David Beckham explains why he and his mum had the same Man Utd idol for very different reasons
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David Beckham has explained why he idolised Mark Hughes when he was growing up in the Manchester United academy. Beckham came through the United system to make 392 appearances for his boyhood club. The winger became a club legend, playing for United from 1992 to 2003 during a golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson’s management.
He was long earmarked for greatness and spent his youth looking up to the stars in the United squad. One stood out above the others, with Beckham obsessed with Wales international Hughes, who played for United over two spells. Like Beckham, Hughes came through the club’s academy, playing from 1980 to 1986 before returning for another spell from 1988 to 1995. The forward scored 163 goals for the club, winning two league titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup.
“I was always one of those little fans that used to wait outside and get Mark's and all their autographs,” Beckham told BBC Wales for a documentary entitled ‘Legends of Welsh Sport: Mark Hughes’. “Mark did things that not many players can do. The goalkeeper would kick it 50, 60, 70 yards up and it would just stop dead on those thighs of his. My mum loved his thighs!.
"He was one of those players that always scored great goals in big games. That's why Mark was so special. I think that’s why Man United fans still love him – they still sing his name.”. Beckham was given the No.10 shirt at United by Ferguson at the start of the 1996/97 season – the number that had just been vacated by his hero. He remembered: “The boss turned round to me and he said, 'Son you're going to wear No.10 this year'. And I was like, 'That's Mark's number!’.
