According to wife Posh, Beckham gets a buzz out of guys getting off on him. "He's a big flirt and he loves it. He walks around the kitchen going 'I'm a gay icon, I'm a gay icon'."

And it's no surprise why. Cropped and tattooed with the kind of good looks that produce involuntary emissions, sans sarong, David Beckham is most blokes (wet) dream. He's the first football star to look like a film star - considering how keen Becks is to get his kit off for the cameras perhaps that should read porn star.

At ease with his sexuality, the Leytonstone lad's chilled enough not to give a stuff about the stick he receives over his huge gay following. "I think it's cool. Other people may have a problem with it, but whether men or women fancy you, it's always nice to be liked. I think it's great."

David Beckham signed to Manchester United in 1991. It was during Man U's 95/96 double winning season that Beckham began establishing himself as a first team player. Around the same time, Beckham caught the eye of England coach Glenn Hoddle. Today, Becks is captain of the squad and the biggest name in English football.

2001, his year of greatest achievement so far, saw David scoring the most decisive goal in England's World Cup Qualifiers. With just seconds left in 2nd half Time Added he scored against Greece. England qualified top of the table, knocking arch-rivals Germany off, and guaranteed us a place in the finals. He was guest on the Parkinson show twice this year, once on his own and once with Victoria. In December David was voted Sports Personality of the Year in the BBC Poll, after being the bookies favourite for weeks - nobody could dispute that he deserved it.

But it's not the game that his gay fans are interested in. He could play netball for all they care. No, it's Beckham's sensuality, sensitivity and animal athleticism that are the attraction. That and the fact his arse looks so shaggable in those skimpy shorts.