Beckham accepted his long-sleeved No. 23 jersey in front of some 5,000 fans and hundreds of reporters and photographers intent on recording every gesture and word uttered by him.

"It's nice to see so many fans, and I thank you for that," he told the crowd sweating under a hot sun.

He said despite the midsummer heat, the long sleeves will stay, honoring his long-held superstition.

"Without a doubt I'll be carrying on with the long sleeves," he said. "I never ever feel comfortable in short sleeves."

The Galaxy is paying Beckham $32.5 million (euro23.5 million) over five years to turn the next-to-last-place team into a winner and promote soccer in the United States.

"Potentially, it can be huge. The kids from a certain age are brought up on soccer in America," said Beckham, who added that his wife, Victoria, was excited to play the very American role of "soccer mom" to their three young sons.

He was resplendent in a gray Burberry suit, white shirt, pale gray tie and an accent pocket square. A glittering wide diamond wedding band flashed on his left ring finger, a watch the size of a wall clock on his right hand. His blond hair was buzz cut and he sported a stubbly beard.

Victoria strolled on the field in perilously high stilettos minutes ahead of her husband. Wearing a short blond 'do, huge black sunglasses, a fuchsia cap-sleeved dress and a matching alligator handbag, Posh Spice posed for assembled photographers, jutting her left leg out and resting her left hand on her tiny waist.

Sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz were out of sight.

Once the confetti fell, Beckham patiently posed for endless photos before visiting a series of suites jammed with international and domestic print, radio, television and Spanish-language media, a level of hype that shows no signs of slowing now that he has arrived.

"I think everyone's aware of the madness that will be around this team and this city," he said. "But we've got to enjoy it."

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