HIGH – In 1996 helps United win Double, collecting Premiership winners’ medal and FA Cup winners’ medal.

HIGH – Scores stunning goal on opening day of the 1996 season at Wimbledon, lobbing goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line.

HIGH – Makes his debut for England in the 3-0 World Cup qualifier win in Moldova in September 1996.

LOW – A month later is quizzed by police after Southampton fans allege he hitched up his shorts revealing his buttocks. Beckham denies the accusation and no action is taken.

HIGH – Collects another championship winners’ medal in May 1997.

HIGH – Voted PFA Young Player of the Year for 1997.

HIGH – In July 1997, signs £1million sponsorship deal with Brylcreem and new five-year deal with United, worth £8million.

LOW – Has bullets with his name carved on them sent to him through the post. Also complains to police that he has been targeted by a mysterious stalker who has lurked near his home and at the team’s training ground.

HIGH – Picked for Glenn Hoddle’s World Cup squad for France 98.

LOW – Left out of the starting line-up for England’s opening two World Cup matches against Tunisia and Romania, as Hoddle says he is “unfocused”.

HIGH – Recalled for third match against Colombia and scores his first England goal from a free-kick.

LOW – Sent off in second-round match against Argentina for the retaliatory kick against Diego Simeone, and England go out on penalties. Angry England fans later hang a effigy of him in a United shirt outside a London pub.

HIGH – Signs new United deal and makes impressive start to new 1998 Premiership season, even brushing off gauntlet of hate against West Ham.

HIGH – Becomes a father when fiancee, pop star Victoria Adams, gives birth to son Brooklyn.

LOW – Criticised by church leaders after appearing in a magazine photo-shoot draped in crucifixes.

HIGH – Helps his club complete the Treble of FA Cup, Premier League title and Champions Cup after United stage remarkable late recovery to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Barcelona.

HIGH – Marries Victoria Adams in a lavish ceremony at a castle in Ireland.

LOW – Caught on camera aiming a V-sign at Leeds fans after some of the visiting supporters sing offensive chants about Beckham’s wife and child during league match at Old Trafford.

LOW – Beckham’s wife admits her husband likes to wear her underwear, but later claims it was a joke.

LOW – Sent off for a high challenge on Jose Milian as United are held to a 1-1 draw by Mexican club Necaxa in the opening game of the World Club Championship in Brazil.

LOW – Left out of Manchester United’s team for the Premiership match against Leeds in February after reporting late for training because his son Brooklyn was ill.

HIGH – Collects his fourth championship winner’s medal as United win the title by a record 18 points in May 2000.

LOW – Aims gesture at abusive England fans following defeat in the opening game of Euro 2000 against Portugal. England bow out in group stages of the tournament.

HIGH – Made England captain for the November friendly with Italy in Turin by stand-in boss Peter Taylor.

HIGH – New England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson appoints Beckham as captain for his first match in charge, the friendly against Spain at Villa Park.

HIGH – Collects another Premiership title with Manchester United in May 2001.

HIGH – Scores last-minute free-kick equaliser in 2-2 draw against Greece in October which ensures England’s World Cup qualification.

HIGH – Short-listed by FIFA for World Footballer of the Year in November.

LOW – Rested for United’s Champions League match against Portuguese side Boavista and for the Premiership defeat at home to West Ham.

HIGH – Voted the BBC’s 2001 Sport Personality of the Year in December.

LOW – Left out of squad for Premiership game at Middlesbrough.

HIGH – Runner-up behind Luis Figo in World Footballer of Year award.

HIGH – Scores the opener as Man Utd beat Nantes 5-1 in the Champions League.

HIGH – Scores twice as Man Utd beat West Ham 5-3 at Upton Park in March, including a spectacular chip from the edge of the box.

HIGH – Scores a sensational goal from 30 yards to set United on the way to a 2-0 away success over Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

LOW – His night is marred by an horrific tackle from Diego Tristan and he is stretchered off with an ankle injury.

LOW – Beckham returns to the team for the return leg against Depor but hobbles off after breaking a bone in his foot following a first-half tackle by Pedro Duscher.

HIGH – Makes rapid recovery to feature in the World Cup for England, scoring a memorable penalty winner against Argentina before a quarter-final defeat by Brazil.

HIGH – Wife Victoria gives birth to the couple’s second son, Romeo.

LOW – Five men are arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap his wife.

LOW – Captains England in the first half of a humiliating 3-1 defeat by Australia at Upton Park.

LOW – Suffers a gash above his eye amid reports the injury was caused accidentally by a boot kicked by boss Sir Alex Ferguson.