David Beckham is staying in LA for two more years, after that it could be owning a MLS team. (Getty Images)

This is something we’ve been hearing since 2007. David Beckham has a clause in his contract with Major League Soccer that once he retires, he can buy a MLS franchise.

That much was true with his five-year deal in MLS and it is true once again with his new two-year deal.

“I have the option of owning a franchise, and that excites me,” Beckham said at a news conference yesterday in Los Angeles.

“He made it very clear to us we have to sort this through, that he’s going to exercise his option to be an owner in Major League Soccer,” Leiweke said. “We have a commitment to help him when that time comes and my guess is that, unless that’s part of the Galaxy, we’re going to be competing with him on and off the pitch.”

“The partners in the league have structured that option in a way that will allow David to become a partner in the league, to become an owner in the league at some point in the near future and operate and run his own franchise, and we’re going to encourage that,” he said. “Unless I’m mistaken, that’s his future once he does make a decision to retire.”

I won’t get into where Beckham could land as an owner today. That horse has been beaten enough over the last couple years that we know it won’t be in a few places like LA or New York.

From the sounds of things, owning a MLS franchise is still very important to Beckham. Think about it for a moment, what Beckham and his brand mean to MLS. This shows that once he hangs up his boots for good that his brand will still have a lasting image in this league.

Like him or not, Beckham has done a ton for MLS and having him be an owner one day in this league is good in my eyes.

Will he be the owner of the 20th club in MLS? Or will he be ushering in a new era in MLS that is going beyond 20 clubs? Or lastly, will he be owning a club that already exists that is being moved (probably the least likely)?

Time will tell.

Obviously we’re now at least two years away from really knowing the true nature of this clause in his contract. We know the basics – he can become an owner – and that he plans on exercising that agreement. The rest we’ll have to wait and see as the next couple of seasons unfold.

David Beckham is staying put in LA. (Getty Images)

He’s staying put.

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced today that they have reached an agreement with David Beckham on a new two-year deal.

Beckham turned down offers from French club Paris-Saint Germain, now backed by wealthy Qatari owners who dangled a reported 18-month, $17.9 million deal to lure him to France.

He also said no to English Premier side Tottenham.

For Beckham it all came down to family. He’s stated many times how he loves having his family in Southern California. In the end that was all that mattered to the 36-year old midfielder.

“I’ve seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I’m as committed as ever to growing the game here,” said Beckham. “My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here.”

“This was an important decision for me,” Beckham said in a club statement. “I had many offers from clubs from around the world, however, I’m still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy.”

In 2011, Beckham notched a career-high 15 assists last season and added two goals in 26 games, his most appearances since joining the league. Seven of his assists during the regular season were game-winners, and he notched an assist in all four of the Galaxy’s postseason games.

Could Lampard go west to the Galaxy? (Getty Images)

I know this comes from The Sun but a couple interesting comments in this article though about how David Beckham has been talking to Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard. Beckham tells Lampard to go to California because he’d enjoy a life out there.

But the most interesting thing in this is the comment on the three DP rule. Naturally it suggests that should Lampard sign with the Galaxy and Beckham stays with LA, the team could find a way to have both of them – along with their other two DPs – Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.

Oh you have to love the thought of LA being able to bend the rules yet again to get the big names. Will it happen? Probably not but it is always worth poking at when you hear it being mentioned.

An MLS source revealed: “Galaxy have three designated players — Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, who is on loan at Everton.

“However, there could be a way around the rules so Lampard could also join.”

I still believe Lampard will stay in London with Chelsea but I wouldn’t mind at all seeing him in a MLS uniform, even if it is with the Galaxy.

David Beckham is being courted yet again by Tottenham. (Getty Images)

It should come to no surprise that EPL side Tottenham wants to sign LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham. ESPN had this report this morning about how the EPL side is hoping to sign Beckham after his contract with the Galaxy ends later this fall.

“I don’t think you would ever say no to David Beckham. He would bring a lot to any club,” Redknapp said Friday. “He came and trained with us last year. He was fantastic to have around the place as a player and as a person.

“What are the chances of us signing him? I have no idea,” Redknapp said. “I’ll be honest. I don’t have a clue. I wouldn’t know the financial situation or what it would take. I have never discussed it with the chairman.

“Would I like him here? Of course I would.”

