Rio Ferdinand makes David Beckham knighthood feelings clear – 'Sometimes scratch your head'

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Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes his former team-mate David Beckham is fully deserving of his recent knighthood from King Charles . The 50-year-old became the fifth Red Devils figure to have been awarded the honour.

He joins the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson , Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Matt Busby in being awarded said knighthood. Beckham, who came through United's academy and was part of the prestigious class of 92, won a historic treble during his time at the club.

He'd win six Premier League titles and two FA Cups before moving to Real Madrid in 2003 to join a star studded galactico side.

Beckham received an OBE in 2003 and had been tipped for a knighthood after 2011 following London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

However, he was made to wait until earlier this month, when he was awarded his knighthood for his services to sport and charity.

Wife Victoria Beckham was also present at the ceremony at Windsor Castle to watch her husband become the first player to be knighted to have played in the Premier League.

Now, former United team-mate Ferdinand has lavished praise on Beckham not just for his work on the football pitch, but off the pitch.

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In an interview with LBC Radio, Ferdinand spoke highly of Beckham, saying: "Listen, he deserves it. I think he’s, if we’re looking at somebody that’s worked hard, that has come from not nothing but come from somewhere where he’s had to work to get to the levels that he’s at, no one could have imagined that he’d become a world superstar icon that he is.

"He deserves it. I don’t know many that work as hard as him or put the mileage in that he does.

"And he’s become an icon, not just on a football pitch, but also off the pitch in different areas as well.

"So if anyone’s deserving and we see some people get these accolades and you go, 'Oh,' you have to think about why they’ve got it and scratch your head a little bit sometimes. Not with this man."

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