Editing David Beckham (section)

====2004–2005: Managerial changes====
The league season began with new head coach [[José Antonio Camacho]] at the helm, but he ended up lasting only three matches, handing in his resignation as Real dropped to eighth spot in the La Liga standings. Camacho's assistant [[Mariano García Remón]] took over on temporary basis as Real's leadership scrambled to find a permanent replacement. Beckham made more headlines on 9 October 2004 when he admitted intentionally fouling [[Ben Thatcher]] in an England match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] to get himself booked. Beckham was due to receive a one-match suspension for his next [[Yellow card (sports)|caution]], and had picked up an injury which he knew would keep him out of England's next match, so he deliberately fouled Thatcher to serve his suspension in a match that he would have had to miss anyway. [[The Football Association]] asked Beckham for an explanation of his actions and he admitted that he had "made a mistake" and apologised.<ref>{{cite news |title=FA wants explanation from Beckham |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3735276.stm |access-date=6 October 2005 |date=14 October 2004 |archive-date=31 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531043924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3735276.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> He was sent off shortly afterwards, this time in a league match for Real Madrid against [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]. Having received a yellow card, he was judged to have sarcastically applauded the referee and was given a second yellow card, causing an automatic dismissal, although the suspension was cancelled on appeal.

By Christmas 2004, with the team sitting in second position in the league, García Remón was dismissed, and [[Vanderlei Luxemburgo]] became the new head coach. However, the well-travelled Brazilian failed to inspire the team to the title as Real again finished the season in second position. On 3 December 2005, Beckham was sent off for the third time that season in a league match against [[Getafe CF|Getafe]]. A day later Luxemburgo was sacked and was replaced by [[Juan Ramón López Caro]]. By the end of that season, Beckham was third in La Liga in number of assists.<ref>{{cite news |title=2005–2006 La Liga Stats |url=https://fbref.com/en/comps/12/196/2005-2006-La-Liga-Stats |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=FBRef |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010092135/https://fbref.com/en/comps/12/196/2005-2006-La-Liga-Stats |url-status=live }}</ref>