Team GB at the games and get excited about the Olympic football - which is not normally a major draw for spectators.
He is still expected to come to the Games in some aspect and may have a role to play at the opening ceremony.
Delight: Beckham and his wife Victoria (left) leave the London 2012 celebration party after London won the Games in 2005
Effort: London 2012 sport ambassadors (from left) Beckham Sir Steven Redgrave and Denise Lewis
Curtain call: Beckham even represented Britain at the Beijing closing ceremony
Former footballers today expressed their anger at the decision.
England's joint top scorer Gary Lineker tweeted: 'Terrible shame for Beckham having given so much to the Olympic bid and football.'
Former Welsh midfielder Robbie Savage said: 'Why was beckham on the shortlist in the first place, then not to pick him ! Disgrace ! Stuart Pearce does make some stupid decisions , ie Parker captain of England and no beckham in gb Team , clueless!'
The British Olympic Association will also be surprised by the decision to leave Beckham out.Â
But BOA chief Andy Hunt had previously said Pearce will have free reign to do as he pleases with the squad.
He said: 'Stuart Pearce will make a decision on the best squad available given where he is in respect of now having assessed the players that are not involved in the Euros and the current state of injuries.Â
'He will then make the best call he can - on merit. I am not putting any pressure of him whatsoever to pick anyone. We discussed the whole topic of selecting over-23 players back more than a year ago but I haven't subsequently.
Family man: David, with his wife Victoria and his three boys, had dreamt of being involved in the Games
'We have been very clear from the outset, it's absolutely Stuart's choice and he is totally free to make the selection of the team he believes will put in the best performance. It's as simple as that.'
As a global superstar Beckham would have been a big pull for fans to come and watch Team GB at the games and get excited about the Olympic football - which is not normally a major pull.
Beckham is still expected to come to the Games in some aspect and may have a role to play at the opening ceremony.
VIDEO:Â Beckham snubbed by Team GB despite all his work to secure the games...Â
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We'll lose anyway
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This is the Olympics, not the GB All-Stars charity game!
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Good bye David, Inland Revenue an IRS will chase after you the taxes
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We just don't learn do we? After everything he has done, totally wrong. Doesn't matter where he lives he is a Brit through and through. He deserves more respect.
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Never mind it will leave him more time to work on his knighthood!
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he is now 37 and passed it as far as international football is concerned he carnt stand the pace now - john, w mids, 28/6/2012 14:46 ***************** Yeah because our current team are totally brilliant aren't they?! We could have done with him in the Euros instead of Rooney, Young, Milner and Johnson!
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Like this man but he is past his best and he must know at 37 he has to give the young a chance, can't believe he even thought he would get a place.
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Watching Becks has always made the game more interesting. What a shame he will be sorely missed on the football field. Me suspects a certain amount of jealously by Mr Pearce. He was never very highly rated that is why he was never considered for the job of Manager for the Senior team. He has just proven that by leaving Becks out!!
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Since when have footballers been picked for teams according to how good an ambassador they are for their country?
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He and his wife left the UK to permanantly live in the USA, and he is no longer the football player that he once was. It is a shame, because I really like him, but Stuart Pearce obviously has his reasons.
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