David Beckham reflects on emotional moment he was awarded the No. 7 shirt

David Beckham has reflected on being given the No.7 shirt at Manchester United and the emotional reaction it caused.

Beckham was on the back of an outstanding season in the No.10 shirt; netting 12 goals and ten assist across the campaign.

However, the arrival of forward Teddy Sheringham at the beginning of the 1997/1998 season resulted in Beckham being stripped of the iconic number and told it was being given to the new addition.

The Englishman recalled the moment Sir Alex Ferguson broke the news to him in an video released by Man Utd and Adidas, he said: “I’d had probably one of the best seasons of my career in that No.10 shirt. The phone rings and it’s the boss. He said ‘David, it’s the boss. We’re signing Teddy Sheringham and he’s going to have the No.10 shirt. See you preseason.’

“And that was it. I go into pre-season, the boss pulls me into the office and he said, ‘how are you feeling, David?’ I said, ‘well, boss, I really loved the No.10’ He said ‘yes, but you’re going to get the No.7’.

“I think I cried. My dad was the first one that I phoned when I got the No.7 shirt. My dad was a Bobby Charlton fan; that’s why my middle name is Robert. So my dad was a full-on, hardcore United fan.

“So the fact that I was then his son playing for Manchester United, wearing the No.7 shirt, I knew how important that was.”

Becks went on to make United history

The former England international also followed in the footsteps of United legends Eric Cantona and George Best, but it was time to make his own history. Beckham played a crucial role in United’s squad throughout his 12-year stay in Manchester. He went from winning the FA Youth Cup as an academy player to completing a historic treble with the Red Devils in 1999.

Beckham was regarded for his outstanding free-kick ability and has scored the most in Premier League history, as well as for the Reds. He is classed as one of the best midfielders to have played the game.

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