Beckham and Galaxy coach Bruce Arena look dejected after the defeat to Real Salt Lake on Sunday (Getty Images)
(WFI) England star David Beckham misses out on winning his first piece of silverware with the Los Angeles Galaxy but looks ahead to buying a Major League Soccer club.
The Galaxy lost 5-4 in a shoot-out to Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final at Qwest Field in Seattle on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, MLS commissioner Don Garber said Beckham has the option to own the 20th MLS team.
“We didn’t talk about this until recently but David has the option for our 20th team,” said Garber. “That option can’t be exercised until after 2011 or after he stops playing so we have got some time to figure that out.”
The Philadelphia Union become the 16th club in the MLS next year, with the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps due to begin competition in 2011. Montreal could become the 19th team in the league. Garber confirmed last week that there are no active discussions under way with a possible 20th team and no timetable to bring them into the league.
After Sunday’s defeat to Real Salt Lake, Beckham said he would be exercising the option of investing in an MLS team, which was included in his Galaxy contract, and was already looking at different cities for a team.
“We’ve got options obviously at this stage I am not going to say what they are but it will happen eventually,” Beckham was quoted by Reuters.
Under MLS guidelines, approved candidates to invest in a new franchise would be required to pay a $40 million expansion fee and deliver a suitable stadium for soccer.
Beckham received three painkilling injections in his bruised foot before the MLS Cup final, but had an influential role. He played the whole match, including extra time, set up his team’s only goal and fired in the first of the Galaxy’s four penalties in the shootout.
After the match, Beckham restated his intention to return to he Galaxy following his second loan spell at AC Milan to play in the fourth season of his five-year MLS contract. The 34-year-old hopes to play for England at the South Africa 2010 World Cup next summer. His Galaxy contract finishes at the end of the 2011 season.
Written by Mark Bisson
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