England legend David Beckham has admitted that he has taken a page out of the legendary playbook of iconic former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
David Beckham was one of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ stars who rose through the ranks of the youth academy to become a key first-team player under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 49-year-old Manchester United legend climbed to superstar status during his prolific spell at Old Trafford and he was a devastating winger in his prime.
One of United’s legendary No 7s, Beckham made 394 appearances under Red Devils legend Ferguson and he scored 85 times and registered 121 assists.
The former United and England superstar played a key part in the iconic Red Devils team that lifted a famous continental treble in the 1998-99 campaign.
Beckham has previously said that Ferguson was like a ‘father figure’ for him at United, but the pair’s relationship fractured towards the end of his Old Trafford spell.
The ex-England captain left Premier League side United in 2003 and he completed a blockbuster £24.5m transfer to La Liga club Real Madrid.
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Beckham on Man Utd legend Ferguson
David Beckham lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and two FA Cups during his glittering Manchester United spell at Old Trafford.
The former United winger added a La Liga trophy to his silverware cabinet while he was at Real Madrid before he signed for MLS side LA Galaxy in 2007.
Beckham spent time on loan at AC Milan during two spells before he signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and saw out the remainder of his career at the French club.
The former Real Madrid superstar insisted that Sir Alex Ferguson taught him a lot about “leadership” and he has been able to take that with him to his other ventures.
Beckham has made sure that the leadership trait that he adopted from Ferguson is visible to his staff, including being the first in the office and last out of it.
“I definitely learned a lot about leadership from Sir Alex Ferguson,” he told Men’s Health magazine.
“I think I’ve taken that into my business. I’m sometimes [the] first in the office and the last out. The staff see how I work.
“In business, I think it’s always been about how you treat people. That’s why I’ve got a great team.
“I don’t like an atmosphere in an office, I don’t like an atmosphere in a team. I don’t like aggression.
“You always treat people with respect – doesn’t matter who it is, from the guy on the door to the lawyers or the accountant.”
Beckham talks up Ferguson’s influence
Beckham previously revealed that Ferguson had a massive impact after he arrived at Old Trafford as a youngster in the United youth academy.
Speaking in the ‘Beckham’ Netflix documentary in 2023, the United legend said: “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.”
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