MADRID, Spain - David Beckham has signed a two-year contract extension with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid player David Beckham from England, right, falls under pressure from Leandro Somoza from Argentina, left, during his Spanish league soccer match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. [AP]

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Spanish television on Sunday night that the English soccer superstar will stay for two more years. His contract was due to expire at the end of this season.

Calderon said Real Madrid, which has not won a trophy in three years, was keeping the 31-year-old Beckham mainly for his athletic value, not his marketing allure.

"Of course the criteria were based on sports. Marketing issues are important but in this Real Madrid sports aspects take priority and team management has agreed to renew Beckham's contract," Calderon said.

Beckham captained England at the World Cup in Germany but was dropped from the side after the tournament by new national coach Steve McClaren.

Beckham, who joined Real Madrid in 2003 from Manchester United, played Sunday in the club's opener, a 0-0 draw with Villarreal. Beckham was replaced by Robinho in the 75th minute.