David Beckham Reflects on His Iconic 2000 Buzz Cut: ‘Never Did It to Create Attention’

David Beckham gets candid about one of his greatest buzzed about hair changes.

Netflix documentary series Beckham delved into several parts of the former football player’s life — including the dramatic story of what happened behind the scenes when he got his break in 2000.

“Back then I had a hairdresser named Tyler. I told him, ‘I’m going to cut my hair,’ and he said, ‘Are you sure? You really want to do that?’, explained Beckham in the third episode of the documentary.

He said his Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confronted him about the change ahead of their match against Leicester City in March 2000. “And [Ferguson] he said, ‘David take off your hat.’ And I said ‘No’.”

David Beckham Was ‘So Open’ To Telling His Whole Life Story For Netflix Doc, Director Says (Exclusive)

“Stubbornness,” Ferguson recalled. “And then I said, ‘Oh good.'”

When Beckham debuted his new hairstyle on the pitch during the game, commentators noted that the “blonde locks are gone” and “the skinhead look will take some getting used to”.

Manchester United’s David Beckham in action during the FA Carling Premiership match against Leeds United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Shaun Botterill / Allsport

Although the former footballer noted: “I never did it to get attention. I am not that person.”

Despite his intentions, the new haircut — along with his continued success on the court — has garnered a lot of attention from his fans across the UK. Hundreds of fans wanted to see his new look for the first time, and footage showed them standing in long queues for autographs.

Victoria Beckham on the ‘hardest period’ in her marriage to David: ‘The unhappiest I’ve ever been’

“When David Beckham shaved his head, I honestly thought a member of my family had died. Because my phone went off.” said James Clarke, a Manchester paparazzi. “The panic in people’s voices that this is… We haven’t documented it yet.”

He noted that it became a huge pop culture moment in the UK, as other men and even his young fans hoped to become like him.

“Literally kids, ‘I want to be David Beckham, I want to shave my head. And schools had to write ‘No head shaving’, Clarke said.

Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty

Victoria Beckham, 49, recalled in the documentary that shaving her husband’s head was the moment he “started to go from boy to man.”

“And it’s only natural that you’re going to start flexing your muscles, right? And don’t all children rebel against their parents?” she said, alluding to Sir Alex’s role as Beckham’s secondary father figure.

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The entire documentary series shows the story of the legendary athlete, which is divided into four parts and told through different perspectives. Also includes interviews with his parents, former teammates and Ferguson.

“He was so open,” director Fisher Stevens said of Beckham. “He says, ‘I’m ready. I want to tell my story before anyone else.’ And then I started doing research and I was like, ‘Jesus, this guy’s life is crazy. Walnuts.’ I had no idea.”

Beckham now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education