He’s Lionel Messi’s boss. He’s additionally one of the recognisable sports activities figures on the planet.
So, when David Beckham strode by the automobile park outdoors St Andrew’s shortly earlier than Birmingham Metropolis vs Wrexham kicked off, it was maybe comprehensible that the heads of supporters additionally making their method into the stadium ought to flip so quick that some appeared in peril of struggling a whiplash harm.
Monday nights in England’s self-styled Second Metropolis usually are not purported to contain a flying go to from the previous England captain. Nor, it needs to be mentioned, is a fixture in English soccer’s third tier the place you’d anticipate to see somebody with Beckham’s world profile.
However that’s the fact in an age when superstar possession has come to what Pele used to name “the gorgeous recreation”.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking up Nationwide League facet Wrexham in February 2021 set the ball rolling on a development that has since seen Hollywood comedy big Will Ferrell become involved at Leeds United and former NFL star JJ Watt change into a part-owner at Burnley.
Then there’s Tom Brady at Birmingham, who’s arguably the best NFL participant ever. He took a minority shareholding within the former Premier League membership a bit over a yr in the past.
He’s believed to be a step or two faraway from day-to-day operations, as you’d anticipate with somebody who has an intensive enterprise portfolio within the U.S., by no means thoughts a brand new job with Fox Sports activities as a pundit commentating on the NFL.
However Brady’s affect continues to be keenly felt, not least by way of participant diet and restoration, with Alex Guerrero, a long-time ally of the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion, having a major enter as an advisor to Birmingham.
His pulling energy additionally stays fairly spectacular, judging by Beckham’s shock go to to St Andrew’s. Together with spouse Victoria, the previous Manchester United and Actual Madrid star has struck up a detailed friendship with Brady.
They’ve been photographed collectively numerous occasions, together with a household meal out at a Miami pizzeria with their children. Beckham has additionally taken to social media up to now to have amusing with the legendary quarterback, who arrange residence in Florida following his retirement.
In some ways, the Brady-Beckham friendship is a pure alliance. Each stay iconic figures after spending years on the high of their respective sports activities, successful each membership honour there was to win.
The pair have additionally moved into sports activities possession since hanging up their boots, with Beckham becoming a member of Jose Mas and Jorge Mas on the helm of Main League Soccer facet Inter Miami. Messi, thought of by many to be among the many best soccer gamers of all time, is on the membership’s roster and main the push to offer the sport a agency foothold within the USA.
Simply final month, the injured Argentinian World Cup winner joined each Brady and Beckham within the stands in Fort Lauderdale as Miami took on Cincinnati.
The trio have been all smiles as they chatted earlier than kick-off, Beckham having fun with himself judging by the picture he posted afterward Instagram with the caption: “The Best — doesn’t get any higher”.
A 2-0 victory for Miami will little question have helped the temper on a day when Brady was introduced together with his personal Inter Miami jersey at half-time by his good buddy.
Monday noticed Brady return that favour by way of an invitation to hitch him within the administrators’ field at Birmingham after earlier spending time in an govt field with Gary Neville, Beckham’s former United team-mate and his finest man when he married Victoria. The trio have been joined by Beckham’s son Romeo.
As with that residence win for Miami in August, there was loads for the pair to rejoice as two objectives from Jay Stansfield and a thumping end by Tomoki Iwata clinched a deserved 3-1 win within the battle of superstar house owners.
Brady was an animated determine all through, as you’d maybe anticipate from somebody attending solely their third residence recreation after taking in final season’s visits of Leeds United and Rotherham United.
All three objectives introduced the 47-year-old to his toes, as did the 2 units of gamers confronting one another late on after tempers had boiled over following a conflict between Krystian Bielik and Paul Mullin.
This was truly the second time Beckham had watched Wrexham dwell. He attended the 2022 FA Trophy ultimate in opposition to Bromley at Wembley as a visitor of Reynolds, the Welsh membership’s co-owner alongside McElhenney.
He joined the Deadpool star, It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia creator McElhenney, and actor Ferrell in an govt field on the nationwide stadium however, like Monday evening in Birmingham, there was to be no Hollywood ending for Wrexham, who misplaced that ultimate.
As for Brady, nevertheless, he could properly see his buddy Beckham as one thing of a fortunate attraction after watching Birmingham lay down a transparent marker within the League One promotion race. Count on one other St Andrew’s invite to be winging its technique to Beckham Towers earlier than very lengthy.
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The Briefing: Birmingham 3 Wrexham 1 – Brady hosts Beckham on the battle of the superstar U.S. backers
(High picture: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Pictures)