Saturday marked 21 years to the day since David Beckham made his English Premier League debut for Manchester United.
A boyhood Man Utd fan, Beckham joined the club as a schoolboy, and graduated from the United academy as one of the fabled 'Class of '92', who won the FA Youth Cup of that year and included Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt.
Beckham made his Barclays Premier League debut on 2 April, 1995 in a goalless draw with Leeds United but it was the following season that he established himself as a first-team regular on the right of midfield. He announced his arrival with an impudent goal from his own half against Wimbledon in August 1996 that was later voted the Premier League Goal of the Decade in the Premier League's 10 Seasons Awards.
Beckham key BPL stats
Appearances 265
Goals 62
Assists 80
Titles 6
Free-kick goals 15
The midfielder never looked back, his tireless energy, pinpoint crossing, accurate passing and eye for goal, particularly from free-kicks, winning his place in the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful. He won the first of six Barclays Premier League titles in that first season as a Man Utd regular and went on to claim two FA Cup and a UEFA Champions League winner's medal before moving to Real Madrid in 2003.