'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sir Alex Ferguson had revealed in his new book Leading that he had coached only four truly world class players at Manchester United. The players he mentioned were Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 27 years in charge at the Old Trafford club, Ferguson has managed a number of players who have had outstanding careers in the Premier League and abroad. So it came as s surprise that only four players made it to his classification of ‘world class’.
Fans wondered and scratched their heads and questioned why other gifted players such as David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Peter Schmeichel did not make the list. Beckham himself was considered world class and became one of the Galacticos at Real Madrid after his Manchester United exit. He then moved to the MLS with LA Galaxy, helping them win titles while also playing at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain – making him one of the few Englishmen to play in more than two different leagues.
Beckham not bothered by Sir Alex Ferguson’s snub
However, the former England captain, who specialized in free kicks and helped make football a global phenomenon in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, wasn’t really bothered by the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t include him in the list of world-class players he managed.
When asked about the excerpt in the former Scot manager’s book and whether he was insulted, Beckham said: “Not at all,” in an interview to BBC.
“I played for the greatest manager of all time, for the amount of time I did. I was lucky to have played with the players that I did and the team and be successful with the club that I loved and still love.
Beckham then shrugged and said he agreed with his former manager’s choices. “I tend to agree with the manager because there are certain players that you can call world class and thankfully I played with many of them.”
When the reporter asked, “So you don’t think you’re better than Ronaldo?” he shook his head and smiled.
“No, I was lucky enough to play against Cristiano Ronaldo and I was also lucky enough to play with the Brazilian Ronaldo for four years.
“I was proud as a Manchester United player that we were successful and I'm proud as a Manchester United player that we have the best players come to our team.”
