David Beckham admits ‘it HURTS’ that his celebrity profile is talked about more than his football career
- David Beckham, 49, appeared on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast
- Beckham is the only Englishman to have won league titles in four countries
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
David Beckham has revealed that the perception that his off-field career came second to his own ‘hurts a bit’.
Beckham is one of the greatest players England has ever produced. He captained the side and came second in the Ballon d’Or election in 1999, the year he won a treble with Manchester United.
The 49-year-old is considered one of the most accurate crossers of a ball and was known for his dead ball skills – skills that saw him become the first Englishman to win titles in four different countries.
Beckham appeared in the Rio Ferdinand presents podcast when asked about his former teammate’s opinion that his football career is secondary to his celebrity profile.
“I can’t lie, it hurts a little bit,” Beckham admitted. ‘Because over the years it’s probably been talked about more than once, about obviously that side of things for me.
David Beckham appeared on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast to discuss his career outside of football with his former teammate
Beckham (left) is one of the best wingers in both Man United and England history
“But I suppose at some point it would always be brought up because obviously I had the career that I had but then I also had something outside of my football that wasn’t as important as the football but now it is what I do.
“So I knew that at some point, when I was done playing, I was going to explore the business side of things and that the things I did during my career would help that side of my business, and that’s what happened . So I’m very lucky, but obviously I’d rather people turn around and say he was a great player, or a great person, or that he won what I won.
“But I think people are still starting to talk that way more. I think maybe the documentary I made recently reminded people of the player I was.”
Beckham was one of the first high-profile players to really embrace the idea of modeling contracts, brand deals and sponsorship outside of football, teaming up with Brylcreem in 1997 in a deal worth around £4 million.
His marriage to Spice Girls singer Victoria cemented his celebrity status beyond his on-field exploits, and the two become one of the country’s most famous couples.
With his growing profile off the pitch, demands from sponsors and brands also increased, which many felt would inevitably have an impact on his playing career.
However, the former England captain insists none of his ventures outside his playing career have affected his game.
Beckham insisted his brand deals off the playing field had no impact on his career
‘I think I always look to the future. Is this a good deal?… those are the things I look at. Is this brand good for me? Is it good for my business? And does this affect my football? And that’s the first question I would ask. Is it going to affect my football?’ he added.
“And none of them did. None of the deals I made during my career affected me on the field. You know, people talked about it. did it affect me? No.’
Since hanging up his boots, Beckham has remained involved in football, forming his own Major League Soccer franchise, Inter Miami.
The Florida-based outfit have signed some of European football’s all-time greatest players over the past 18 months, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Listen to the full Rio Meets Becks interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. RioFerdinandPresents.com
