Remembering David Beckham's First Ever Manchester United Goal

The 1990s were incredible for a number of reasons; curtain haircuts and baggy trousers were rife, British music was at its finest with Oasis taking over the world, and professional wrestling gave us the ever-iconic Attitude Era and peak Vince McMahon.

It also saw some of the greatest players to lace up a pair of boots birthed into the beautiful game, David Beckham being one.

These days, we hear the name 'Beckham' and think of the family as their own celebrity entity. They've transcended the world of football and become bedded into so many different avenues of society. From owning a MLS franchise in Miami, to flogging Christmas shower gels in Boots, Beckham truly is everywhere which often makes it easy to overlook how it happened in the first place; he was good at the football. Like, really good.

Not only did he pave the way in allowing footballers to become more than just a footballer but also a major celebrity, he also possessed a wicked right foot that was supercharged with crisp accuracy, unrivalled power and stupendous whip, which allowed him to manipulate a football in mesmerising fashion.

Contrary to what Twitter might tell you about players whose peak was before 2010, Beckham was different gravy on his day. That right foot, combined with an incredible vision and smart movement, saw him become one of the most deadly creators in the world, be it slipping through a teammate or putting the ball in himself.

And while it's easy to remember him for his Galactico status, trendsetting move to LA Galaxy or his return to Europe with Milan, it all started with Manchester United.

Beckham signed as a trainee in 1991, and was a part of the FA Youth Cup winning squad in 1992 alongside the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Gary and Phil Neville. By September of that year, he'd done enough to get the approval of Sir Alex Ferguson and earned himself a first team debut, replacing Andrei Kanchelskis in the League Cup against Brighton.

The 'Beckham' name was now into the realms of reality and the secret was out, but it took another two years for people to truly take notice, when he bagged his first goal for the club.

Ferguson's United welcomed Galatasaray to the Theatre of Dreams in their penultimate game of the Champions League group stage on 7 December 1994. Not only did United have to win and hope that Gothenburg could do the unthinkable away in Barcelona and cause an upset, but they had to do so with a limited squad. Competition rules at the time meant there was a limit of just three foreign players allowed in the starting XI, so Ferguson turned to his fledglings.

A 19-year-old Beckham was given the nod and started in a must win game for the Red Devils; no pressure.

Beckham occupied the right flank and with the onus on for United to bring it from the first whistle, the youngsters had eased that after just two minutes. Gary Neville floated ball in from the right-hand side to find fellow youngster Gary Davies, who put United ahead after a high octane start to the game.

Beckham endured a quiet half in attack for the most part, but played an important role in bringing players out of position by hugging the touchline and moving smartly off the ball to allow the likes of Neville and Roy Keane into advanced areas. His movement was suddenly recognised after 37 minutes, however, when he grabbed a crucial second goal for United to send them into half time 2-0 up.

The ball was loose following a clearance from Eric Cantona's inviting cross, before a pacy Beckham was first to react. He ran onto the ball and slotted it home with supreme accuracy and composure, gently fizzing it into the bottom left corner and leaving keeper Gintaras Stauce with no chance.

Naturally, Beckham turned up the volume after that. First goal in the bag and the Stretford End now properly mad for it, it was suddenly his game to show off his catalogue of skills and give Ferguson a selection headache. He shifted from either flank, desperate to get on the ball and make some more of the occasion.

He did just that, setting up Keane for United's third by flicking on a ball from Cantona towards the back post after some intelligent movement had found him free down the middle.

United would grab a fourth towards the end in an entirely fearless display from a youthful side. And while Gothenburg couldn't do them a favour, losing to Barcelona and subsequently seeing United out of the competition, it was the coming out party for Fergie's fledglings, namely Beckham.

His performance was just a snippet of what we'd begin to see week in, week out across Europe over the next two decades, and encapsulated Beckham completely. Hard working, resilient and obscenely talented from start to finish.