'Horrible' reality of David Beckham's fame – 'They only want bad things'

Ruud Gullt has recalled how he witnessed the "horrible" side to fame when he managed the superstar at LA Galaxy. The Dutch legend took the reins at the Los Angeles side for a short period of time in late 2007, when Beckham was playing for the MLS side.

Yet his brief tenure was enough time to see Beckham's powerful celebrity persona in action. Former hero declared that the idol would be relentlessly harassed by the media and fans, with people out to goad the star in order to get a reaction.

Beckham turns 50 today and his tag as arguably the most famous football player of all time is as influential now as it was during his peak on the field

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However, Gullit, who has also dealt with immense fame as a European Cup winning player and manager, praised Beckham for how he managed such intrusion into his life, while citing that people only wanted "bad things" from the England legend.

"I've been on that mountain [of fame] and I had to laugh when I was coach at LA Galaxy," Gullit said on the Stick to Football Podcast.

" was there, I said 'David, I don't want to trade [lives] with you' - I've been there, done that. I said: 'I can't live like that, how can you do that?' and he just [sighed] and said 'Yeah'.

"I said: 'can't you just go in your own car?' he said: 'No, Ruud I can't. Because people chase me all the time'. People want bad things, they don't want nice things out of you. So he needed to have all these people around him to protect him.

"It's horrible, he can't go anywhere. I really must say, I admired him how he handled it, because he loves football, he was very very fond of going to the training ground, working hard, and still having that other life around it, it was amazing to see."

As part of United's 'Class of 92,' Beckham won six titles and the under Sir . However, he would go on to garner stratospheric attention for his relationship with former Spice Girl, and now wife, Victoria.

From his innovative fashion sense that made him a style icon, to his on-field ups and downs with England, as well as his sponsorships and his high-profile move to in 2003, brand Beckham was inescapable from the moment he was thrust into the limelight.

Since his retirement in 2013 however, he has moved into club ownership in the USA with Inter Miami, which has brought him a new level of celebrity. His children are now also experiencing life in the spotlight.

Yet speaking to GQ in 2019, Beckham insisted that fame was a mere by-product of his passion. “To be honest, all I ever wanted was to be successful as a footballer," he said.

"Obviously, I always did things outside of the game and outside of my footballing career that were slightly different at the time. I think it’s more acceptable now to do some of the things that I did, some of the covers, some of the photo shoots, some of the sponsorships, but I think my focus back then was to just win trophies.

“I don’t think it ever changed. My bread and butter was always what I did on the field and the reason I was successful off the field is because of what I did on the field."

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