Of course this could be trumped if Beckham ends up going with the claims that he wants to stay in the US and play another season or two for the Galaxy. It looks like this winter will be another fun one with the Beckham circus.

Queens Park Rangers are also said to be interested in him.

News out of the UK this morning, a day after the Cosmos competed in the Paul Scholes Testimonial match with Manchester United, former Cosmos keeper Shep Messing is already telling folks that the Cosmos are interested in going after David Beckham.

“I don’t think there’s any question,” Messing told Sportinglife.com when asked if Beckham, who is in the final year of his contract with the LA Galaxy, will be a target for the Cosmos.

“I think Beckham is the type of player that the New York Cosmos want and the New York Cosmos will be the club that players like Beckham want to play for.

“Who knows if it’s too little too late but David’s having his best year (playing football in the United States).

“I speak with him often and he is aware of every move that the Cosmos are making.

Beckham and the Cosmos? We all know Beckham wants to stay in MLS after this season (or at least he’s telling folks that). Do anyone think he’d be willing to go to a team that doesn’t even exist yet though? It’s hard to tell at this point but I wouldn’t put anything past this group from the Cosmos for at least making the pitch.

David Beckham had some tough comments about the officials. (Getty Images)

While in a way this is a little bit of a pot calling the kettle black but the comments made by LA Galaxy star David Beckham last night aren’t that bad really. Sure, he’ll likely get fined by the league and he knows that. I’d imagine he’s even cool with it as he had to get this off his chest last night:

“To be honest over the last few games I think I’ve spoke too much about referees,” Beckham said. “They’re becoming the stars of the MLS, and that’s obviously not what teams want and clubs want. You want the players to be playing out there. You want it to be fair. I just don’t think the consistency’s there. I think there’s bad calls, and we’ve had our majority of bad calls over the last few games, but it’s ruining games. It’s ruining our preparation for games. I’ll probably get in trouble, but it’s gone on too long. We want that consistency to be there, and we want to keep our players on the field.”

While most players and coaches don’t like talking about the officials because of the consequences that happen from doing so, Beckham is really one of the few that can probably get away with it in some form. Again, he’ll probably get fined by the league for these comments but at least someone is calling out the men in the middle.

I wrote last week over at SBNation.com that one ref became the star (in a bad way) of a game between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the New England Revolution. With so many cards being issued out this season, sure the players have some of the blame but so do the officials.

What do you all make of Beckham’s comments? Do you think the officials are getting too card happy this season?

I’m curious to see if this will get dressed up any for a TV spot too.

(H/T to the guys over at SBNation for pointing this out earlier.)

It is finally here, Major League Soccer’s first kick of 2011. The long wait (or short wait if you think the offseason has been rather quick like I do) is over and the games will pick up in a hurry starting tonight. It seems to be a new tradition for MLS, the first kick of the new season begins at Qwest Field for the third straight season as the Seattle Sounders play host to the LA Galaxy.

The Sounders look for revenge against the Galaxy, who knocked them out of the MLS Playoffs a season ago. On the flip side, the Galaxy are hoping to keep their hot streak alive against the Sounders.

The bar has been set high for both clubs going into this season. LA has title hopes and fans in Seattle expect even bigger things for the two-time US Open Cup champions. The Galaxy have beefed up their lineup a bit with guys veterans like Juan Pablo Angel and Frankie Hejduk. Seattle on the other hand made a few moves while keeping most of their 2010 bunch intact.

Tonight will be all about controlling the tempo of the game for these two. LA will want to silence the Qwest Field crowd yet again (last year they dominated Seattle here) by keeping possession and pressuring the Sounder backline that let in their fair share of goals last year. If LA gets off to a quick start it could be a long night for the hosts. The Sounders have to use their speed on the wings (if Steve Zakuani is able to play tonight of course) and find ways in space to get Fredy Montero and Blaise Nkufo involved in the attack.

With JPA, Donovan Ricketts and Omar Gonzalez all likely to miss tonight’s game for LA, it gives Seattle a solid shot of being in this one. Bruce Arena’s club has had Sigi Schmid’s number these last two years but tonight feels like a draw to me. LA will get on the boards in the first half in this one with LA mounting a comeback late.

Player to watch out for: Landon Donovan, the dude just loves the spotlight in games like this.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 1, LA 1