Beckham vs. Sir Alex Ferguson: What really happened in 2003

Everyone knew Sir Alex Ferguson was a no ordinary man as well as a no nonsense manager, but star player David Beckham did try to have a word with the Manchester United manager at the time.

As it turned out, the Inter Miami co-owner did live to tell the tale, but he of course did regret the fiasco years later.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” the Manchester United legend said years on as he recounts the incident on Netflix documentary on David Beckham.

In the unraveling Netflix documentary titled “Beckham,” the football icon opened up about the notorious incident from 2003 when he was spotted with a cut above his left eye following a heated exchange with then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The incident occurred shortly before Beckham’s departure from the club to join Real Madrid.

In the documentary, Beckham recalls the tense atmosphere in the changing room after Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round.

“We walked in the changing room, and the boss is fuming,” Beckham recounted. “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 admits that he engaged in a verbal confrontation with Ferguson during that moment.

“I went back at the boss and said ‘no’ and then I swore. I said the f-word,” Beckham revealed. “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.”*

Photographs of a bandaged Beckham emerged in the tabloids after the incident, leading to speculation about the severity of the altercation. In response to these images, Ferguson commented,

“I think that was stage-managed. It wasn’t even worth a stitch.”

Beckham’s departure from Manchester United came a few months later when he joined Real Madrid.

In the documentary, he expressed his attachment to the club, stating,

“It was my home. My relationship with the boss was always special. We had our moments, but I still loved him.”

However, Ferguson offered a different perspective, asserting,

“The decision was made; it was better he [Beckham] went. He didn’t need to go. He could have stayed if he wanted. I think he knew it was the right time.”