Ferguson claims Posh, celebrity circuit ruined Beckham's football focus

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said that his one-time star midfielder David Beckham had 'lost focus' following his much talked about marriage to Spice Girls star Victoria Adams.

According to News.com.au, Ferguson, who retired as United manager at the end of last season following a trophy-laden stint of nearly 27 years in charge at Old Trafford, oversaw the early years of football icon Beckham's career.

Relations between the pair became increasingly icy with Beckham, who would become England's most-capped outfield player, leaving United in 2003 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, the report said.

Ferguson said that as a young kid, when he got Beckham at 12 years of age, his great desire was to play some of the best football, adding that he was a fantastic trainer and practiced all the time.

He said, however, that Beckham's life changed when he married Victoria and his focus also changed.

The former manager said that he could not believe when he knew that the football star went to LA Galaxy, adding that he would never do that.

Beckham retired from playing football professionally aged 38 at the end of last season following a brief spell with France's Paris St Germain, the report added.

Ferguson said he wished Beckham, whose stellar celebrity, unlike that of previous globally-known footballers such as Brazil's Pele or Argentina's Diego Maradona, was far in excess of his ability, had become a truly great player but could not argue with the life he'd made for himself.