DAVID BECKHAM confirmed the worst kept World Cup secret of all today – when he admitted England coach Fabio Capello has asked for his help in South Africa next month.
Beckham, ruled out of a record fourth appearance at the finals when he ruptured an Achilles tendon while on loan at AC Milan two months ago, said: "I've spoken to the manager and his assistant Franco Baldini and they have made me well aware that I have a role to play with the players and the team.
"We have not discussed specifics but I'm honoured that a manager of Fabio's status feels I can be important.
"I am hoping to travel with the team but obviously we'll have to see how my therapy goes."
According to today’s Sun in London, former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham will actually play a part on the training ground at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus near Rustenburg.
Beckham’s role was expected to be more of an ambassadorial one, given his position as the face of England’s 2018 World Cup bid. Beckham run academies across the globe, but the 35-year-old has never actually coached adult footballers, particularly England internationals.
England fly out to Austria after tomorrow’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth for their initial high-altitude training camp but Beckham won’t join the party until they fly out to South Africa on 2 June.
According to the Sun, Beckham’s 2018 bid duties will take second place to his coaching role. Perhaps the best-known face in football, Becks was in Zurich yesterday to hand over the 2018 “bid book”, where he gave an impassioned speech about England’s love of the game.
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