April 13, 2011 MLS--Beckham Keeps Door Open To 2012 (from MLSsoccer.com)
Beckham Keeps Door Open To 2012 Galaxy star says MLS Cup, shot at Olympics may keep him playing. Duane Rollins MLSsoccer.com April 13, 2011 TORONTO – David Beckham says he’s considering another season in Major League Soccer. “Yeah, you know, there’s a chance,” he told reporters Tuesday as the LA Galaxy prepared to take on Toronto FC (Wednesday, 8 pm ET, GOLTV in Canada, Direct Kick, MatchDay Live in US). “I haven’t made any decision about what I’m going to do after this year," he added. "At the end of the day, I am 35 years old, I’ll be 36 in May and I’m getting older, so I’ll need to see how my body feels at the end of the season, and if I feel that I can perform and continue, then I will continue.” Beckham’s five-year contract with MLS and the LA Galaxy concludes at the end of the 2011 season. He stressed that a decision to continue in 2012 would not be about a desire to play, but rather an ability to continue to perform at the level he is used to. “In a few months I will think about what I want to do and [decide],” he said. “I still love the game like I did when I was 21 years old and I still feel fit. I look after myself.” The midfielder indicated that he feels fit while playing for the Galaxy this year and is happy with his play so far in the young MLS season. One reason why Beckham may opt to come back is because he’s seen an improvement on the overall level of play in the league since he first arrived. “I think it’s definitely gone up,” he said “You’ve got improved [player] performances and improved team performances and the way the league has gone ... with the franchises that have come into this league. Having players like Thierry Henry coming to the league continues to increase its profile and overall skill level, he added. “It can only do good and promote the sport and obviously the MLS,” he said. One factor into Beckham’s decision to return is whether LA win the MLS Cup. “I think it’s always disappointing when you don’t win trophies,” he said, “but no [I wouldn’t consider my time in MLS a disappointment]. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time here. I have lots of friends throughout the league, throughout the teams I’ve played against and I think that it’s been very enjoyable.” Certainly with Premier League, La Liga and Champions League winner’s medals already won, Beckham doesn’t need additional silverware to solidify his legacy. But besides a run at MLS Cup, there is another competition that, “as a proud Englishman,” does intrigue him: the 2012 London Olympics. And with countries allowed to add three overage players on their U-23 teams, Beckham does seem like a natural fit. “I think that the Olympics are something that I’d like to be involved in and that I’d like to be involved in as a player,” he said. However, he cautioned it was still too early to make plans for 2012. “We’ll see,” he said. “It’s still a year away.”
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