Beckham Eyes Playing Future for England
English midfielder David Beckham has denied that he will ever manage the English national team, despite forming part of the coaching staff at the recent FIFA World Cup.
Beckham, who was appointed captain of the English team by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2002, also said he hopes to play in the 2012 UEFA European Championships.
Speaking with the BBC after England’s disappointing World Cup run, which ended in a 4-1 defeat to Germany in the Round of 16, Beckham said that the team’s failure was not down to tactical mistakes made by manager Fabio Capello, but to the disappointing performances of the players themselves.
"When the players step on that field is up to them to perform,” he told BBC Sport.
“Speaking to the lads, and knowing them as well as I do, they know they didn't play and perform well enough. That is why we didn't go any further in the competition," Beckham added.
Beckham also backed the English Football Association’s decision to extend Capello’s contract with England.
Capello coached Beckham in his last season at Real Madrid, where the Italian applied his harsh management style to get the best out of the English star.
After Beckham signed for US Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy in January 2007, Capello consistently left Beckham out of the Madrid squad, claiming that Beckham would be unable to focus on the remainder of his season in Spain when he had already agreed to move elsewhere.
But by persistently showing his dedication on the training ground, Beckham earned back his place in the starting 11, playing an instrumental part in Madrid’s 2007 La Liga victory.
During his loan spell to Italian club AC Milan in 2010, Beckham suffered an Achilles tendon injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. Unable to partake as a player, Beckham travelled with the England team as part of the coaching staff.
During several of England’s games, most notably just before the English team entered the dressing room at half time against Germany, Beckham was seen on the sidelines supporting his team.
But despite his part in England’s World Cup run, Beckham insisted he will not be managing England in the future.
"Management is not something I am passionate about and it is not something I have thought about," said Beckham, who intends to continue to play for LA Galaxy once he is rid of his injury problems.
Rather than talking about a potential future in management, Beckham wished to emphasize the strength and potential in the English squad.
"I believe there are four or five players coming through that could come into the England squad and be given a chance, but I'm not manager and never will be,” he said.
Beckham, who recorded 59 games as England's captain between November 2000 and the end of the 2006 World Cup, stated his ambition to play for England in the 2012 European Championships.
That would not be the first time Beckham, 35, returns to the national team after being left out of the squad.
When Steve McClaren took over as England's manager from Eriksson in 2006, he left Beckham out of his team selections, stating that he wished to go in a new direction with a younger national team.
After performing well under Capello at Real Madrid during the spring of 2007, Beckham was recalled by McClaren for a European Championship qualifier against Estonia. In the game, Beckham provided two trademark assists for strikers Michael Owen and Peter Crouch.
During the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Beckham was frequently employed as a substitute by manager Capello, who once again demonstrated his affinity for the veteran midfielder.
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