West Ham United’s James Ward-Prowse labels Man United legend David Beckham as his icon

West Ham United star James Ward-Prowse has claimed that he idolised Manchester United’s David Beckham growing up.

Beckham was an icon for the Red Devils in the 1990s and early 2000s and made 394 appearances for the club, scoring 85 goals in total.

He also made an incredible 115 appearances for the England national team and captained the side from 2000 until 2006.

The United academy product won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League for his boyhood team.

He later went on to play for more European giants such as Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before his retirement in 2013.

In the latest episode of the Seaman Says podcast, Ward-Prowse was asked to comment on who his idol was growing up and he was in no doubt how to respond.

The England international retorted, “David Beckham for me! I mean, everything about him, like his image, I even copied a few of his haircuts as a kid!”

He went on, “the boots, copying his free kicks in the garden, yeah I think he was just… I think every kid at that point was just in love with Beckham, so yeah.”

Ward-Prowse also claimed that the worst hair cut he copied from his idol was the infamous mohawk cut.

The former Southampton midfielder may not have had anything like the career of the United legend but he has almost been able to match one aspect.

Ward-Prowse is one of the most lethal free kick takers in Premier League history and sits second on the all-time list of most free kick goals in the competition’s history on 17.

This is just one behind Beckham’s total of 18. At only 30 years old, he may well back himself to overtake the former United player’s record.

“His time at Wednesday is over” – Southampton FC tipped to finally make Danny Rohl breakthrough

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Amid all the speculation about Danny Rohl’s future, which has seen him linked with a move to the Bundesliga, FLW’s Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna believes that the manager may stay in England with Southampton.

Varying reports came out this past week about Sheffield Wednesday manager Rohl’s future, with a talkSPORT report recently stating that he was leaving his post. This was then refuted by a spokesperson from the club. “We can confirm there is no such agreement in place. Danny Röhl remains under contract with Sheffield Wednesday,” a club spokesperson said, via The Star.

Wherever the German ends up, the only thing that is growing increasingly likely is the fact that he will not be in the dugout at Hillsborough next season.

On a podcast hosted by German outlet Kicker, Rohl expressed his interest in potentially heading to the Bundesliga, saying: “I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d like to work at the highest possible level with the best players in the near future. And the Bundesliga is, of course, a consideration.”

Since joining in October 2023, he has won 34 of his 89 matches, in what was his first spell as a permanent manager following a wealth of experience as an assistant that included a couple of years as number two for the German national team.

Those looking to bring him in will need to pay a release clause of £5 million, according to talkSPORT.

Southampton the most likely destination for Rohl

FLW’s fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, is well aware that the end is near for Rohl’s Wednesday spell, and gave his opinion on where he is going to end up next.

“Regarding Danny Rohl, I think the only thing that is a certainty is that he probably won’t be here for the start of the season, and it’s testament to the credentials of the guy, the job that he has done so far, that he is getting so many suitors,” Patrick said.

“As to where he will end up, I still think that Southampton is going to be the most likely destination for his next job.”

Managers leaving their post sometimes leaves a sour taste, but Patrick was instead realistic about Rohl and is well aware of his qualities, stating that he thinks that the German will end up much further up the football pyramid, regardless of his next move.

“I can see him going to a bigger club in the future and right the way to the top of the game,” he said.

“But, Southampton right now are the club that did come in for him in December, so they were keen on him. Obviously, they did not want to pay the release clause, but it will be reduced now in the summer. He will know, Danny Rohl, that his time at Wednesday is over.”

Chansiri the main deal-breaker for Rohl

Patrick gave his views on why he thinks Rohl wants to leave the club. “He has taken us as far as he can, and he isn’t prepared to work under Chansiri any further,” he said.

He also said that despite interest from clubs playing in the Premier League next season, he sees the Saints as being the next logical step for Rohl’s career.

“I would expect Southampton to be coming in for him again in the next few weeks and when that does happen that he will go this time. I have no surprise that Crystal Palace and Fulham and others have been linked to him, but Southampton is the next step for Danny Rohl and come the start of the season he will be there. I could be wrong and Southampton may have changed their mind, but the gut feeling is going towards the long-awaited appointment of Danny Rohl at Southampton.”