Even though his playing career is over, David Beckham continues to attract media attention wherever he goes.
Now, in a football sense, focus is beginning to turn to his children, specifically his three sons- Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz- who all currently represent Arsenal’s youth teams at various age groups.
This week we have been provided with something of an indication regarding the swathes of media coverage that can be expected should any of the siblings enjoy a prolonged career at the club.
Brooklyn, who turns 16 next month, is a right-winger like his esteemed father. He has been representing Arsenal at U16 level since November and last week, with many members of the squad away at a tournament in Qatar, he was called up to the U18 side for the first time and was an un-used substitute in a 1-0 victory over Leicester City.
That attracted national newspaper headlines, as did a video that Brooklyn posted on Instagram of him hitting the crossbar with an effort whilst playing for the U16s.
The eldest Beckham son certainly has some ability, but he isn’t the best player in his position in the Arsenal U16 team, with Nathan Tella, a rapid winger with impressive crossing capabilities, believed to possess more potential.
Brooklyn will discover tomorrow whether Arsenal have offered him a two year scholarship deal to stay at the club. If he signs then the club can brace themselves for yet more media coverage regarding youth team games, although publicity is certainly something that comes with the territory as far as the Beckhams are concerned.
The player that the club’s coaching staff have the highest hopes for out out of the trio is certainly 12-year-old Romeo, who has been playing for Arsenal’s U13s. With his father in attendance, Romeo scored a goal and was reportedly one of the stand-out performers as Arsenal’s youngsters beat Liverpool 3-2 this week.
10-year-old Cruz is also registered at Arsenal’s academy, although Romeo is the player most likely to have a future in professional football. We will have to wait a while, though, to see whether any of them are capable of making the grade at the club in the long-term.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
With the media presence in the main game these days it might not be the worst thing for them to get used to it early, even if the focus is on the Beckhams.
Didn’t work for Jaden Smith.
Tough for them. You are 200 times more likely to be a pro if your dad was, see Soccernomics, like Szczeney, but that still isn’t a huge chance.
Leave them be, I say, it will only be more painful if/when it doesn’t work out.
Over hyping of youngsters could be detrimental to their careers in football as proven on so many occasions in the past.
Even if their dad is David Beckham, the club should try to protect them from too much media attention.
IMO, it’ll be good for both the club and the players in the long run.
Sometimes, the English media could be a kill joy.
This is for sure, but I think their father will help them keep their feet on the ground in terms of their professional chances. He must have seen plenty of talented youth players at Utd who didn’t make it.
As I said the other week, its hard to imagine just how much talent it takes just to be the _worst_ player out of 22 in a premier league match.
Ah, Gus Caesar…
God point, Rob… Its all relative….
How can you speculate about the relative probability of ten and twelve year old kids making it in professional football? It is impossible to say at this stage, and they are best left alone.
Sign em up, will sell more shirts than the rest of the team combined.
Would be good if one of the lads makes it with us, not only to see Manc fans in tears. Chances of it are very low though, maybe 2% of promising 16yo players turn in a productive professional career. Good luck to all 3.
If any of them do turn out to reach pro level then I would guess their most likely destination would be daddy’s new club in Miami (assuming it gets off the ground).
Would be nice to be able to flog a few Beckham shirts though…
Look, what really matters is that there are undoubtedly united fans who are annoyed that they’re not up north. Fuzzy feeling.
Brooklyn and Romeo are Arsenal fans and always have been. No idea about Cruz.
Good lads, right choice, no? I jest…
All 3 kids given an opportunity simply down to contacts. Personally I’m disappointed.
Why disappointing? Surely if you have a contact or a way into something that you love you use it!
hehe maybe a bit of jealousy?
You might, just might get an audition or interview through contacts but you won’t win the spot you’re going for without some talent. If they’re in the youth setup then it’s a little bit because their contacts maybe got them noticed and a lot because their talent justifies their progress so far.
All three? Doubt it
You don’t think that maybe having a recently retired pro, with over a decade of experience in major clubs around the world, as a personal trainer/coach, miiiiight be beneficial to how good at football you are?
