Celtic manager Strachan was leaving Manchester United to extend his playing career at Leeds in 1989 around the time the 14-year-old Beckham was signing schoolboy terms at Old Trafford.

But they go back even further, according to Strachan, who as a former right-sided midfielder himself has great respect for Beckham's game.

Beckham is due to be introduced to a new crowd tomorrow evening (0200BST Thursday) at the Celtic versus MLS All-Stars clash, a match being staged at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

Strachan said: "David? I've known David since he was a boy, a 12-year-old, and he's a genuinely warm person, likes his team-mates, loves the game and has a drive and hunger that has got him to where he is.

"He's subtle in what he does, he's 'football subtle', he's got a great football brain.

"He's not a trickster, he's not one of the guys who can do all the tricks but nothing comes from it. He's a real player.

"When you are a superstar and you have one bad game, it's the end of an era.

"But that doesn't happen with David Beckham - he comes back even stronger."

Wherever Beckham appears, he inevitably becomes the focus of attention during the early stages of his career in the United States, with gossip columnists and news reporters as eager as sports journalists.

Celtic's performance is unlikely to make many front or back pages, but Beckham's presence at the showpiece game makes it newsworthy in the US.

He has never been down to play in the fixture, and due to an ankle injury his chances of featuring for the LA Galaxy in his scheduled debut match against Chelsea on Saturday are only rated as "50-50" by coach Frank Yallop.

But when the 32-year-old does play, Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is sure Beckham's displays will make him a crowd-puller.

"He's probably one of the best footballers in the world," said Brown, Celtic's £4.4million summer signing from Hibernian.

"When he takes the field everybody wants to come and watch him, so I'm sure he will see Americanised stardom, as he has in Europe and all over the world, as he is English."

Hoops defender Steven Pressley added to the chorus of approval for the former England skipper.

Pressley said: "I think he's the type of player who is the top player of all of football for the last 10 years and not only is he a special player but a player with a great deal of character."

Beckham had to face a public backlash after his red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, and has since being singled out several times for England's failures at major tournaments.

Current England boss Steve McClaren omitted him from his early squads but recalled Beckham when his Real Madrid performances led to a clamour for his return.

Pressley said: "It's the true sign of a champion, the ones that are able to come back from criticism and disappointment.

"He's proven himself this season by helping Real Madrid win the championship.

"He's a great passer and as everybody knows, he's equally as deadly in dead-ball situations."