Hero's welcome - Beckham back at Old Trafford

Man Utd 4 - 3 European All-Star XI The intention of last night's match between Manchester United and a European All-Star XI was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and half a century of United's participation in Europe, but it will be remembered for the return of David Beckham and the deafening ovation he received from the supporters who worshipped him for over a decade in United colours. The 31-year-old's previous visits to Old Trafford since his departure for Real Madrid in 2003 had been as an England player and, though injury prevented him from captaining the European team here, his appearance as a guest of honour was spectacular. Once it was announced that the former England captain would be introduced at half-time, the football - a 4-3 victory to United over a team predictably stripped of the stars on the eve of the match - was always going to be a subsidiary thought for the 74,343 in attendance. "I've waited for four years for this," said Beckham before turning his attentions to Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom an infamous falling-out led to the end of his United career. "You've got the best manager in the world at this club. It was the best time of my football career. I want to say thank you to the fans and the people of this club. Especially in 1998 [when he was sent off at the World Cup] I wouldn't have got through the things I did without the people of this stadium." Fifty years ago, under Sir Matt Busby, United became the first English side to compete in the European Cup and yesterday, though the players on display reflected the continent's present abundance of talent, Beckham's homecoming turned the evening into a celebration of the past. "I'd expect he'd get a great reception," Ferguson said. "He had great years here ... He was a great player." References: football.guardian