Beckham may return for another MLS season

TORONTO (AP)

David Beckham said Tuesday that it's possible he could return to Major League Soccer next season after his five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy expires.

''Yeah, there's a chance,'' said the former England captain, who turns 36 next month. ''I haven't made any decision about what I'm going to do after this year. I think it's important that I just concentrate on my play this year.

''I feel fit, I feel good in games, I feel as if I'm performing well. I need to continue that and then in a few months I'll think about what I want to do at the end of the day.''

MLS: June 23-25

 

Thursday, June 23
Home		Road
Seattle	4-2	New York	Recap
Saturday, June 25
Home		Road
DC United	2-2	Houston	Recap
San Jose	0-0	LA Galaxy	Recap
Philadelphia	3-2	Chivas USA	Recap
FC Dallas	4-0	Portland	Recap
Sporting KC	2-1	Vancouver	Recap
Real Salt Lake	3-1	Toronto	Recap
Sunday, June 26
Home		Road
Chicago	1-1	New York
Seattle	2-1	New England	Recap
Columbus	4-1	Colorado
MLS Scores | Table | Fixtures

 

Beckham also told reporters in Toronto, where the Galaxy plays Toronto FC on Wednesday, that he's interested in playing in the 2012 Olympics in London.

''I think it'd be something that I'd like to be involved in, and I'd like to be involved in as a player,'' Beckham said. ''But we'll have to wait and see. That's a year away yet. So we'll see. I'll enjoy the rest of this season, you know we're only five games in.''

Beckham is in the final year of the five-year, $32.5 million deal he signed upon joining the Galaxy, leading many to speculate about his future plans and whether he would take one last shot at playing with a top club in Europe.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said in February that he was interested in signing Beckham and was prepared to wait until Beckham's contract with the Galaxy expires in November.

Beckham trained with the Premier League side during the MLS offseason earlier this year after a full loan deal was blocked by the Galaxy. Redknapp said at the time that the midfielder showed enough in training to suggest he could still compete in the Premier League, which he left in 2003 when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

Beckham has shown touches of brilliance in his four years with Los Angeles, but he's also been saddled with injuries. He tore his left Achilles' tendon while on loan with AC Milan last March and missed most of the MLS season, as well as the World Cup in South Africa.

So far this season, Beckham has three assists with the Galaxy.

''At 35, regardless of who you are, you're at the tail end of your career,'' coach Bruce Arena said. ''But it doesn't mean that your career is over and you can't be a good player. David is still capable of producing game in and game out.''

Arena said he believed this could be a very productive season for the veteran.

''David's a very good player, a lot of experience and ability,'' he said. ''And if healthy and fit and into it, he makes a difference each and every game. We're beginning to see that he's making progress.''

Regardless of where he ends up playing next year, Beckham will be a little busier at home after the birth of his fourth child with his wife Victoria. The couple is expecting a girl this summer.

''It's an exciting year for us as a family and an exciting year for me as a player as well,'' he said. ''My family is always my No. 1 priority but being successful at my job and being successful as a soccer player has always been up there.

''I feel I can do both.''