Manchester United great David Beckham reveals how he almost beat up legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United legend David Beckham has opened up about the famous fight with manager Sir Alex Ferguson that eventually led him to the club’s exit door. 

Beckham rose from the academy at Manchester United to superstardom ranks during an eventful 11-year spell that saw him win the Premier League title six times and the UEFA Champions League once in 1999. 

The former Real Madrid, AC Milan, and PSG midfielder disclosed the details of the infamous face-off with Ferguson, which almost saw him come to blows with the legendary Manchester United gaffer. 

Beckham recalled having to come face-to-face with Ferguson after Manchester United had lost against bitter rivals Arsenal, with the manager displaying some of his infamous anger. 

The former Real Madrid midfielder remembered the incident during a documentary about his playing career, saying, “We walked in the changing room, and the boss is fuming. I can see it by his face.”

“And when you see the boss's face like this, you don't want to be anywhere near him. It is a face that no one can do, trust me.”

Beckham’s former teammate and ex-Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, also noted that Ferguson had been laying the blame for one of the Arsenal goals on Beckham when he started swearing, which angered the ex-England international. 

Solksjaer said, “When you lose you take your boots off and wait for the gaffer to talk and he starts effing and blinding at David. Look at the video, David says. [Sir Alex says] I don't need a f***ing video, I've got my eyes.” 

Beckham did not take the blame lightly and started talking back at his manager to defend himself when he admittedly went overboard. 

“I went back at the boss and said ‘no’ and then I swore,” Beckham said, continuing, “I said the f- word. And then I saw him change, and I was like, ‘s***, I really shouldn't have said that’. I think I said the f-word too many times.”

What happened next is the stuff of Manchester United and Premier League folklore as Ferguson kicked a pile of boots in Beckham’s direction, with one of them striking Beckham in the face, leading to a cut around his eyebrow. 

Beckham claimed that after noticing the blood on his own face, he saw red and attempted to attack Ferguson before someone else in the dressing room held him back. 

“I went at him,” Beckham said, adding, “Someone had to hold me back.”

The episode spelt the unofficial end to Beckham’s career at Manchester United, and the England legend was on his way to Real Madrid the following summer.