Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, and Gary Neville are all prominently featured in the first episode of “Beckham,” a four-part Netflix documentary. The series doesn’t shy away from criticizing Beckham at times, but the question remains: will it go far enough? The title itself carries a double-meaning. On one hand, we have that iconic kick – the stunning strike from 21-year-old David Beckham during Manchester United’s opening game of the 1996-97 Premier League season. The ball soared over Wimbledon keeper Neil Sullivan’s head and landed in the back of the net. On the other hand, there’s the infamous kick Beckham delivered to Diego Simeone during England’s game against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, resulting in a red card and England’s elimination from the tournament. Despite being nothing more than a petulant tap, Simeone collapsed as if he’d been shot.
These two moments, one representing a moment of triumph, the other a painful low, serve as the bookends for the episode. In between, viewers are treated to plenty of match footage that will transport United fans back in time, evoking feelings of nostalgic warmth while also eliciting melancholy over the club’s decline since Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Given that the documentary is produced by Beckham’s 99 Studios, named in reference to Manchester United, many expected it to be a celebratory portrait of the player. However, will it address Beckham’s controversial decision to sign a £125m endorsement deal with Qatar, a country known for its homophobic and transphobic stance, as their football ‘ambassador’ for a decade? This move did not align with Beckham’s long-standing reputation as an LGBTQ ally.
Without having seen all four episodes (critics were only given access to the first two), it’s difficult to say. The opening installment, which features contributions from Beckham’s former United teammates, strives for balance and allows room for critical voices. Even Alex Ferguson, who signed Beckham as a young teenager and gave him his first-team debut at 17, doesn’t hesitate to voice his opinions. While the rift between manager and player that occurred prior to Beckham’s departure to Real Madrid in 2003 has since healed, Ferguson doesn’t wear rose-tinted glasses. He acknowledges Beckham’s transformation from footballer to global celebrity and endorsement magnet following his spectacular goal, but it’s clear that this wasn’t the outcome Ferguson had envisioned. Beckham’s first deal with Adidas earned him £50,000, which he promptly spent on a Porsche. Roy Keane humorously remarks that at least Beckham raised the bar in the club’s car park.
Celebrity status wasn’t what Ferguson desired for Beckham. Archive TV interviews remind us that Ferguson had expressed his concerns even back then. Beckham admits that Ferguson was livid when he learned that the player had chosen his own agent rather than the one suggested by the manager. “I wanted to have a career after football, and that ate away at the manager,” Beckham confesses. Gary Neville attests to Ferguson’s socialist principles, which translated into how he ran the club. No player was allowed to wear anything other than black boots. Ferguson sought stability and would even delve into a player’s personal life, asking about girlfriends and potential marriage prospects. Victoria Adams, better known as Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, probably didn’t fit Ferguson’s idea of the perfect future Mrs. Beckham. Nevertheless, no matter how much Beckham may have “pissed off the boss,” as Paul Scholes puts it, Ferguson would never have abandoned his player the way England manager Glenn Hoddle did.
Even before the 1998 World Cup started, Hoddle had already weakened Beckham’s position by publicly stating that the player lacked focus. After the red card incident against Argentina, Hoddle publicly blamed Beckham, who had scored in the previous match, for England’s early exit. This despite the fact that, as Beckham’s father Ted points out, England still had a chance to win in the penalty shootout without him. “It cost us dearly,” Hoddle declared on live television. However, the true cost would be felt by Beckham when he returned home to face a chorus of hostility and vile abuse.
“Beckham” is available to stream in its entirety on Netflix starting on Wednesday, October 4th.
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