David Beckham's two England shirts from the 2005 World Cup qualifier against Austria, in which he became the first England captain to be sent off, are being auctioned. The shirts are expected to fetch around £30,000.
The Shirts and Their Significance
The shirts were worn during the match at Old Trafford on October 8, 2005. Beckham received a red card for a second bookable offence, making history as the first England captain to be dismissed. The auction, conducted by BUDDS, includes both the first-half and second-half shirts.
David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia at BUDDS, said: "David Beckham remains one of the most sought after names in football memorabilia and these shirts represent a fascinating chapter in his England career, albeit one he’d probably rather forget. To have both shirts together that were worn during the same international match is extremely unusual, particularly when that match is remembered for such a significant moment in English football history."
Match Context and Reaction
The sending-off occurred during a 2006 World Cup qualifying match. Both Beckham and then-manager Sven-Göran Eriksson called the decision "harsh," and the Austrian coach admitted the red card seemed incorrect. This was Beckham's second red card for England, following his infamous 1998 World Cup dismissal against Argentina for kicking out at Diego Simeone.
Convery added: "From the visible signs of match use to the literal smell of authenticity, they are exactly the kind of items collectors are looking for."
Beckham's Current Activities
Beckham is currently in the United States for the 2026 World Cup. He has been in contact with England captain Harry Kane, who grew up in the same area of north-east London. Kane recently matched Beckham's milestone of 115 caps, becoming the third most-capped England player behind Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney.
Kane told the FA podcast Lions' Den: "I am extremely proud to be amongst those names. David Beckham was my idol growing up, my hero. He came from the same area as me in Chingford and we went to the same school. It is mind blowing to be honest and it will be later when I get the chance to look back and take it all in. David sent me a voice note to congratulate me before and said he knew how hard it was to reach that level and he sent me a message wishing me all the best."
