David Beckham

In this autobiography, David Beckham tells the story of his career and private life himself. He looks back on his climb through the ranks at Manchester United, then one of the biggest clubs in the world, and on his tangled relationship with manager Alex Ferguson. That relationship ended badly, and he left Old Trafford in June 2003 to start over in another country under the constant gaze of the international press.

His England career is covered too: the period when the country turned on him, his return in favour, and the day he finally became captain. Away from the pitch, he writes about the man behind the famous footballer, model and style icon. He recalls how he met and married former Spice Girl Victoria Adams, how they are raising their sons Brooklyn and Romeo, and what it is like to have a family followed everywhere by reporters and photographers. He also reflects on his parents' influence, his shy childhood at home, and how their later separation affected him.

This paperback edition adds new material. Beckham describes his first season at Real Madrid from inside the dressing room, with stories about Figo, Roberto Carlos and Zidane. He responds to the sensational claims about his private life and how they affected his relationship with Victoria and where the family lived. He also goes behind the scenes of England's road to Euro 2004, including the players' threatened strike in support of Rio Ferdinand, Eriksson's time as manager and the finals in Portugal. A year on, he considers whether he regrets leaving United and whether he is really unsettled in Madrid.