‘Beckham’s mission was to be famous’
23 Oct 2013 5:39 AM IST
At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the world’s most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down.
‘David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game,’ Ferguson wrote in his autobiography, which will be released on Thursday. ‘I felt uncomfortable with the celebrity aspect of his life.’
By moving to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 after four years at Madrid, Ferguson said Beckham ‘surrendered a part of his career.’
In the 2002-03 season, Ferguson had concerns that Beckham’s ‘application level had dropped’ and his ‘work-rate was dropping.’ In the dressing room, Ferguson recalls Beckham swearing nearby before the boot flew.
‘I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye,’ Ferguson recalled. ‘Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him.’ After that, Ferguson told the board that Beckham had to leave.
ON WAYNE ROONEY
In the book, Ferguson recalled Rooney telling him United should have signed Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil in 2010 before he joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen.
‘My reply was that it was none of his business who we should have gone for,’ Ferguson wrote.
ON ENGLAND
As a Scotsman who briefly coached his country at the 1986 World Cup, Ferguson was never going to take charge of rival England.
The English Football Association tried - twice. First, in 1999 before Kevin Keegan took charge, and again the following year before Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired. ‘It wasn’t a bed of nails I was ever tempted to lie on,’ Ferguson wrote.
‘David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game,’ Ferguson wrote in his autobiography, which will be released on Thursday. ‘I felt uncomfortable with the celebrity aspect of his life.’
By moving to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 after four years at Madrid, Ferguson said Beckham ‘surrendered a part of his career.’
In the 2002-03 season, Ferguson had concerns that Beckham’s ‘application level had dropped’ and his ‘work-rate was dropping.’ In the dressing room, Ferguson recalls Beckham swearing nearby before the boot flew.
‘I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye,’ Ferguson recalled. ‘Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him.’ After that, Ferguson told the board that Beckham had to leave.
ON WAYNE ROONEY
In the book, Ferguson recalled Rooney telling him United should have signed Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil in 2010 before he joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen.
‘My reply was that it was none of his business who we should have gone for,’ Ferguson wrote.
ON ENGLAND
As a Scotsman who briefly coached his country at the 1986 World Cup, Ferguson was never going to take charge of rival England.
The English Football Association tried - twice. First, in 1999 before Kevin Keegan took charge, and again the following year before Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired. ‘It wasn’t a bed of nails I was ever tempted to lie on,’ Ferguson wrote.
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