David Beckham's LA Galaxy career – in pictures

Beckham was officially unveiled as an LA Galaxy player at the Home Depot Stadium on July 13, 2007 on a five-year contract worth $6.5m per year. His switch from Real Madrid had been agreed several months before – indeed it had irked the Madrid coach Fabio Capello so much he temporarily dropped the midfielder from his team during the 2006-07 season Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Beckham's first training session with the Galaxy was on July 17, 2007. But due to an ankle injury he sustained at the tail of end of his time at Madrid, Beckham's practice was limited Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

The former England captain intended to mark his debut with a high profile friendly match against Chelsea. Yet his ankle injury prevented him from starting and it was not until the 78th minute that he finally joined the action. His role was limited, but a stern challenge from Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell exacerbated his woes and saw him sidelined for two more weeks before his US career could truly begin Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Beckham's first two competitive fixtures were against DC United, and in the second of them he scored a trademark free-kick and set up team-mate Landon Donovan as Galaxy won 2-0. Yet Galaxy's season ended in disappointment with elimination from the play-offs Photograph: Robert Mora/WireImage

The same fate befell the team the following season, though Beckham made a remarkable contribution in a fixture against the Kansas Wizards by scoring from the half-way line - a strike which echoed his goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon in 1996 Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

Beckham's desire to prolong his international career led him to agree an unexpected loan deal with Milan beginning in December 2008. Initially the deal was due to expire in March 2009, but Beckham financed an extension through to the end of the Italian season Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

His Galaxy team-mate Donovan was highly critical of the loan move. "My sense is that David is clearly frustrated, that he’s unhappy and, honestly, that he thinks it’s a joke. I also kind of feel that he’s taking the team for granted. I don’t see dedication or commitment to this team, and that’s troubling,” he said. Beckham branded Donovan's comments "unprofessional" Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Beckham endured a hostile return to America, even from his own fans. The small banner at the top of the picture reads: "Hey 23. Here before you. Here after you. Here despite you. Make us forgive you." One fan enraged Beckham so much he jumped the advertised boards and tried to confront him Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

Yet the Galaxy performed well with Beckham back in the side and he helped them to win the Western Conference final that season ... Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

... and he scored from the spot in a penalty shootout in the grand final against Real Salt Lake, though his side lost 5-4 Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Beckham returned to Milan in the MLS close-season for a second loan deal. He had an emotional homecoming when the Italians were drawn to face Manchester United in the Champions League. Milan lost 3-2 at the San Siro before being beaten 4-0 in Manchester. When Beckham departed the field he flung a green and gold scarf around his neck, evidently in support of the ongoing anti-Glazer protests held by United fans Photograph: Tom Jenkins

But Beckham's second spell in Milan ended sourly when he tore his left Achilles tendon in his next match. The injury put him out of action for six months and cost him any hopes of playing for England at the World Cup in South Africa Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Eventually, Beckham returned to action in September 2010 against Columbus Crew Photograph: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

He scored two goals, including this free-kick against Chivas, in what remained of the season as Galaxy once again won the Western Conference title. Beckham then trained with his boyhood club Tottenham in the MLS close-season, but a loan deal could not be agreed between the clubs Photograph: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

That means Beckham, aged 36, has been present in LA for the whole of the 2010-11 MLS season Photograph: David Livingston/Getty Images

Several notable players have joined the league since Beckham - Thierry Henry moved from Barcelona to the New York Red Bulls before Robbie Keane switched from Tottenham to the Galaxy, alongside Beckham Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Beckham's contract expires at the end of the season and he retains an option to buy an MLS side, should he wish to. The midfielder has received offers to return to the Premier League, while Paris St Germain have also expressed keen interest in his signature. But Beckham's focus remains on the play-offs; Galaxy defeated the Red Bulls 1-0 in New York in the first leg of their Western Conference semi-final recently ... Photograph: Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images

And Galaxy won the return leg 2-1, with two assists from Beckham, to advance to their third successive Western Conference final Photograph: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference final in order to reach the MLS final against Houston Dynamo (pictured). Beckham injured his hamstring prior to he title decider, held on November 20 at the Home Depot Centre, but was was still named in the Galaxy team Photograph: Alex Gallardo/Reuters

He played a part in the goal scored by Landon Donovan, supplying the pass to Robbie Keane from which the Irishman fed Donovan. Here, Beckham celebrates the strike with Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant and forward Mike Magee
Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP

That single goal earned Galaxy - and Beckham - the title Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Though his future remains uncertain, it was clear from his emotional acknowledgement of the fans that it may well have been Beckham's last match for the club Photograph: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Beckham lets fly with a bottle of Bud as the celebrations begin Photograph: Bret Hartman/AP

And predicatbly he's the centre of attention during the raucous partying that follows Photograph: Bret Hartman/AP

Back for a new season, Beckham prepares to take a corner kick against Toronto FC as fans throw confetti at him during the first half of their Concacaf Champions League quarter-final Photograph: Mark Blinch/Reuters

President Barack Obama holds up an LA Galaxy shirt as he stands with Beckham, during a ceremony to honour the 2011 MLS champions at the White House Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

And it has been another successful campaign in MLS for Beckham, here celebrating winning the Western Conference title against the Seattle Sounders, with team-mate Robbie Keane. The Galaxy will face the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup on 1 December Photograph: Ted S. Warren/AP