David Beckham: I can't see Sir Alex Ferguson retiring

David Beckham insists that Sir Alex Ferguson will stay as manager of Manchester United for years to come.

And he should know. Hours of phone calls with his former Old Trafford team-mates have convinced him that, far from starting to wind down, the boss who dumped him back in 2003 is as focused on success as he ever was – and has no plans to quit.

Beckham, taking a break from his fitness fight to make the LA Galaxy side that will contest today’s MLS title play-off with Real Salt Lake, proved that no matter what happened between them in the past, he still holds Fergie in the highest regard.

Many believe this could be Ferguson’s last season in charge at United – especially if he can win the Premier title for a record-breaking fourth successive time, or lift a third Champions League trophy.

Fergie, who turns 68 on New Year’s Eve, has himself suggested he will not stick around into his seventies.

But Beckham, his thoughts never far from his homeland and the club where he made his name, thinks otherwise.

He said: “I speak to Giggsy, I speak to Scholesy and quite a few of the other guys all the time, and especially when they’re sat on the bus on some long trip to an away game.

“I’d speak to Gary Neville probably more often than the rest. I always keep in touch and I always will.

“And the message I’m getting back is that it’s very much business as usual, that they all believe they are right in there for another title and for the Champions League.

“Manchester United are a machine. They will keep on rolling and they will keep on winning and carry on picking up trophies.

“That’s the way Sir Alex Ferguson has always run his team and his team will keep on running.

“He makes sure his players know what the priorities are and what to focus on and especially they know that you win trophies at the end of the season – not before Christmas.”

Beckham’s trans-Atlantic chats have informed him that the man with the hairdryer remains as hot on picking up trophies as he ever was – and that he will remain that way despite his age.

Beckham added: “People have been saying that it’s time for him to go for years now – but Sir Alex just keeps on proving people wrong, winning things and quieting people.

“He’ll never be too old to manage United because of the pattern he has laid down and the way he runs things.

“I know there’s been a lot of talk about him retiring but I just don’t see it.

“I think he’ll carry on for many more years and why shouldn’t he?”

Beckham also believes that he has proved people wrong in the States.

He said: “There have been a few problems, a few bumps along the way over here.

“But I thought that joining LA Galaxy and helping the MLS to become bigger was right when I came here.”

Beckham, who has spent four days with his foot in a brace after picking up an ankle injury, has also been fighting flu – “Hey, I’ve got three kids, we pass it around” – but added: “There is no question that coming to play in America has been the right thing for me.

“But it has also helped the game in America. That was the plan. It has worked.

“And just like Sir Alex, I’m as committed as I ever was to success.”