David Beckham not in even in top 1,000 players - Waddle Comments (905) Former England winger Chris Waddle says David Beckham is not one of the top 1,000 players of the last 40 years. The ex-Manchester United midfielder is retiring at the end of the season. "I would say he has been a good player, I wouldn't put him down as a great," Waddle, 52, told BBC Radio 5 live. "You can go down a list of players from the Premier League or the 70s or 80s, whatever you want to do. I'll be honest, Beckham probably wouldn't be in the first 1,000." England caps Beckham 115 Waddle 62 Major English trophies Beckham 8 Waddle 0 Major European trophies Beckham 1 Waddle 0 League titles Beckham 11 Waddle 3 Beckham, 38, who signed a five-month deal at Paris St-Germain in January, joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1991, making his first-team debut the following year and signing his first professional contract in 1993. He went on to make 394 appearances for United, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League, and 115 for England. "I think there have been a lot more talented players in the world. But he made the most of what he has got," said Waddle, who made more 100 appearances for four of his clubs - Newcastle, Tottenham, Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday - while winning 62 England caps. "He has got a terrific image and used it very well. He never had a trick, wasn't particularly quick, but he was very good at set-pieces and deliveries, he made chances and made goals and was fantastic for clubs. "He said the right things, he sold shirts, he put money in the tills wherever he went and conducted himself well." Beckham became one of the world's most high-profile sportsmen during his time at Old Trafford - and a global celebrity following his marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams in 1999. He signed for Real Madrid in 2003 and won a La Liga title in 2007 before switching to the United States with Los Angeles Galaxy. He also spent time on loan at AC Milan. "As a player I would say he was a fantastic crosser of the ball, a great athlete," said Waddle. "Now people will be talking about him and saying 'How great, how great'. I would say 'how good'. Play mediaDavid Beckham scores 60-yard wonder goal for Man Utd "I would not say he was a great. He was very good at his job, he worked very hard as a professional footballer." Manchester United manager-in-waiting David Moyes, preparing to lead Everton for the final time, has added to the tributes paid to Beckham since his announcement on Thursday. "He's been a great player, a tremendous ambassador. I think everyone who is English is tremendously proud of what David Beckham has done over the years and how he has conducted himself," said the Scot. "I was very fortunate to play with David when he came to Preston North End, he was a great lad then, very humble and really just wanted to play. "Everybody who was part of that team [at Preston] still remembers him and still wants to talk about how they played in a team with David Beckham. I'm no different." Carlo Ancelotti, Beckham's current manager at PSG, said: "The football world lost a fantastic player, lost a fantastic professional, lost a good man. It's the right decision because he decided to stop and not other people [telling him to stop]. "We have to respect his decision. "It's not my business to find a role for David. He's going to speak with the club and if they decide to give him a new position, it is up to David and the club." Beckham trained with Arsenal in January, and when asked if he was interested in signing Beckham, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "Yes, I was. It was at a period when I couldn't afford him. And after that there was a question mark before he went to Milan, but it was a position we didn't really need. "It was always a pleasure to have him here because of his attitude and behaviour. He gained respect from everybody. "No matter how strong a player he is, what remains in your memory is his genuine commitment and dedication and the natural humility which he always had. That will stay forever." QPR manager Harry Redknapp was in charge at Tottenham when Beckham trained with Spurs in 2011. He said: "He was down to earth, everybody loved him, he treated everybody with great respect and he had time for everyone. He's had a fantastic career and is an absolute top-class fella. "He's been a great role model for any young footballer."
Totally agree, he was over rated, ran around like an headless chicken, couldn't get past anyone, couldn't tackle, he was just a ****ing shirt seller
Beckham is a decent player, with many abilities, he is also one of those chaps who tends to bring on others and his positive attitude to things has lead to him being part of many winning teams. Some Leeds supporters will not rate him due to his Man Utd connection, however, he was/is a decent player who is actually a pretty good role model for the kids of today, on how to play the game. He has of course has his off moments, but on the whole his manner and behaviour on/off the field is superb.
If he'd said not in top 50, maybe To be honest, anyone who played that often for England has to be in the top 1000, its pure twattish attention seeking nonsense to state otherwise. Was Beckham as good as all the hype he attracted? of course not, he had limitations, but thats another matter. More to the point, who is this Chris Waddle chap, I don't recall the name?
I don't think he would make the top 1000. I think he is a good professional, good attitude towards the game and a very hard worker. But he wasn't that fantastic a player, a very good crosser and a very good free-kick taker. Although I have always thought his free-kicks were overrated, there are many around that are better than him at taking free-kicks. But then I would also say that currently without even looking that the top 10 teams in the prem have at the very very least 1 player in there team who is better than him with the top 4 or so having around 4 or 5. You cannot be considered a great player if that was the case
Beckham - I like him because he told Red Nose and Scum to fcuk off, he is humble and shows respect, he proved there IS life after Scum. He doesn't behave like the cnut Terry and his Chelski scumbag Cole, or the arrogant Ferdinand who really is a cnut of gigantic proportions. Well done Becks, thanks for leaving Scum and enjoying success elsewhere, and remaining humble throughout your career.
He is the most overrated player for god knows how long , no left foot and can't head the ball and for me has only ever been a world class dead ball situation taker and passer all his career.
I think he was a good if not very good footballer with a positive attitude but a legend of football? Nah I'd rather remember Scholes career over Beckhams.
Not in the top 1000? Really? Scum cnut or not, 4 league titles in 4 different countries along with 115 England caps. "Ok", must just have been lucky then Chris. On that logic, you wouldn't make the top 1,000,000
What do you remember about Scholes career, his inability to tackle or when he turned England down? Scholes has played his entire career at one club which admirable as that might be, he's not proved himself out of his comfort zone. Beckhams got some ridiculous record like having the 2nd most european championship assists of all time. When they won the champions league with 2 goals late on, who had both assists? For someone that doesn't go past people, thats pretty impressive. He's not a tricky speedy winger, but its not about how many times you ghost past someone if the end product is you don't score. Its about scoring more goals than the opposition and as well as scoring plenty of important goals from free kicks himself, he created a lot of goals too. Fantastic player - no, very good player and used what skills he had as well as he could - definitely. Top 50 nope, but not in the top 1000 Chris Waddle is as thick as ....
You're right mate, but I'm also able to say he was a very good player without feeling guilty about it. Don't ask me to say the same about Keane, Giggs or Cantona mind
As some like to say in the US, "do the math, son." Ok we don't say "son" here. 1 per club (including Sunderland, Stoke and West Ham?!?!?!?!) = 20, add 3 more for the top 4 and that's 32. So where do the next 968 come from? Multiplying by 40 does not work as some of this years 32 will appear multiple times over the years.
waddle is an idiot and a flop like his song....I bet he could not name a thousand players currently better than beckham
