David Beckham hails ‘father figure’ Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘one of the most important people in his life’ despite their infamous Manchester United fallout
- David Beckham has credited Sir Alex Ferguson for guiding him at Man United
- The former United star credits the Scotsman for nurturing his raw talent
- The pair revisit their relationship in the upcoming Netflix series BECKHAM
David Beckham has praised Sir Alex Ferguson for being a guiding ‘father figure’ after helping nurture his skill during formative years at Manchester United.
The former England captain burst onto the global stage with United as a key member in the club’s fables Class of 92′ and has since forged a career as a global icon both on and off the pitch.
Beckham arrived in Manchester as a trainee in 1991 and immediately set out on a path that would end with him becoming one of Ferguson’s greatest-ever talents.
United’s legendary manager harnessed Beckham’s potential, taking him from a hopeful academy prospect to one of the best attackers in world football at the time, a feat that the 48-year-old largely pins on the Scotsman.
Speaking as part of the new Beckham documentary series airing on Netflix on October 4, he explains how crucial his relationship with the former Red Devils manager was.
Sir Alex Ferguson (left) and David Beckham (right) pose together as he joins Manchester United
Beckham hailed Ferguson as being a ‘father figure’ to him in an upcoming Netflix documentary
‘There’s me and the boss, one of the first times I met him’ says Beckham as he shows a picture of the pair smiling together following his move to Old Trafford at the age of 16.
He continues: ‘Alex Ferguson was someone that I looked up to as a father figure.
‘One of the most important people in my life from the age of 12, 13 when I first met him.’
Ferguson further explains how he felt a responsibility to nurture Beckham’s obvious talent after club scouts first became aware of him when the England star was on a trip to Barcelona.
‘He came to us as a small, skinny little boy you know? But when you see potential it sticks out at you.
‘It’s your job then to bring that to fruition, to make them a man,’ he added.
Beckham drives into Man United’s Carrington training ground with a plaster over his left eye caused by a boot that was kicked by Ferguson hitting him in the face
Beckham (right) and Ferguson (left) have since resolved their relationship
The duo celebrated huge success together in Manchester as Beckham won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League with the club he supported as a child.
Individual recognition also followed as the now-Inter Miami owner was recognised as the best player in Europe by UEFA in 1999, before his career at United began to struggle.
Ferguson later revealed how their relationship deteriorated to the extent that the United manager felt his once child prodigy was more focused on becoming a celebrity than football.
A dressing room clash saw Ferguson kick a boot in anger that ended up hitting Beckham in the eye and a subsequent move to Real Madrid followed in 2003. The pair have since resolved their relationship.
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