David Beckham loses MLS final, but could win $40m US soccer franchise

David Beckham is ready to move into ownership as the next part of his great American adventure.

Becks’ LA Galaxy side lost the Major League Soccer final 5-4 on penalties to Real Salt Lake in Seattle after the game finished 1-1 after extra time.

The England midfielder has already expressed his wish to become an MLS team owner. He had the right to invest in a future franchise included in his contract when he signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

After Sunday’s loss, Beckham said he would be taking up the option and was already looking at different cities.

He said: “We’ve got options at this stage. I am not going to say what they are but it will happen eventually.”

There are currently 15 MLS teams. Philadelphia join next year followed by Portland and Vancouver in 2011. Montreal lead the chase to become the league’s 19th team.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said: “David has the option for our 20th team and that option can’t be exercised until after 2011 or after he stops playing. So we’ve got some time to figure that one out.”

Beckham’s current deal with the Galaxy runs out at the end of the 2011 season.

MLS has strict guidelines on who can buy one of its franchises, including paying a $40million (£24m) expansion fee and meeting the league’s guidelines on a suitable stadium.

Beckham was left to rue another penalty shoot-out loss after the loss to Salt Lake. In the shoot-out the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man converted the first spot-kick but a miss from striker Edson Buddle left Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell to clinch a 5-4 victory.

Beckham has been part of three England teams knocked out of major tournaments on penalties.

The first was against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup – a match in which he was infamously sent off – and then twice against Portugal, in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

“It’s always tough losing, whether you lose on penalties or in normal play, but we can be proud of where we’ve come to,” Beckham added.

“I wouldn’t say it’s tougher to lose on penalties but it’s Russian roulette, it’s not a nice way to lose but that’s the way it is.

“The people that step up are brave enough to step up and if you score, great, and if you miss it’s hard to take.

“Our keeper Josh Saunders made some great saves, he’s a great player, it just wasn’t our night.” Beckham shook off an ankle injury with three pain-killing injections to start the game. “The injections wore off after about 15 minutes,” he said.

“I knew it would be like that going into the game and of course it got worse and worse, but that’s what happens when you’ve got an injury like that.”

Beckham played his part in Mike Magee’s goal for Galaxy, but Robbie Findley equalised.

“I think we controlled the first half and then, naturally, they came out in the second half 1-0 down and pushed us a little bit,” Beckham said.

“They kept control of the ball, had their chances and we had a couple of chances but neither team could break each other down.”

Beckham is next off to AC Milan. He returns for a second loan spell at the San Siro from December 28 as he builds up for the 2010 World Cup.

Where could Beckham invest?

He will be free to choose whichever city he likes, and although there are teams already in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Washington DC.

Florida - There is no MLS team in the Sunshine State so Beckham could look at the glamour of Miami and South Beach or cast an eye to the middle of the state at the holiday hot spot of Orlando or further west in Tampa .

Atlanta - The home of CNN, Delta Airlines, and Coca Cola, the Georgia state capital is a thriving business community and supports major sports teams in the NFL, NBA and MLB.

Phoenix , New Orleans , and Nashville could all be contenders as well while Las Vegas is crying out for major sports franchises.