Archive November 4, 2025

Sir David Beckham, the ex-captain of England, has received a formal knighthood for his contributions to British society and football.

The King presented the 50-year-old with the honors on Tuesday at a ceremony held in Berkshire in honor of the man who was earlier honored on King Charles’ Birthday Honours list.

Beckham remarked, “I couldn’t be prouder.” I love my country, and people know how patriotic I am.

I’ve always emphasized to my family how important the monarchy is.

“Our monarchy is everything people want to talk to me about, and I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world.” I’m proud of it.

At Windsor Castle, his wife Victoria and his parents Sandra and David joined him.

The suit her husband wore at the castle was created and made by Victoria, who received an OBE in 2017 for her work in the fashion sector.

Beckham claimed that “King Charles] was quite impressed with my suit.”

He “has definitely inspired this look because he is the most elegantly dressed man I have ever met.”

My wife made me do it, she said.

When I was a young man wearing morning suits when he was quite young, I said to my wife, “OK, that’s what I want to wear,” and she did.

Beckham captained the Three Lions for six seasons between 2000 and 2006 while playing for his country 115 times.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder represented England at three World Cups and two European Championships.

Beckham left United’s academy in 1992, where he spent 11 years before making a £25 million move to Real in 2003.

Before joining the Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy, he spent four years in the Spanish capital. Prior to completing his career at Paris St-Germain in 2013, he spent two loan spells at AC Milan while residing in Los Angeles.

Beckham’s influence extends far beyond the pitch, though.

He contributed to London’securing the 2012 Olympics thanks to his birth in east London.

Since 2005, he has collaborated with the UNICEF’s humanitarian aid program, and a fund was established in his honor in 2015 to honor the pair’s ten-year partnership.

In 2024, Beckham supported King Charles’ education program and efforts to increase young people’s understanding of nature. She served as the foundation’s ambassador.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill will be without key midfield duo Shea Charles and Ali McCann for this month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

Southampton midfielder Charles misses out with a hamstring injury, while McCann fractured his arm in action for Preston North End last month.

Charles ‘ younger brother, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, is also absent with the shoulder problem that has kept him out of Northern Ireland’s past four games.

Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer is another absentee in a squad that sees uncapped Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly promoted from the under-21s.

The former West Ham player, who moved to Oakwell in the summer, has previously played 12 times for the under-21s.

Northern Ireland are third in Group A, three points behind leaders Germany and second-place Slovakia with two games remaining.

They face Slovakia in Kosice on 14 November before concluding their campaign at home to Luxembourg three days later.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers)

Defenders: Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Ryan Johnson (AFC Wimbledon)

Midfielders: George Saville (Luton Town), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Ross McCausland (Aris Limassol, on loan from Rangers), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield Town, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley)

While Conor Bradley and Isaac Price may garner more headlines, Shea Charles and Ali McCann have become the fulcrum around which O’Neill has built his side.

The manager has said previously that McCann is the sort of player his side “miss the most when he’s not available”, while Charles is a driving force from midfield and perhaps the best passer of the ball in the side, something all the more important in the absence of his brother’s distribution from between the posts.

Moving Paddy McNair or Justin Devenny, who are regular starters at left wing-back and center-back, into central midfield is a possibility, but that would leave similar gaps open elsewhere.

Spencer would have been the most obvious choice to replace Devenny down the left flank if not for his own injury.

Without their entire starting midfield trio from their previous four qualifiers, who will replace Galbraith with Northern Ireland in the Slovakia game at least?