West Ham United star James Ward-Prowse has claimed that he idolised Manchester United’s David Beckham growing up.
Beckham was an icon for the Red Devils in the 1990s and early 2000s and made 394 appearances for the club, scoring 85 goals in total.
He also made an incredible 115 appearances for the England national team and captained the side from 2000 until 2006.
The United academy product won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League for his boyhood team.
He later went on to play for more European giants such as Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before his retirement in 2013.
In the latest episode of the Seaman Says podcast, Ward-Prowse was asked to comment on who his idol was growing up and he was in no doubt how to respond.
The England international retorted, “David Beckham for me! I mean, everything about him, like his image, I even copied a few of his haircuts as a kid!”
He went on, “the boots, copying his free kicks in the garden, yeah I think he was just… I think every kid at that point was just in love with Beckham, so yeah.”
Ward-Prowse also claimed that the worst hair cut he copied from his idol was the infamous mohawk cut.
The former Southampton midfielder may not have had anything like the career of the United legend but he has almost been able to match one aspect.
Ward-Prowse is one of the most lethal free kick takers in Premier League history and sits second on the all-time list of most free kick goals in the competition’s history on 17.
This is just one behind Beckham’s total of 18. At only 30 years old, he may well back himself to overtake the former United player’s record.
Featured image Dan Istidene via Getty Images.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
