Beckham 'never been interested in manager job'

(Michael Steele/Getty Images)

England midfielder David Beckham has no intention of becoming a manager and is instead focusing on his recovery from an Achilles injury, which he revealed today is ahead of schedule.

The 35-year-old's dreams of participating in a fourth World Cup finals were shattered in March when he sustained the injury while on loan to AC Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

However, Beckham was invited along to South Africa as part of the England group by coach Fabio Capello and sat on the bench for what turned out to be a wretched campaign, which ended with 4-1 defeat to Germany in the last 16.

It has been suggested former Manchester United and Real Madrid star could take charge of the national side in future, but Beckham is not interested in such talk at this stage in his career and cannot foresee that changing down the line.

"I must admit it's something I've never been interested in," he said in a webchat with Yahoo. "It's not a passion of mine to be a manager of a football team.

"I'm passionate about the game and being there and obviously I was wearing the suit so people have looked and thought I could be going into that."

"I spoke to James (Milner), Shaun (Wright-Phillips), Aaron (Lennon)... all the right-sided players. I spoke to all the players. If there's anything that needed saying from the manager of the players, that was kind of my role.

"I enjoyed that but, coaching-wise, I love coaching kids - that's one of the reasons I have my academies - the children, I love seeing their faces when they're kicking the ball around. I love the enthusiasm, the honesty - that's one of the things I love doing.

"But coaching a team, being a manager, at this point in my career I don't want to do that and in the future I don't think that will happen either."

As for his personal fitness, Beckham indicated in late April he may not play again until November - sparking fears he may miss the entire Major League Soccer season which is due to end on the 21st of that month.

But he was seen kicking a ball in South Africa - admitting "I was told off for that!" - and is now aiming to be back in action by the start of September.

"When I had the surgery, the surgeon gave me a schedule," he said.

"I've got a week now before it's four months and then I'm allowed to run, but I've been running for the last 10 days.

"I'm ahead of schedule, it's going well. I should be back in a month and a half."

Meanwhile, Beckham has laid the blame for England's dismal World Cup campaign squarely at the door of the players.

"He (Capello) did everything that he could have done," said the midfielder. "He prepared us right. He worked the players to the right amount and he set everything up for the players, but obviously the players know it was disappointing.

"We didn't perform and as players you know that - you know when you don't perform, you know when you don't play well.

"The manager can do so much and then it's down to the players. The players go on to the pitch and they know if they don't perform they don't win games.

"The players are honest about that but it's not about individuals, it's not about how individuals play - it's about how we played as a team. It's a cliche but you win as a team and you lose as a team.

"You have to take the good days and enjoy those, and the bad days you learn from and the team will do that because we've got a lot of young players."

Beckham also revealed his goal of representing Britain at the London Olympics in 2012 - by which time he will be 37.

"If I'm still playing and I'm still considered to make a difference to the team I'd love to, but if not then I'm definitely going to be there anyway," he said.

"It's the east end of London - it's on my manor. To be part of getting the Olympics to the east end of London... it's one of the best experiences that I've ever experienced."

Beckham added that there is unlikely to be any future repeat of his move to a European club in the MLS close season.

Beckham joined Milan on short-term deals both at the start of this year and early in 2009, but concedes that he pushed his body too hard in doing so.

"I think it's something I will have to think about carefully now," he told Sky Sports News. "I don't think it will happen to be honest, because this injury came [as a result] of me pushing it too hard for the last two years - going to AC Milan when I could have had a few months' rest.

"But I did it for a reason, I did it to be part of the England team and part of the World Cup.

"I would do it over and over again. But this time around, when the season ends in LA, I'm going to have to take a rest and get myself fit."

Beckham added that the English league would do well to follow the continental model and introduce a winter break to the schedule.

"I think it's something that would be good for our players," he said.

"It happens in Germany, Spain, Italy and many other countries, but this discussion has gone on many times before.

"I don't think it will come over Christmas. Christmas is such a big thing for football - watching games on Boxing Day is part of English culture - but I think at some point something has to change and a break would be good at some point."