CARSON — The story goes that Simon Fuller, the music and television producer responsible for "American Idol," and Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, were at dinner one night chewing over David Beckham's string of soccer schools when the subject of bringing soccer's biggest celebrity to Los Angeles was first broached.

"I thought we were kidding about this," said Leiweke. "Obviously, we weren't."

Beckham, the former English captain and star of two of Europe's biggest soccer clubs, Manchester United and Real Madrid, was unveiled as a Los Angeles Galaxy player Friday morning in an elaborate ceremony before 5,000 season-ticket holders and 700 members of the media at the Home Depot Center.

"This is a big challenge for me in my career," said Beckham, 32. "We may be moving to a beautiful place, a beautiful city, but it's more a challenge on the pitch."

That's because, like so many of the greats before him, including Pelé, Beckham has chosen to aid the so-called cause of soccer in the United States, rather than, as so many European figures said this week, "play at the highest level."

Contrary to reports he will use the move to begin a Hollywood career.

"I'm here to be a part of the Galaxy, to be an ambassador for the MLS and hopefully take the sport to another level," Beckham said. "It's an exciting project for us as players.

"People have talked about me going into the movies, but I'm here to just play football. I mean, soccer."

At Real Madrid, Beckham, alongside French captain Zinedine Zidane, Portuguese captain Luis Figo and Brazilian whippet Roberto Carlos, was known as one of the "galaticos."

To the confusion of the rest of the soccer world, the Galatico is now a member of Galaxy, "the jewel of MLS," according to Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas.

"It doesn't feel like a big fish is about to arrive in a small pond," wrote Marina Hyde in the UK's Guardian Friday. "It feels like a whale is about to splash down in a bathtub."

Yet even the most cynical of American observers found themselves energized by the event.

"You can feel the excitement of the people, it's hard not to get drawn into it," said Eric Wynalda, the Westlake High product and former U.S. national team and Galaxy player who was on hand as a television commentator.

"I certainly wish I were 10 years younger. I could end up on the end of some of those crosses."

After the first night in his new $22 million Beverly Hills home, Beckham made the drive down Interstate 405 in 50 minutes.

"Which wasn't too bad," said Beckham. "Somebody said it was going to take an hour and a half."

It was a day made back in November when Beckham responded to being ousted by the England team manager Steve McClaren and the Real Madrid lineup by manager Fabio Capello by agreeing to join the Galaxy in a five-year deal worth reportedly upward of $250 million.

He fought himself back into the Madrid lineup and helped Europe's most successful team end a record four-year barren spell with an unlikely Spanish championship, which earned himself an even unlikelier recall on to the English team for the ongoing qualifying campaign for next summer's European Championships.

Events that made Beckham regret his decision to leave, European outlets reported this week.

"No regrets whatsoever," corrected Beckham Friday. "I needed a new challenge after my four years in Real Madrid."

The unveiling is one of the stereotypical images of international soccer's summer offseason, in which the team's new signing poses for a quick round of snapshots with his new shirt, a scarf in the team's colors and the manager or president responsible for bringing in the new player.

When Beckham was unveiled four years ago as a Real Madrid player, Alfredo Di Stefano handed him his new shirt.

The legendary Argentine may not be as well known across the pond, but he certainly ranks alongside Diego Maradona, Pele, Johan Cryff and Ferenc Puskas as one of the greatest players the world has ever seen.

This time around, five pairs of hands, including those of Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, helped Beckham raise his new lilywhite shirt, as white, gold and blue confetti exploded into the air.

"Who says L.A. doesn't love soccer?" asked Villaraigosa.

The Galaxy hyped the event as the moment in which "The Stars Align," referencing Beckham joining a lineup that includes Landon Donovan, the U.S. national team's record goalscorer, and Cobi Jones, the U.S. record-holder in appearances.

Between print and television interviews, Beckham was shuttled down to the Galaxy locker room, where his new teammates could hear the cheers as they prepared for training. Coach Frank Yallop introduced their new teammate.

"We were just joking around, letting him know that he's welcome to the team," said Jones, the Westlake High product. "Funny enough, he's very unassuming and I think he'll fit right in."

The coaches and players hope the new addition turns around a season that sees the Galaxy 3-5-4, second to last in the MLS' Western Conference, and out of the U.S. Open Cup after a 1-0 loss to the third-division Richmond Kickers on Tuesday.

"It's been a long wait," said Yallop. "David is the last piece of the puzzle for us to get going in the right direction.

"The team cannot wait to get him on the field with his boots on and his Galaxy jersey on."

But Beckham admits to moving his family to "the other side of the world" for a goal a galaxy away from wins and losses.

"Potentially, in the states, soccer could be as big as it is in the rest of the world," said Beckham. "I'm very proud to be part of that (work) for the next five years and maybe more."