David Beckham Reveals Regret Over Taking Captaincy from Landon Donovan
Wafric News – May 10, 2025
David Beckham has finally admitted what many had long suspected — he made a key mistake during his early days at LA Galaxy, and it had everything to do with Landon Donovan.
In a candid moment on his “Beckham & Friends Live” UEFA Champions League show, the global football icon reflected on the decision to take the LA Galaxy captain's armband from Donovan after his high-profile move to Major League Soccer in 2007.
“When I first moved to LA, Landon Donovan was the captain. The owner came to me and said, ‘I want you to be captain,’” Beckham revealed. “I said, ‘No, Landon is the captain.’ But eventually, they said Landon was okay with it… and I took it. That’s my one regret — I should never have taken it from him.”
Though Beckham went on to win back-to-back MLS Cups with the Galaxy, the captaincy controversy left a mark. Donovan had previously been vocal about his frustrations, notably in Grant Wahl’s 2009 book The Beckham Experiment, where he criticized Beckham’s commitment during his time in LA.
“He just flipped a switch,” Donovan was quoted saying at the time. “I believed he was committed… but something changed.”
Now a co-owner of Inter Miami, Beckham seems to be taking those lessons to heart. With global megastar Lionel Messi on the roster and title ambitions in full swing, Beckham is more aware than ever of the delicate balance between leadership and team dynamics.
Even with regrets, Beckham’s influence on U.S. soccer is undeniable. His 2007 arrival transformed the landscape of the league, drawing international eyes to MLS and paving the way for the star-studded era fans enjoy today.
Two championships, league growth, and a legacy that endures — but as Beckham himself admits, respect in the locker room matters just as much as results on the field.
WafricNews Sports Desk.
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