I had Beckham up and running

South Africa 2010 was supposed to be David Beckham's one last hurrah. But, to the devastation of the player and 'Brand Becks' fans around the world, a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered while was on-loan at AC Milan forced Beckham out of what would have been his fourth World Cup.

It takes more than shredded body parts, however, to keep him away from the team. Thus, despite no professional coaching experience - beyond tutoring 10-year olds at his personal academies and dishing out advice to any Major League Soccer listeners - the former captain accepted an invitation to be part of Fabio Capello's back-room staff.

After he spent the majority of the England-US game perfecting his touchline grimace, I bumped into Beckham after the US match.

Me: 'David, a few words on England's performance?'
Head half-turned, Beckham smiled - which is more than Wayne Rooney mustered as he whizzed moodily by - and shook that famous brow. Then he quickened his step for a quick escape.

Me: 'Come on David. Looks like that Achilles is healing up nicely?'

That got me a fully-turned head and a head-to-toes sizing up from the man himself. He smiled, again, and squeeked: "Yeah it is, thanks. Slowly, but yeah."

If he'd have walked any faster, he would have been running. I, almost, got Beckham running again.