David Beckham has message for those who think the former Real Madrid player came to Los Angeles to take it easy and live out a golden retirement: “As much as it is a great lifestyle over here for my wife and kids, the most important thing is for people to realize I am here for soccer, not to sit on the beach and get a suntan,” the 32-year-old tells Yahoo Sports’ Martin Rogers.
Beckham has shown that commitment throughout his career, most recently fighting his way back into the Real Madrid and England squads last year, after both teams’ coaches dropped him. So where does that commitment come from? “All the young lads at Man United had that fear of Sir Alex Ferguson and I was no different,” he said. “That is how he got the best out of players and it becomes part of you. You need that certain amount of fear to achieve things.” Recently, while training with EPL giant Arsenal before the Galaxy preseason, Gunners coach Arsene Wenger described how the former England captain trained “like a madman.”
Which Rogers says underscores a little-known fact about one of the world’s most recognizable men: he’s an obsessive, particularly about neatness, punctuality and order. For example, he lines up cans in symmetrical and identical rows of four, and vacuums his living room rug in straight lines. Beckham suggests that his obsessive-compulsive behavior has helped him become the professional he is today. “I am always on time,” Beckham says. “I make sure I do things in the proper way and I have always believed that if you prepare well, you play well and people respect you a lot more.”