Glenn Hoddle TURNED DOWN the chance to feature in David Beckham’s Netflix series, reveals documentary director… with Victoria and Becks’ mum hitting out at the ex-England boss for appearing to blame the Man United legend for their 1998 World Cup exit

• Succession star Fisher Stevens said he asked the former player ‘many times’
• Viewers poke fun at Victoria Beckham for ‘trying to relate to the working class’ 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Former England player and manager Glenn Hoddle ‘turned down the opportunity’ to be in David Beckham’s new Netflix series, the documentary director has revealed.

BECKHAM, which aired on October 4, sees David, 48, and Victoria, 49, give an intimate insight into their marriage and early romance, their family life, as well as charting David’s footballing career.

One of the more revealing segments of the show comes when Beckham reveals his mental health struggles after he was made ‘public enemy number one’ when he received a red card against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

Discussing her husband’s struggles, Victoria Beckham revealed how angry she was with the then England manager Glen Hoddle who ‘failed to protect’ a 23-year-old Beckham.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Succession star and director Fisher Stevens explained how his Netflix team attempted to reach out to Hoddle ‘many times’.

David Beckham pictured with Succession star and documentary director Fisher Stevens

After receiving the red card, the ex-England star was vilified and abused by fans and the media

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Asked why the former Tottenham player was absent, Stevens replied: ‘Well why don’t we call him right now and ask him. I called him and asked him to be in it many times.

‘I mean, I didn’t personally, but we contacted his people. I guess he just wasn’t interested in being in the series.’

Despite the interest surrounding this particular moment, Stevens said Hoddle is featured in many other moments during the show and he was a ‘big character’ in David’s life.

Beckham’s infamous red card came after the star lashed out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone, who by his own admission went down softly in the 47th minute.

It left England with only ten men for the remainder of the last-16 clash after being given his marching orders.

Upon arriving back in England, David was met with extreme backlash from fans and media, who vilified and abused the star during the subsequent season.

The documentary reveals how he was spat at in the streets, booed consistently at Manchester United matches and even sent death threats.

Hoddle fuelled the storm with his comments after the match, insisting that the sending-off changed the game and that David will have to learn from his mistake after letting his side down.

England manager Hoddle appeared to blame David Beckham for his side’s World Cup exit in 1998 after the midfielder received a red card against Argentina in the Three Lions’ last-16 loss

He insisted David will have to learn from his mistake after letting his side down

British newspapers blamed Beckham for England’s elimination, and he was subsequently spat at in the streets, booed by supporters in the stadiums and even the subject of death threats

During the documentary, Victoria said: ‘Glenn Hoddle didn’t come out and try to protect him. And how old was David, 23? 

‘You’re a kid at 23. Glenn Hoddle was a man. I wouldn’t say a man actually, he was an older person.’

Opening up on the emotionally challenging time, David said: ‘I wish there was a pill you could take to erase certain memories.

‘I felt very vulnerable and alone. There was this horrible paparazzi guy (when I returned to England) and he said: “How do you feel about letting your country down? You’re a disgrace”.

‘I find it hard to talk about it because I can’t. What I went through was so extreme. The whole country hated me.’ 

Victoria added: ‘He was really depressed, absolutely clinically depressed. It pained me so much. I still want to kill these people.’

The former Red Devils and Real Madrid star admitted that both Sir Alex Ferguson and Victoria were instrumental in helping him through the incredibly challenging year.

‘It was such an emotionally draining season,’ Beckham said. ‘I wouldn’t have got through it if I wasn’t at a club like Manchester United. But Victoria was the biggest reason I got through that time.’

Victoria Beckham, pictured, heavily criticised former England manager Glenn Hoddle during the new Netflix documentary series about her husband David’s life and career in football

David Beckham also opened up on the extreme backlash he faced in the documentary series

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