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December 6, 2006 

After some struggles to earn promotion to the Bundesliga 1, Munich 1860 signed another American, reports Kicker. Striker, Josh Wolff, will be relied on to score goals in close matches to help the team escape second division soccer.

The Lions are currently only four points short of earning promotion. The team counts on a strong backline led by American defender, Gregg Berhalter, who appeared for the U.S. National Team in World Cups 2002 and 2006.

The former captain of Energie Cottbus helped the East German team climb into the Bundesliga 1 last season, only to remain in the Bundeliga 2 by signing with Munich 1860.

Wolff will join his American comrade after several successful campaigns in Major League Soccer. Wolff was a Fire original and played 84 matches for Chicago. While in the Windy City, the young striker tallied 32 goals.

After his success in Chicago, the Georgia native moved to Kansas City to play for the Wizards. While with the Wizards, Wolff put in 27 goals in 80 matches. 

In 2003, Wolff suffered a meniscus tear and ankle injury which slowed his blistering pace significantly. However, the forward finished his last three MLS seasons healthy. Wolff scored 25 goals in the past three seasons with the Wizards and all but maxed out his salary under the league's tight cap.

Like most European teams, 1860 only signed the striker to an 18 month contract. The reasons for the short contract are multi-fold.

Few European teams will give any player pushing 30 more than a one year deal. The belief is by that age most players, especially forwards, are finished. Wolff is 29.

Munich 1860 also struggles with budget issues. Despite the team's recent success, previous pushes toward the “Big Show” have hurt Munich's funds. The team simply can't afford to issue a big contract.

Wolff is an American. Although signing American players is becoming more common in Europe, it is still viewed as a gamble. Despite appearing in two World Cups, Munich will keep in mind that he only scored once in both.

For Wolff, this move is elementary. His salary is largely fixed in the MLS, and he's still fairly young. For the forward to start preparing for retirement, he needed to go abroad. This move will help him further develop his on-field smarts and ideally help him establish a comfortable nest egg.

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David Beckham was born on May 2, 1975 in Leytonstone, London, England. He has excelled in world soccer for the English national team, Manchester United of England, and Real Madrid of Spain. His popularity has also increased as a result of his marriage to Posh Spice, now Victoria Beckham.

At the age of fourteen, David Beckham was signed by the English club team Manchester United where he would spend the next fourteen years playing soccer. In 1991, he began training full-time with Manchester United. A year later, David Beckham made his first appearance and was rewarded later in 1992 with a professional contract.

During his time with Manchester United, David Beckham was a part of several league championships, several FA Cup championships, and a European championship. In 1999, Manchester United won all three competitions. Beckham’s spectacular play for Manchester United earned him a spot on the English national team in 1997. He would play for them in the 1998 World Cup.

In the 1998 World Cup, David Beckham received a red card in a match against Argentina for kicking an Argentine player. England went on to lose the match and be eliminated from the World Cup. The media in England attacked him as being responsible for England’s loss due to his poor decision that resulted in his red card.

After the World Cup, David Beckham continued to play with his club team Manchester United and slowly worked his way back onto the good side of English fans. His marriage on July 4, 1999 to Posh Spice of the extremely popular girl group Spice Girls immediately placed the couple in the spotlight of the English media. The two eventually became icons worldwide. The births of their three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, have been key events for international paparazzi.

David Beckham found himself in constant disputes with Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, and decided to see what other clubs were interested in his talent for soccer. In 2003, the Spanish club Real Madrid signed David Beckham to a huge contract. Real Madrid has seen little of the success that the club is used to since Beckham joined the team. Coaching and personnel issues have led to the team struggling in Spain and throughout Europe.

David Beckham continues to play for the English national team and will be playing in his third World Cup this summer in Germany. He has focused on international play and is one of England’s leaders in all-time appearances or caps, as they are known in soccer. He is on pace to become England’s all-time leader before he retires several years from now.

The mixture of his soccer stardom, his celebrity marriage, and the international hit film, Bend It Like Beckham, have made David Beckham, arguably, the most popular celebrity in the world. He has been used in soccer and non-soccer advertising internationally.