Wellington Phoenix midfielder Richard Johnson is relishing the opportunity of coming face to face again with a player he has long regarded as "a bit special".
To see Becks and Co training in New Zealand...
The 33-year-old Australian will take on David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy team-mates in a a friendly in New Zealand on Saturday.
Johnson played against the England midfielder for Watford in the Premier League in the 1999-2000 season when the Galaxy star was at the peak of his powers for Manchester United.
"We actually played at Old Trafford and I was lucky enough to get on the pitch that day," Johnson said.
"I actually scored a goal so it was pretty exciting and they had a team full of superstars in those days.
"It was a very rare left-footed goal. It was just outside the box but it flew into the top corner, so it was pretty good."
Unfortunately for Johnson, goals from Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and a brace from Andy Cole meant United won 4-1 that day.
Beckham's rise in the game had come as no surprise to Johnson.
"No, not really. The celebrity bit probably has but as a footballer it definitely hasn't for me. You could tell back then he was a bit special."
Johnson's team-mate, and Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi, cannot wait to lock horns against one of the world's most famous players.
"You don't appreciate a player, what he can do, until you play against them," Aloisi said.
"Obviously what David can do on the ball - and with the ball - is amazing when you see it on TV - but when you see it live, and play against it, it's something special. And that's what I'm looking forward to."
Before Wellington's match against the Galaxy, the New Zealand side has an important A-League clash against Adelaide United tonight, but Aloisi admitted that it has been hard not to focus on the Galaxy match.
"I think the players are pretty excited. They know about these players - I grew up watching [Galaxy coach] Ruud Gullit - and I think the whole of Wellington is going to get right into it," Aloisi said.
"It will be incredible. The amount of noise our supporters make with only 10,000 [in the stadium] - I can only imagine what it's going to be like with 30,000."
To see Becks and Co training in New Zealand...
The 33-year-old Australian will take on David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy team-mates in a a friendly in New Zealand on Saturday.
Johnson played against the England midfielder for Watford in the Premier League in the 1999-2000 season when the Galaxy star was at the peak of his powers for Manchester United.
"We actually played at Old Trafford and I was lucky enough to get on the pitch that day," Johnson said.
"I actually scored a goal so it was pretty exciting and they had a team full of superstars in those days.
"It was a very rare left-footed goal. It was just outside the box but it flew into the top corner, so it was pretty good."
Unfortunately for Johnson, goals from Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and a brace from Andy Cole meant United won 4-1 that day.
Beckham's rise in the game had come as no surprise to Johnson.
"No, not really. The celebrity bit probably has but as a footballer it definitely hasn't for me. You could tell back then he was a bit special."
Johnson's team-mate, and Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi, cannot wait to lock horns against one of the world's most famous players.
"You don't appreciate a player, what he can do, until you play against them," Aloisi said.
"Obviously what David can do on the ball - and with the ball - is amazing when you see it on TV - but when you see it live, and play against it, it's something special. And that's what I'm looking forward to."
Before Wellington's match against the Galaxy, the New Zealand side has an important A-League clash against Adelaide United tonight, but Aloisi admitted that it has been hard not to focus on the Galaxy match.
"I think the players are pretty excited. They know about these players - I grew up watching [Galaxy coach] Ruud Gullit - and I think the whole of Wellington is going to get right into it," Aloisi said.
"It will be incredible. The amount of noise our supporters make with only 10,000 [in the stadium] - I can only imagine what it's going to be like with 30,000."
To see Becks and Co training in New Zealand...
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