Last update: Tue Jan 8 2008 12:52:51

Beckham backs Capello on his first day

Fabio Capello has started his new job as England football manager with a ringing endorsement from David Beckham.

The former England skipper, who played under Capello at Real Madrid, said he expected the new boss to bring an "aura" and a "fear factor" with him and is in no doubt the players will "enjoy" playing for him.

And Beckham likened Capello's style to that of Sir Alex Ferguson - the man who first helped him make his name at Manchester United.

Capello and Beckham did not always appear to see eye to eye at the Bernabeu - where the midfielder fell out of favour for a time, before finishing his spell in Spain strongly last year.

"He has an aura that players will enjoy," said Beckham.

"They are going to enjoy playing under him. I enjoyed playing under him, even in the bad times."

Beckham does not blame the Italian, in fact, for the matches he had to spend out of the Real first-choice line-up.

"There were ups and downs - and I said at the time it was higher than him, the things that were going on there," Beckham recalled.

The midfielder's admiration is certainly undimmed for the man under whom he hopes to win his 100th England cap against Switzerland at Wembley next month.

"Apart from Sir Alex Ferguson, I have never seen anyone so dedicated to watching football and learning about it," he added.

"He will do it his way - and that is a good thing. We had the fear factor the year we won La Liga. That is what all great managers have.

"The fear factor with a manager is important. We had it at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson, and he had so much success and is still having it."

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

ITN
© ITN. All rights reserved.
Terms & Conditions
Partners
Services
Media Centre
Contact
Working at ITN