David Beckham: Sir Alex Ferguson helped save me after '98 World Cup disaster

David Beckham returned to Singapore for a promotional tour and spoke to a group of fans and media on Friday.

Beckham took a trip down the memory lane where he recollected his best and worst days of his career and picked out his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for looking after him on and off the court.

Beckham also had tips for young footballers, urging them to enjoy the moment before it flies by.

David Beckham on recovering from World Cup 1998 when he received a red card and was blamed for England's exit:

"One of the most important people to me at that moment in time was Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United fans. If it wasn't for the Manchester United fans at that moment in time, it would have been very difficult for me to get over that, that moment, because it was a difficult time for me and my career on and off the field because, you know, whatever went on on the field was difficult off the field as well. But, you know, the only thing that I knew to do for me personally was to put my head down and to work harder and not try to prove myself to people, but try to prove to myself I could still play at the highest level, continue at the highest level, be a Manchester United player, because every single game of that season was difficult...whoever I was playing away from home or at Old Trafford. But the moment I walked over to the corner flag and the whole stands just rose and clapped me and cheered me and sung my name. And those were the Manchester United fans. And that was the most important thing for me."

How Alex Ferguson helped him get through that tough period:

"Yeah, I woke up early and we were flying back to England that day, which again, I wasn't really looking forward to going back when you get knocked out of a competition and obviously the way, you know, I came out of that game, I knew that it was going to be difficult for me to go back home. So I woke up to my phone ringing and it was an unknown number or a number that I didn't know. I'd never received really any calls or messages from. And I answered the phone and said, David, it's the boss said, Good morning, boss. He said, How? How you feeling? I said, Not bad. And I think I got quite emotional on the phone to him and he said, Son, go away for three weeks, go and rest. And when you come back, you're going to get looked after here in Manchester. And that was... that was what got me through that particular season. And in all honesty, that particular season ended up being a treble winning season."

His most redeeming goal in his career:

"I think it has to be the goal against Greece (to qualify for the 2002 World Cup). I think that was... that was possibly the moment for me where most of the nation forgave me for what I did four years before. And I think that was probably the moment. Yeah, England fans, whoever it was West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool fans finally went okay, you know, and it was a special moment, you know, to play in a game that was so important for our country. Being England captain at Old Trafford in a game that was so big for me, it has to be. It has to be that."

Managing mental health:

"I have to manage it because I have four children that are looking for advice, that are looking for help, constantly asking questions. And yes, we have to look after ourselves because then people around us, you know, are looking for help as well. But I suppose my strength comes from helping my children, you know, and that's the most important thing to me. Yes. we all go through difficult moments and I'll be fine. My wife will be fine. But the most important thing, our priority will always be our children. Our priority is the mental health of our children and people around us."

What he would tell his fifteen year old self.

"I think for me personally, it would just be to enjoy the moment because like I said earlier in this conversation, it goes by so quickly. And for me to turn around to myself at 15 years old and say, enjoy the moment. And also, by the way, you're going to meet a Spice Girl and marry her. That would have been nice to know at 15 years old. But no, you know, enjoy the moment because it goes by so quickly. "