Manchester United Treble winner David Beckham has reflected on his time in the Premier League, from his wonder goal at Plough Lane, to the culture driven by Sir Alex Ferguson and his rivalry with the likes of Leeds United and Liverpool.
Beckham was confirmed as the final Premier League Hall of Fame inductee of 2021 earlier this month.
The Manchester United icon helped the club win six Premier League titles with his unrivalled passing ability, pinpoint crosses and 18 goals from trademark free-kicks, a total no player has come close to.
Beckham follows inaugural inductees Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in receiving the League's highest individual honour.
He is one of six players with the most combined votes from fans and a PL Panel along with Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Beckham announced himself on the Premier League stage on the opening weekend of the 1996/97 season, scoring from inside his own half for United at Wimbledon.
While he brought fame and glamour to the League, he was also a fearless competitor and established himself as a mainstay in Ferguson's Man Utd side, claiming his six titles across eight full seasons.
Only eight players have beaten Beckham's total of 80 PL assists, while just three have surpassed his combined tally of 142 goal involvements for Man Utd in the competition.
Congratulations on being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. How does it feel to be a Hall of Fame inductee?
"It's an honour to be inducted into the inaugural Premier League Hall of Fame alongside these legends of the game and League. The Premier League was such an important part of my career and life, and I'm delighted to be recognised alongside these icons who I played with, competed with and looked up to."
How does it feel to have followed inaugural inductees Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry into the Hall of Fame?
"To be honoured alongside people like Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry feels very special. Thierry and Alan were undoubtedly two of the greatest ever in their position in the league. I was lucky enough to play with Alan for England a number of times and he was a joy to play alongside and have on the end of a few crosses! I never played with Thierry but certainly remember playing against him and although he may have gotten the better of us a few times, it was always a good battle, and he was a brilliant player."
Do you have a message for the fans who voted for you to enter the Hall of Fame?
"This is made even more of an honour for me knowing that it was down to the fans. This past year or so has shown just how important fans are to the game and it's so great to see them slowly being able to come back to stadiums because they make football truly special. I've always said that throughout my playing career and beyond, I'm so lucky to have incredible fans who support me no end so thank you to everyone who voted."
You won six titles with Man Utd. Is there a favourite one from the six, and why?
"Every title is special and I cherish the memories of every single one. That being said – the win in 1999 was definitely one of my favourites. Considering what we were able to achieve that season when so many people wrote us off, it was an incredible moment and one of the proudest moments in my career."
What was the key to your continued success at Old Trafford? How important was Sir Alex Ferguson's management for you?
"The sense of community and family that Sir Alex ensured we all felt was so important. I was lucky to be in a team that I had supported since I was a boy and with a group of players who I had played with for such a long period of time. That made us all so much closer as a team, we all fought for each other on the pitch every second. Sir Alex was an incredible manager and there's no way we would have been able to achieve what we did without him. He will always be an inspiration to me."
You burst on to the scene with your memorable goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon. What are your memories of that moment and how it changed your life?
"That Wimbledon goal from the halfway line was an amazing moment. Looking back now and seeing photos of it where you can see my mum and dad behind the goal celebrating, that makes it even more special. It was a great strike and I'm lucky it went in otherwise I'm sure the manager would have had something to say about it!"
Aside from the Wimbledon goal, what was your favourite moment in your Premier League career and why?
"Those big rival games we won over the years against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Leeds – they are all favourite moments from my career in the Premier League. They were intense games with the fans shouting through every second and we were so determined to win. Those are the memories and moments I'll treasure forever as a player and still feel them now as a fan when United win. My career playing in the Premier League gave me some of the best moments of my life and it's a privilege to be recognised in this way."
To be eligible for the Premier League Hall of Fame this year, players had to have been retired as of 1 August 2020, and only a player's Premier League career was considered in his candidacy.
Each inductee will receive a personalised medallion, engraved with the year of their induction.
