David Beckham, one of the most iconic footballers of all time, has turned 46 years today. He has played for some of the best European clubs with the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester United and has won numerous accolades.
So as Beckham celebrates his 46th birthday, we take a look at the top 10 best quotes on the former English international.
Sir Alex Ferguson
“He was extraordinary. When he first came to us he would train morning and afternoon then show up in the evening to join in with the schoolboys. At the start of each season we used to give all the players a bleep test to get a sense of their aerobic fitness, and Beckham was always off the scale. True winners are relentless. The very best players compete against themselves to become as good as they can be. They have to be dragged off the training ground.”
Rio Ferdinand
“David Beckham is up there with the best passers I’ve ever played with; over a long distance he was ‘radar foot’. Some left footers look beautiful when they pass the ball. His right foot was like that – it even sounded nice when he hit the ball.”
Roberto Carlos
“Beckham takes free-kicks better than me. It is a joy to watch him take free kicks and he has proved that free kicks are not all about power”
Glenn Hoddle
“The first time I saw him was when he was a teenager and I took my Chelsea side to Old Trafford. You could tell then he was going to the top. He looked different, special. He was better than any other players on the pitch that day and he was just a kid”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“The person who has negative things to say is either jealous or hates him. Because there are no negative things to say about him”
Paul Ince
“Becks was the true professional, he was probably the best technical player I played with. I used to watch him and watch him. As soon as we’d finished [training], the mannequins would be out and he’d be taking free-kicks, corners and he’d do it for an hour. Every training session he’d give 110%, he would never beat anybody but if you give him a yard, he’ll put in the best balls you’ll ever see. What a player”
Luis Figo
“A phenomenon … the image he has is totally different to what he is really like as a player and a person.”
Peter Schmeichel
“You only have to go on MUTV and watch programmes like ‘Ruud van Nistelrooy: all the goals’, ‘Andy Cole: all the goals’ and so on, and see how many goals they scored came from his crosses. A cross was him is as good as a goal.”
Thierry Henry
“Beckham is superb. Above all to score when the team is in need. He can achieve a result when it is an emergency”
Matt Le Tissier
“He made every single ounce out of all the ability he had. The way he carried on to the age he played to was outstanding. He kept himself in great shape. He was the best set-piece taker I saw in my time. It’s hard for me to admit, but he was probably better than me at set-pieces!”
