In 1998, just as he was on the verge of becoming the iconic sports figure we know today, FourFourTwo magazine attempted to predict what Beckham would look like in 2020. To put it mildly, their prediction couldn’t have been more off the mark! The mock-up image they created was not only unflattering but wildly inaccurate. Rather than the luscious locks, chiseled jawline, and captivating eyes he now possesses, the journalists at FourFourTwo imagined a David Beckham with receding hair, an enlarged forehead, and even an unflattering unibrow.

Their vision of his future included a less glamorous twist in his career as they humorously suggested he would fall from grace. The magazine painted a grim picture of Beckham’s future, stating that things went distinctly pear-shaped for the Manchester United starlet after his club missed out on the 1998 championship.

Fast forward to 2020, and we see a David Beckham who defied FourFourTwo‘s interesting vision. With a successful career in football, business, and fashion, he remains a global icon. His looks remain intact, and his life is a far cry from the tongue-in-cheek prognosis made over two decades ago.

As the Beckham docuseries debuts on Netflix, we are reminded of his long-lasting appeal. While the prediction failed to capture the essence of the real David Beckham, it serves as a humorous glimpse into the past. One fan jokingly commented that in 20 years he too, could finally look like Beckham. While the magazine’s foresight may have missed the mark, one thing is certain–David Beckham’s iconic status is here to stay.

Luke Fickell, the former head coach of Cincinnati, has been chosen by Wisconsin to fill its head coaching position, the program announced. Pete Thamel of ESPN broke the news that Wisconsin had focused its search on Fickell. Later, Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated corroborated the information and said that a deal was imminent.

Luke Fickell’s Decision

Luke Fickell had already told the Bearcats about his decision to accept the Wisconsin position, according to sources, Pat Forde reported before Wisconsin’s announcement. Kerry Coombs, head coach of Cincinnati’s cornerbacks and coordinator of special teams, will lead the Bearcats in the interim, and Forde said a search for Fickell’s replacement will start right away.

In a statement to Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal, former Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez called the selection “a home run hire.” A formal announcement is expected to be made, according to Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Fickell Already Has an Amazing Career

Luke Fickell worked as an assistant for 15 years on the defensive coaching staff at Ohio State. He departed Columbus in 2017 to become the head coach of the Bearcats, where he has served for the previous six seasons. Luke Fickell has assisted Cincinnati in developing the Bearcats into one of the nation’s finest programs. The squad has won at least nine games in five straight seasons under his direction, including three seasons with double-digit victories and the American Athletic Conference championships in 2020 and 2021. The Bearcats were 13-0 during the regular season a year ago, making them the first non-Power Five school to make it to the College Football Playoff.

While in his ninth season with the squad, Wisconsin sacked its head coach in October. The Badgers finished 67-26 under Chryst and qualified for a bowl game in each of the previous seven campaigns, including three New Year’s Bowls.

Jim Leonhard, the club’s defensive coordinator who served as interim head coach for the remainder of the year, guided the team to a 4-3 record and another trip to the bowl. Although it seemed as though the program might give Leonhard a go at the full-time position, the possibility of employing Luke Fickell was reportedly too good to pass up.