London – A decade after kicking a boot at David Beckham's head, Alex Ferguson used his autobiography to criticise the star's apparent pre-occupation with fame.
At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the world's most recognisable 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”.
There was no way back after the February 2003 match against Arsenal. Ferguson was unhappy that Beckham neglected to track back when Arsenal scored their second goal in a 2-0 win.
“As usual, with David at that time, he was dismissive of my criticism,” Ferguson wrote. “It's possible that he was starting to think he was no longer needed to track back and chase.”
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.
“The big problem for me – and I'm a football man – he fell in love with (former Spice Girl) Victoria and that changed everything,” Ferguson said Tuesday at his book launch.
In the book, Ferguson details Beckham's insubordination, despairing when he refused to remove a beanie hat at a team dinner.
By that time, Ferguson said, Beckham had been “swallowed up” by publicity agents.
“David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson,” Ferguson wrote. “You cannot have a player taking over the dressing room. Many tried. ... The focus of authority at Manchester United is the manager's office. That was the death knell for him.”
Beckham was sold to Real Madrid in 2003, and made the surprise move away from Europe to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
“I imagine he also had his eyes on Hollywood and the impact it would have on the next phase of his career,” Ferguson wrote. “There was no footballing reason to go to America.”
Beckham ended his stint in LA last year, then spent five months at Paris Saint-Germain before retiring.
“He is an icon to every kid in the world,” Ferguson said on Tuesday, stressing that he admired Beckham.
Ferguson retired in May, bringing an end to the most successful managerial career in British football history, winning 38 trophies at United over 26 years, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.
Here are other highlights from Ferguson's autobiography:
ON WAYNE ROONEY:
The final days of Ferguson's reign were overshadowed by Rooney asking to leave United due to his lack of playing time. The transfer request was refused by successor David Moyes, and Ferguson, who remains at United as a director, is pleased with how Rooney has done this season.
Rooney, who joined United from Everton in 2004, first stunned Ferguson in 2010 by asking to leave, complaining about the apparent lack of stars in the team.
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.
Ferguson told reporters on Tuesday that Ozil, who joined Arsenal in September, was “not on our radar” in 2010.
ON ENGLAND JOB:
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.
Later on, Ferguson was irritated by England's medical staff turning up at United's training ground to check on players.
“Often I felt that this was an insult to us,” Ferguson wrote. “I wondered whether my Scottishness was a factor, a reason not to trust me.” – Sapa-AP