Hero Beckham wins sports personality award
England soccer hero David Beckham - who won the hearts of the nation as he led the team to a place in the World Cup Finals - was tonight named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2001.
The Manchester United midfield ace, who will captain his country in Japan and South Korea next year, won British sport’s glittering prize after a final public vote during the two hour television special this evening.
More than 750,000 people voted on the night, as well as many more earlier, to chose one of six short-listed sportsmen and women.
Beckham secured England’s place in the World Cup finals with a spectacular free kick against Greece in the final group qualifier.
He also wore the skipper’s arm band as Sven Goran Eriksson’s men beat Germany 5-1 in Munich in an earlier qualifier.
Accepting the annual prize, Beckham thanked his family, club boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Eriksson for their support.
He said: ‘‘Most of all I would like to thank my wife (Victoria Beckham) who has been behind me all the time and obviously my son, who watches me, every game.’’
Round-the-world yachting heroine and record breaker Ellen MacArthur finished in second place after her spectacular second place in the Vendee Globe race in February this year.
Liverpool striker and England star Michael Owen, who scored a hat-trick against Germany was voted third.
The other candidates were world boxing champion Lennox Lewis, world triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards and tennis hero Tim Henman.
The programme also saw an interview with Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier who is recovering from serious heart surgery.
Manchester United supremo Sir Alex was also given a lifetime achievement award.
