David Beckham is my footballer of the year. I would have voted for him even if Real Madrid had lost the title at the last hurdle.

Actually, even in that match against Mallorca, Beckham proved why he deserves the accolade. After 65 minutes, with Real trailing 0-1, he was substituted. The whole Real season was at stake, and the Englishman was forced to bow out of Madrid when the title dream looked precarious, to say the least.

But it did not prevent King David from going straight to shake Fabio Capello’s hand and give his manager a warm hug. The same Capello who discarded him only a few months ago, the same manager who sent him packing towards the Malibu sunset.

'He ignored the open wound in his heart. All he wanted was to prove his doubters and wrong-doers wrong. And that he did like no other player could'


Perhaps Beckham was injured or tired. Perhaps he was the one asking to be replaced. It does not matter, since David Joseph Beckham would – if he only could – walk up and embrace Ramon Calderon, his club president, who in January labelled him "Not a player but a half-actor in Hollywood".

David Beckham is the Footballer of the Season not only because of his amazing contribution to Real’s title and mid-season revolution, but mainly because of his capacity to overcome the harsh, arrogant, unjust treatment handed to him by two of the most senior coaches in the world – Capello and England boss Steve McClaren.

No other footballer or sportsman in the world would have swallowed his pride and used the immense frustration and deprivation as a springboard to a new challenge – a revival of the spirit and desire to conquer the Everest again, despite his age (32) and the deep feeling of betrayal.

David Beckham is the Footballer of the Year because his character is as shining as his talent. Because he is the only player on the planet who can also join the race for the Sportsman of the Year award. While it is true Kaka had a brilliant season on the pitch – culminating in Milan’s Champions League title – and will probably be rewarded with the ultimate individual prize, only Beckham can claim to have returned from the dead, in the unlikeliest of comebacks, to inspire a title chase in Spain and a revival of a stumbling, sinking England side.

While there is some justification in the credit afforded to McClaren and Capello for their U-turn on Becks (admitting a mistake at this level takes guts and is not an everyday thing), it is only the Leytonstone boy’s character which made it possible for the managers to reap the reward of their late awakening.

But even this does not take the responsibility and blame away from the two bosses. By their initial condescending politics and attitude, they are the ones who have sent Beckham to his exile in another footballing Galaxy. They were the ones who signed his early-retirement documents. They are the ones who have deprived him – and us – of at least another two to three exciting seasons on the main European stage.

And Beckham? Where did he take the insult to? To the gym – for hours of extra training. To the pitch – for more and more miles of running. He ignored the open wound in his heart. All he wanted was to prove his doubters and wrong-doers wrong. And that he did like no other player could. He behaved like a model sportsman, and when he eventually received the chance, he showed what a model footballer he still was.

Show me one player on the globe, of Beckham's stature, fame and popularity, who would have reacted similarly to such a blow to the ego. There are none. Thus, Beckham has also done a great service to his colleagues worldwide.

He shunned the cynics and taught us all that there does not necessarily have to be a contradiction between the most popular player in the world and the No.1 sportsman.

Therefore this season belongs to him, and the Footballer of the Year title can only be deemed a consolation prize for the much-too-early farewell we have to bid his style and personality.