Take the hint! In a few days’ time the mail will be revealing an exclusive on cronyism in the Arsenal youth setup involving the Beckhams! Says we’ve signed exclusive backroom deals with Henry and Pires to have their children unconditionally become Arsenal starters!
If they don’t have the requisite talent they won’t make it, even at Darlington FC, don’t matter what “contacts they have
I am very positive about this kid. He seems like a good lad, and David Beckham has always been classy guy, despite being from Man Utd. Good luck to Brooklyn.
A career in professional football. FFS the kid is 12 years old. He’s a kid. I can’t believe there’s news coverage of him. Let him be.
My brother is the science teacher to a couple of these boys in London. I’ll ask him what’s going on, haha.
Initially I was a bit ‘meh’ about Brooklyn Beckham coming to Arsenal, but I was wrong. 1. If any of the Beckhams turn out to be good would you rather have them here or elsewhere? 2. Is there any better advertisement for Arsenal than the Beckhams choosing us over all other clubs. Like him or not David Beckham is a global icon like few others (go figure). To have him popping up on-screen (like Thierry and gorgeous Bob) from time-to-time does our ‘brand’ no harm at all – it’s exactly the sort of thing well-paying sponsors love. And that all… Read more »
Points 1 – 4, all tops. Arsenal rocks.
was Beckham an Arsenal fan as a youngster? is that the connection to our beloved team?
I was filled with pride when David trained with us and had a temporary squad number assigned to him. I was disappointed we never took him on loan rather than Milan or St Germain. He’s a class act in my book and I think it’s nice his sons are getting a chance with us.
Protecting a Beckham from media scrutiny? They came out of the wombs with cameras in their faces I’m sure they’re better than most kids (and adults) at dealing with the media they’ll be fine
Beckhams + shirt sales = millions and millions
Also Brooklyn is off out with Chloe grace moretz, so yknow, there’s that
Getting one over on the mancs is great but three at once … hahaha.
Lets wait see how they progress could be a fun future ahead.
Sign them up!! chances are they wont be worst than andre santos, Bischoff, Squilacci, Sylvestre, etc
We should be capitalising on the publicity (within reason) No harm keeping Brooklyn around if he shows aptitude and correct attitude. he may not be the best in position but if he is working hard, who knows? It will also help seal a continued deal with the younger brother Romeo just in case he turns out like a chip of the old block. The publicity is priceless for the club. As we attempt to revamp the youth team system safe in the knoweldge that we are amongst one of the world’s premier self-made/development clubs, there is no better advertisement than… Read more »
I think we already do with the Colorado Rapids, thanks to Kroenke. Although it may actually just be a commercial deal – not sure if there is much else to it. There’s actually academies across the globe (https://www.playthearsenalway.com/public/about/locations.htm) and the list of locations appear to be growing. If you look at the work that the Commercial team have been doing, the benefits of this are likely to be raising our profile initially. But, as many posters have raised above, the actual benefits of having well-known names in the academy and playing for the team can only be a good thing… Read more »
Love me some Beckham. Every Brit. does! His kids dress well too not like some wannabe rappers. If his kids are aw classy as Beckham senior they’ll have the right application at least. And how good would it be to have the “new Beckham” at Arsenal as unlikely as that dream seems? He brought Man U into the S league where they are today. Wenger treated Beckham better than red nose ever did.
Love me some S league…
Extra hair gel
Becks was a great average player with a very good right foot. Now what makes anyone thing that his kids made be more than average? The only cool thing about this beckham circus is the snub of utd for the gunners. Kinda funny but I really doubt any if them will make the grade. They will moly want to play for a top club but in reality they are probably good enough for the bench at colchester. Becks kids at arsenal is nothing but stale pr for our club.
Well, I guess we have our answer. Brooklyn has been passed over by Arsenal. If he really is an Arsenal fan, he’s probably devastated, and I’m sorry it didn’t work out for him. The competition, as others have noted, is exceptionally fierce for youngsters coming through the academy.
Will be interesting to see what happens with Romeo.