From IAN WRIGHT
IT’S NO secret that I think the world of David Beckham.
And as he finally says farewell to football, you have to take your hat off to him for becoming a truly global icon.
I can’t think of a better compliment to pay Becks than to say he is the ultimate role model for any kid wanting to make the most of himself.
And I don’t just mean as a footballer, but also in terms of being able to make the most of the opportunities that exist outside the game.
Becks has been incredibly successful at everything he has turned to.
But that is all because he has never been afraid to work hard and to go the extra mile.
When he first came into the England squad I was hugely impressed by his determination, and the way he worked so hard on his game.
I think Eric Cantona instilled that desire into all the young players at Old Trafford.
So when he took that stoppage-time free-kick against Greece in 2001, with England’s qualification for the World Cup hanging in the balance, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather see standing over the ball. Why? Because I’d seen him at England training sessions, long after everyone else had gone home, practising 40 or 50 of those free-kicks so he’d be ready if the time ever came when he just had to score.
Greece at Old Trafford was that time. With England trailing 2-1 and needing an equaliser to make it to the 2002 finals, Beckham did not disappoint. He hardly ever did. You can say ‘what about the time when he got sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup?’ But I reckon that gave us more proof of how much character he has.
People wanted to crucify him after that. It was all fuelled by jealousy, but Becks didn’t let it get to him.
He carried on doing everything to the best of his ability, and he turned those people around.
Let’s be honest, you could never argue against the pride and the passion he showed every time he pulled on the England shirt.
And it was the same for every team he has ever played for.
All the stuff outside football has come because Becks was never afraid to be different, to take risks and to express himself. Of course it helped that he is such a good–looking bloke.
And having a pop star wife doesn’t hurt in the publicity stakes either.
I’m glad he has decided to give up the game, at 38 he’s had a good run.
I want everyone to remember things like that goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon, that free-kick against Greece, and the way defenders panicked every time he shaped up to fire in another cross.
And he’s a top bloke too. The last time we chatted was at The Sun Military Awards last year.
Everyone in the room wanted to have their picture taken with him and he couldn’t do enough for them.
It’s not going to be easy for Becks to turn his back on playing football, because he loves the game. But the time is right.
