The former Republic of Ireland midfielder led the Black Cats to the Coca-Cola Championship title after taking over at the Stadium of Light.

And Beckham, who was today handed a return to the international scene after Steve McClaren selected him for the England side to face Brazil and Estonia, has tipped Sunderland to prosper in the Premiership under Keane.

Speaking ahead of his recall to the national side, Beckham told BBC Five Live: "I always had the feeling he would go into management and I knew he would be one of the best around because of his passion for football.

"He has the respect and when a manager gets respect from a team that is a great start.

"Players aren't going to mess around with him because of his passion.

"I'm happy for him because he deserves it as a person and a player.

"I know how passionate he was as a player.

"People always ask me what Roy Keane was like and was he horrible and yes, he was horrible at times but that was the reason we won so much - because of his mentality and his passion for the team.

"It's great that he is going be in the Premiership this year and I think a lot of people will have too watch Sunderland because they will have the passion."

The 32-year-old is on the brink of winning his first Primera Liga title with Real Madrid before he moves to the MLS to play for Los Angeles Galaxy.

The former England skipper admits he is desperate to claim the title.

"We've had quite a lot of pressure for the last four years.

"When you are at a club as big as this and you've not won anything and Barcelona are winning there's a huge amount of pressure and so it should be.

"People have a right to criticise."

Beckham insists he has enjoyed his time in the Spanish capital although there had been difficult times because of the lack of continuity at Madrid in contrast to the stability at Old Trafford.

"I've enjoyed my time here. I'm not just saying that because I was forced to choose.

"I wanted to go to one of the biggest clubs in the world. I've lived a kids dream to play with the likes of Figo, Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo."

"It's also been different and difficult at Madrid because so much has changed over the last four years. There have always been ups and downs with the way the club has been run whereas in Manchester it was run by the same person and managed by the same person. You know where you are.

"With Madrid it's a different mentality. It's very different to the Manchester United organisation."

Beckham left United in 2003 following the deterioration of his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

He finally returned for an all-star match in March and admitted it had been emotional.

"It was really hard to hold it back but afterwards I felt so much better. I left Manchester United without even saying goodbye to the ladies in the canteen at the training ground and people I'd known since I was 14.

"Let alone the fans who supported me for years. When I'd done that I felt so much better."