In a revealing new documentary airing on ITV Tonight, Brooklyn Beckham's former football coach at Queens Park Rangers has opened up about his experiences training the young star, offering a rare glimpse into what he describes as a "crackers" lifestyle.
Coach's Concerns for Teenage Brooklyn
Anthony McCool, who coached Brooklyn when he was just 14 years old as he attempted to follow in his famous father David Beckham's footsteps, has admitted to having genuine fears for the youngster during his training sessions. McCool recalls Brooklyn as being "very quiet" initially, someone who "didn't really look you in the eye at first" and took considerable time to open up, though he was always "very polite."
The coach expressed particular concern about Brooklyn's emotional state, noting: "He would worry me. We never saw any kind of massively high emotion or massively low [emotion]. It was almost like he was in this kind of daze. I think he was embarrassed at times."
The 'Crackers' Lucozade Incident
McCool shared one particularly surreal moment that perfectly illustrated the extraordinary nature of Brooklyn's upbringing. When Brooklyn once forgot to bring a drink to training, what happened next was described by McCool as "crackers."
"This was then leapt on by this guy near us," McCool explained. "He said, 'Is there a problem?' This guy had someone shoot off and before we knew it, he was back and burst into the dressing room like Jason Bourne with an earpiece in, with a crate of Lucozade."
McCool continued: "We were like, 'What are you doing?!' he said 'Brooklyn needed a drink'. Everyone laughed, but I looked at Brooklyn and thought, 'this life is crackers'. He probably thought everyone was laughing at him. That’s what made me quite sad."
Family Feud Context
These revelations come at a sensitive time for the Beckham family, with Brooklyn's ongoing feud with his famous relatives taking centre stage once again. Just last week, the 26-year-old lashed out at his family publicly and stated he had no intentions of ever reconciling with them, claiming that since cutting contact, his years of anxiety have almost come to an end.
The documentary also features commentary from Rebecca Loos, Sir David Beckham's former personal assistant who claims to have had an affair with him 22 years ago. Loos said of Brooklyn's recent scathing Instagram post: "In a very small way, this is, of course, validation for what I said and came forward and said 22 years ago. Brooklyn is basically confirming inauthentic relationships, value of promotion, endorsements above all else, and that it's all focused on brand Beckham, and that that's all that matters."
Lasting Impact of Unusual Upbringing
McCool's insights provide a poignant look at how the extraordinary circumstances of growing up in one of Britain's most famous families affected Brooklyn during his formative years. The coach's observations suggest that even routine activities like football training were complicated by the intense scrutiny and unusual security measures that surrounded the teenager.
The documentary promises to explore these themes in greater depth, examining both the privileges and pressures that come with being part of "brand Beckham" and how these dynamics have played out in Brooklyn's adult life and his current relationship with his family.
