David Beckham: Manchester United midfielder praises LVG for continuing youth policy

David Beckham has praised Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal for following his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson's policy of integrating youth players into the first-team. The former Real Madrid star was part of the 1992 class along with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, all of whom were promoted by the Scottish manager to the first-team from the youth side.

The former England international midfielder, who debuted 21 years ago, has 394 appearances for the Red Devils in over a decade at the club before moving to Real Madrid in 2003. Beckham has credited all the success he had at United to the manager. He believes that a lot of Ferguson's success came after he integrated talented youth at the club with the senior squad.

The 40-year-old United legend has now praised the Dutch manager for going down the same path and giving opportunities to young players at the club. Van Gaal has brought a number of youth players, who have got a chance to showcase their talent since his arrival last summer. Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett and James Wilson have been handed opportunities to stake their claim for a regular place in the first-team.

"Sir Alex Ferguson was my favourite manager that I ever played for, he gave me the chance to play for the team that I had supported for my whole life and obviously the success we had there was all down to him as a manager. The manager brought young players in and that's why he was successful the way he was," Beckham said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"Luckily the manager had enough faith in us kids. The fact that he threw us all in at the same time, shows the vision he had for the future."

"Now at United we've got a lot of young players finding their way, but doing great jobs, and I think the manager (Van Gaal), with obviously Ryan Giggs in there as well, it's an important time but I think it's a good time at the moment," he added.