The Becks Factor

So after 6 years at L.A Galaxy, David Beckham yesterday waved goodbye to the MLS on the back of a second consecutive MLS Cup Final victory. 
Beckham's move to America back in 2007 was one shrouded in raised eyebrows and cynical reception, the money, the publicity, the influence from a celebrity wife... all overshadowed the heart of his move state-side, the football. 
Despite a shakey start to his time in L.A, with injury and a lacklustre string of performances, Beckham eventually began to up his game, seemingly after the immediate attention and intensity of the media spotlight on him dimmed. 
With the influence of the former England-Captain, Galaxy can now boast two Cup Final victories, three victorious league campaigns, and a whole host of minor competition wins. 
But above and beyond all, David Beckham's American endeavour has significantly enhanced the health of American soccer, a sport which alongside national sports such as Baseball, NASCAR, Basketball and American Football, has always struggled. The MLS League itself has inflated in size, with 12 teams becoming 19 teams due to the increased interest in the sport. Merchandise sales across the globe are up 231%, as is undoubtedly the profile of American soccer as a whole. After all, you don’t attract names such as Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane to a league on the other-side of the world, without an incentive and catalyst figure such as David Beckham and his role in North America. Well done Becks.