10th April 2002 - Injury to his metatarsal bone forces him out of Manchester United's remaining Premier League and Champions League fixtures.

2nd May 2002 - Happy Birthday as Becks hits 27

2nd June 2002 - A month into his 28th year Becks makes his first appearance since his injury captaining England in their World Cup opener versus Sweden. Despite Sol Campbell putting the Three Lions ahead the score ended 1-1.

7th June 2002 - Four years after seeing red in England's France 98 defeat to Argentina, Becks vows to get revenge this time around and duly dispatches his penalty just before the break as England beat Argentina 1-0, effectively ending their rival's World Cup interest.

12th June 2002 - A 0-0 draw with Nigeria is enough to put England through to the second phase of The World Cup.

21st June 2002 - England head home from Korea and Japan after going down 2-1 to 10-man Brazil in the Quarter-Finals. When the Brazilians go home 10 days later, they'll take the trophy with them.

23rd August 2002 - Grabs his first goal of the new season, a 26th minute equaliser to make it 1-1, in Manchester United's Friday night visit to Chelsea which would end in a 2-2 draw

7th September 2002 - Misses out on England's first match since the World Cup, a 1-1 draw with Portugal at Villa Park, with a rib injury. Lee Bowyer replaces him as Number 7

12th October 2002 - Starts a scoring run for England in Slovakia in their 2-1 victory that would see him net in each of their first four Euro 2004 Qualification Group 7 matches.

16th October 2002 - A delightful lob against Macedonia in England's next qualifier cancels out Sakiri's 11th minute surprise opener. The match at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium ends 2-2.

1st January 2003 - His 81st minute equaliser against Sunderland, following Veron's 4th minute own goal, goes down as United's first goal of the new year and sets up a frantic finish which sees Paul Scholes pop up as a last minute match-winner.

15th March 2003 - Scores the only goal of the game as United leave Villa Park with all three points.

29th March 2003 - Trademark curling free-kick on 53 minutes seals a 2-0 win for England in Liechtenstein after Michael Owen had earlier headed Sven's men in front.

2nd April 2003 - An last minute penalty following a foul on Kieron Dyer gives England a 2-0 win over Turkey at the Stadium of Light and sends them top of Group 7, whilst maintaining his goal-a-game qualification record.

8th April 2003 - Fails to inspire United as they go down 3-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League Quarter Final in the Bernabeu.

23rd April 2003 - The return match at Old Trafford sees Becks left on the bench, but his two goals in the final 19 minutes, including yet another world-class free-kick, turns the game around as United win 4-3. Though his 27 minutes on the field fuels yet more rumours of a move to Real, it's not enough to stop United crashing out of the Champions League.

2nd May 2003 - Celebrates his 28th Birthday as he and his United team prepares for the Premier League visit of Charlton that could also be enough to see the Championship Trophy return to Old Trafford.


David Beckham
Born: 2nd May 1975 in Leytonstone 

Manchester United
392 Appearances
83 Goals
Debut: 23 September 1992, Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester United, League Cup (sub)

England International
59 caps (23 as Captain)
11 goals
Debut: 1 September 1996, Moldova v England, World Cup Qualifier


HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKIPPER!!

Compiled by Jamie Bradbury

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