PARIS: Former England captain David Beckham hailed Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as a “father figure” after the Scot announced his retirement.
Beckham joined Manchester United’s academy and spent 17 years, playing 394 games with the first team and winning six Premier League titles“As I have said many times before, the boss wasn’t just the greatest and best manager I ever played under,” Beckham was quoted as saying on the website of, PSG (www.psg.fr).
“He was also a father figure to me from the moment I arrived at the club at the age of 11 until the day I left. Without him I would never have achieved what I have done in my career.”
Beckham’s relationship with Ferguson had a bitter end with the midfielder moving to Real Madrid in 2003, a few months after the manager had kicked a boot that hit him in the face.
Beckham, however, said he was grateful for the support Ferguson gave him when he came under fire following his 1998 World Cup quarter-final dismissal against Argentina, considered a factor in England’s elimination.
“After ‘98 without the manager I would have found it virtually impossible to cope with the attention I was getting on and off the field and for this I will always be grateful to him for his support and protection,” Beckham said.
REUTERS
