Ferguson set to manage Beckham again, despite past fallouts

Alex Ferguson is set to manage David Beckham again, 12 1/2 years after the wily Scot kicked a boot at the former England captain, leaving a cut above his left eye.

The retired manager is set to oversee a Great Britain and Ireland XI, captained by his old charge, against a World XI at Old Trafford, with the proceeds going to Unicef.

The midfielder, who hung up his boots in 2013, played under Ferguson for 11 years at Manchester United. The dressing room altercation, resulting in the infamous butterfly stitches on Beckham's brow, paved the way for the midfielder's move to Real Madrid four months later.

Ferguson has since criticised Beckham in his 2013 autobiography, saying he was "being swallowed up by the media or publicity agents" when he was at United and, most damaging to his career in Stretford, thought he was "bigger than Sir Alex Ferguson."

Ferguson claimed these changes in the Leytonstone native's persona, along with his marriage to Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams, prevented him from realising his potential.

"After the change (in Beckham) he never attained the level where you would say: that is an absolute top player."

Despite the criticism from his former boss, Beckham had no hesitation in calling up the 73-year-old and asking him to participate. As an ambassador for Unicef, he's excited at the prospect of raising lots of money for the children's charity.

"Everyone knows I retired three years ago and I never thought I'd be getting my boots out again and playing," Beckham told BBC Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw.

"Football is such a powerful tool and to have Zinedine Zidane on the field, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti in the stands, I think people are going to love it."