David Beckham retired from professional football at age 38. Celebrity news rarely catches my eye, but this time it did—thanks to an article about his wife, Victoria, the former Spice Girl.
Victoria isn't just any footballer's wife. After a modest solo music career, she's built a thriving fashion design business. Recently, she featured in Story magazine. Do you read Story? No? Me neither—except at the hairdresser. There, I spotted a two-month-old issue with a headline: 'Is Victoria Beckham making the same mistake as Sylvie Meis?'
Here's what happened: David aimed for one final flourish in his career, signing a five-month stint with Paris Saint-Germain. The family had just relocated from Los Angeles—where he'd played before and Victoria launched her design agency—to London, aiming to expand her brand across Europe. Their children had started school there. Victoria wasn't keen on another move.
Story deemed this a mistake, drawing parallels to Sylvie Meis, ex-wife of Rafael van der Vaart. Sylvie pursued her own path, they implied, leading to divorce. The subtext was clear: women should prioritize their husband's careers, sidelining their own ambitions.
That's Story's take. With a circulation exceeding 100,000—read by multiple people per copy, often women at salons—it spreads this message widely.
As a pragmatic observer of modern life, I'd say: David is fortunate to have a partner with her own successful income, especially in uncertain times. Celebrities might see it differently.
Thankfully, David's PSG chapter ended quickly, marking the close of his pro career. Now, Victoria can focus on family—while fitting in her fashion empire when time allows.
