The relationship between David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson, that of a mentor and a protege, has encountered its fair share of ups and downs. During their time together at Manchester United, it was clear that Beckham’s flashy and fame-attracting lifestyle did not sit well with Ferguson, who put soccer above everything else. While there seemed to be a change in Ferguson’s outlook after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, in Beckham’s time, things were different.

Recently, Beckham took a trip down that memory lane in a British show. Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in soccer history. He is also known for his strict nature and his no-nonsense approach. This was evident when he famously forced Beckham to cut his hair in 2000. Ferguson objected to his mohawk hairstyle, which he felt was inappropriate for a professional player.

David Beckham revisits his disputes with SAF

David Beckham’s penchant for changing hairstyles and his fashionable attire never really resonated with Ferguson. The former Manchester United manager was often critical of Beckham’s off-field pursuits. He firmly believed that such things clashed with an individual’s commitment to the game of soccer. And the Inter Miami owner recently discussed it on the ‘Stick to Football’ show.

The 48-year-old appeared alongside his former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane. During the show, they reminisced about their time under Ferguson’s coaching. Neville and Keane playfully poked fun at Beckham for indulging in various activities that appeared to be aimed at irritating their former manager. Beckham, with a smile, denied the claim. He stated, “No, I didn’t, because I was just doing it because I wanted to do it”.

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The former England International further added, “I suppose I knew that it was something that a manager wouldn’t agree with. But like Keeney said, as long as I’m turning up for training on time, training, and playing at the weekend to the standards, then it wouldn’t be a problem”.

However, David Beckham did acknowledge that Ferguson’s attitude seemed to have softened to some extent after Ronaldo’s arrival at Manchester United.

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Did ‘father figure’ Alex Ferguson soften up for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sir Alex Ferguson had an exceptional relationship. The 5-time Ballon d’Or winner even considered the former Manchester United coach as a father figure. And according to David Beckham, Ferguson displayed a more compassionate side towards CR7 during their time together.

Continuing his earlier talk, he added how the strict nature of SAF “changed over the years”. “And then, you know, obviously, Cristiano came to the club, was doing what he was doing, you know, on the pitch and off the pitch. And the gaffer had kind of softened at that point to a certain, you know, to a certain level. But obviously, when I was doing it, it was a different time,” David Beckham concluded.

The relationship between Ferguson and Beckham remains a fascinating aspect of Manchester United’s history. While there were disagreements and clashes of ideologies, they still held a huge level of respect for each other. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

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