Rangers legend Duncan Ferguson regrets telling David Beckham to get lost
Breaking the British transfer record in 1993 when he switched Tannadice for Ibrox. Ferguson then went on to build a reputation as a fearsome striker with Everton before a spell with Newcastle United.
Ex-Dundee United and Rangers star Duncan Ferguson has revealed a huge regret from his playing career.
Breaking the British transfer record in 1993 when he switched Tannadice for Ibrox. Ferguson then went on to build a reputation as a fearsome striker with Everton before a spell with Newcastle United.
As the Mirror exclusively reports, Big Dunc was considered box office when he moved south of the border. He was one of the most recognisable figures in the Premier League, and is widely considered the toughest guy in football.
While he admits it is an image he might have encouraged during his playing days, it is one that the 53-year-old Ferguson is now a bit embarrassed about.
And one particular example of his macho past makes him cringe, a moment when he turned his back on the most famous, possibly the nicest, man in English football.
Ferguson explains the background to the scene that he now regrets.
'After a game when the final whistle went, I would just walk off the pitch. I would not go near anybody. Maybe that was building up that aura that I was a big hard case and people would be saying 'don't go nea r Duncan Ferguson, he's going to flatten you'. Maybe I played on that a wee bit."
And sure enough, when English football's golden boy was looking for an end-of-match chat, Ferguson was having none of it.
Ferguson says: 'I think Manchester United had just won the league at Everton - or just a crucial game there - and David Beckham shouted over to me.
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'Hey Dunc, he said, and was wanting to shake my hand, putting his hand out. I turned round and said 'f*** off '! I then turned my back as if to say 'why would I want to shake your hand?'
'It was just daft. It was David Beckham, a legend of the Premier League, a world class footballer, won everything, incredible player … and there was me blanking him.
'As the years go on, you just think 'what a t*** I was'! I should have been ripping the shirt off his back and keeping it as a memory for my kids. Cristiano Ronaldo? One of my sons idolised Ronaldo. I never even shook his hand. Daft things.
'So, David Beckham, sorry … although he will not be bothered his a*** about that. He won't care two s***es!'
Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography by Duncan Ferguson is published on 8th May by Century.
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