Sir Alex Ferguson claims David Beckham lost focus following his marriage to "the girl from the Spice Girls," but also praised the midfielder.
Ferguson insists he has nothing but admiration for the career the ex-Manchester United and England star carved out for himself.
Former United boss Ferguson oversaw the early years of the man who would go on to become England's most-capped outfield player but also presided over the midfielder's departure from Old Trafford in 2003.
In an interview with PBS, Ferguson said Beckham and wife Victoria were subject to a change in their "celebrity status" after marrying and expressed surprise at his decision to join the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
"As a young kid when I got him at 12 years of age his great desire was [to play] some of the best football," Ferguson said in a transcript of the PBS interview published by The Times.
"He was a fantastic trainer, practiced all the time. At nighttime he would come by with the schoolboys and practice with them. And he was in that collection. And then of course, his life changed, when he married the girl from The Spice Girls, yeah. And his focus changed.
Did Beckham's marriage to Victoria cause the England star to lose focus? (Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty)
"He got drawn into the - that celebrity status, you know? And for me, I'm a football man. I'm a football man. He lost the focus. And when we sold him to Real Madrid, he did well."
Beckham won one La Liga title in four years in Madrid before moving to the United States for a new chapter in his career.
Ferguson added: "I couldn't believe that he goes to LA Galaxy. I couldn't believe that. I couldn't understand that. I would never do that, you know? If I was going to go, I would be making sure he would go to the best, and Real Madrid was the best, I would say, and United.
"But he reinvented himself. He goes and plays for the English national team for a couple more years. He goes and plays for AC Milan [in the] European Cup. He's unbelievable. He really is - and good, well done to him. You can't argue with the status he has in life."
Beckham called time on his career at the end of last season at the age of 38 following a short spell at Paris St. Germain, yet even in retirement he remains an icon of the game and a major draw for fans and sponsors alike.
"Well, for me, it would have pleased me more to see him be a great, great player, you know?" Ferguson added.
"As I said, I'm a football man. But how can I argue with life? He's an icon for young people... and represents himself the proper way. And I say well done.
"Amazing boy, yeah. I mean, how he has created himself. He's fantastic. Wonderful boy."
