(Note: Originally published in the Bossier Press-Tribune, May 17, 2013)
It's not often that a true icon
retires, let alone, two within a week of each other.
But that's what happened in the world's
game over the last few days when Manchester United FC Manager Sir
Alex Ferguson announced he was leaving the bench after 27 years and
global icon David Beckham followed suit Thursday.
Interestingly enough, these are a
player and manager who will forever be linked. Beckham, a fanatical
Manchester United fan as a child, was signed by Ferguson at the age
of 14, setting in motion what would eventually become “Brand
Beckham” (but more on that later). The midfielder with movie star
looks had great passing skills, especially on set pieces — corner
kicks, free kicks, etc. — but was seen as more of a productive
squad member until he gained the spotlight he would never give up
for his audacious goal scored from literally the middle of the field
during an English Premier League match in 1996.
He made 265 appearances for United,
scoring 62 goals and winning the EPL six times, Football Association
Cup twice, and the coveted Union of European Football Associations
Champions League.
He also won big when it came to
sponsorships, capitalizing on his fame and looks to help pioneer the
era of sports stars as salespersons. He could/can be seen modeling
underwear, drinking soda, wearing Adidas, and using a million other
products. Just his picture on a billboard in China meant that sales
would see an uptick.
And Beckham was wise to use all this to
his advantage across the course of his two decades of playing time,
moving to high profile clubs in various countries across the world in
what detractors would say were only an attempt to promote Brand
Beckham — the press' nickname for his ever-present PR and lucrative
sponsorship deals.
At the same time, it's important to
note that Beckham has won championships in four different major
leagues, including two in America's Major League Soccer with the LA
Galaxy.
His high profile move across the pond
in 2007 saw Brand Beckham not only bringing attention to himself, but
an identity-seeking league. The brainchild of Beckham's management
company and the MLS administrators paid huge dividends for the league
as attendance increased, jersey sales rose, and the league got time
on major sports networks.
But it wasn't always champagne and
roses in this Beckham-MLS love affair, as he only played sparingly
his first year and even spent part of 2008 and 2009 playing for
Italian giants A.C. Milan.
Despite these decisions creating animosity
between himself and fans, he settled down during the last two seasons
of his contract, bringing back-to-back titles for the Galaxy.
He left our shores for the glamorous
French club Paris St. Germain in January of this year and promptly
turned around to win a title with them this past weekend.
Say what you will about Beckham's
post-United playing career being nothing but a carefully decided
publicity stunt, but all the guy did was win silverware.
And it's easy to argue this desire to
win was instilled and groomed under Ferguson's tutelage.
The 71-year-old Scotsman is notorious
for his unquenchable thirst to win, inspiring lackluster teams to the
top, just like he did as recently as this season.
In all, Ferguson won 13 EPL titles, two
Champions League titles, and pretty much every other trophy there is.
Ferguson had the uncanny ability to adapt to the league, his playing
squad, and the volatility of the era of sports agents and money to
win big. Beyond his utter contempt for losing, he had complete
control of his team, being disciplinarian extraordinaire and using
both encouragement and fear to inspire his team.
To put it into perspective, imagine if
Phil Jackson never left the Chicago Bulls, still winning his 11 NBA
titles, plus a few extra to boot. And he did it by eventually trading
away Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and any other superstar who came
to play for him. But get rid of the easy going, Zen nature and
replace it with a slightly less grumpy Nick Saban and now you're
getting an idea of who Ferguson was as a coach.
Maybe that's why it was no surprise he
and his star pupil eventually fell out in a very ugly and very public
way.
Ferguson's contempt for Beckham's
inflating ego and distracting star power was no secret and it all
came to a head in 2003 when Ferguson, angry over a FA Cup loss to
rivals Arsenal, kicked a stray cleat in the locker room and it caught
Beckham above the eye. Beckham made no secret of the injury and while
never expressing anger or disappointment, he never denied it either,
eventually discussing the incident in his autobiography.
He shortly moved to Real Madrid in
Spain that following summer, beginning his world tour.
Of course, distance puts things in
perspective and the pair have seemed to make up in the years
following their animosity, with Beckham saying, “Without him, I
would never have achieved what I have done,” after news of
Ferguson's retirement.
When Ferguson leaves the bench for the
last time this Sunday and Beckham walks off the pitch for good a week
later, they will always have the bond between them — one of
winning, everything, at all costs.
