EXCLUSIVE: Teddy Sheringham on Beckham’s Knighthood and What’s Next for Ronaldo

It’s been a big few days for footballing legends. Sir David Beckham has now been formally recognised for his services to sport and charity, and Ronaldo’s sent the rumour mill into overdrive with hints about his retirement.

We sat down with Teddy Sheringham to talk about what could be next for Ronaldo, and whether he looks likely to follow Beckham into club ownership once he hangs up his boots for good.

The sky’s the limit for a player like Ronaldo. Sheringham spoke exclusively to Oddspedia about the Portuguese footballing legend’s next move, and the “surreal” moment when he saw his former teammate knighted.

Sheringham: “There are bigger and better things than being a manager for Ronaldo”

Football’s top goalscorer remains a force to be reckoned with, but a retirement announcement could well be looming.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo admitted that he does plan to retire “soon,” although it would be “very, very difficult.”

Of course, talk has immediately turned to what the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could be planning for his retirement, and whether he’s likely to stay in the game.

We spoke to Teddy Sheringham to get his thoughts on what Ronaldo could be planning for the future.

Sheringham told us that Ronaldo is far more likely to own a football club, similar to David Beckham’s role at Inter Miami, than become a manager. And considering the pressure piling on some Premier League managers right now, we can’t blame him.

Speaking exclusively to Oddspedia, Sheringham said: “I can’t see Cristiano Ronaldo going into management after he retires.”

“There are bigger and better things than being a manager for Ronaldo. He’s someone that wants to take on the world; it’s in his nature and he’s shown that on the football pitch for decades.”

“In an ownership position, he’d have complete oversight over a club’s operations and personnel, in comparison to becoming a manager, where he’d be at the mercy of the club board.”

Ronaldo is well known for his seemingly limitless ambition and the capability to match, so it’s likely that his sights are set higher than a managerial role. Sheringham “can’t see Ronaldo entering that environment as a manager,” but an ownership position could well be what the player some call the GOAT is looking for.

Teddy Sheringham: It’s “surreal” seeing Beckham become Sir David

Beckham officially became Sir David on 5 November, receiving his knighthood from the King at a Windsor Castle ceremony. It’s been a long time coming for Becks, who has been tipped for the honour for years, having been awarded his OBE back in 2003.

When asked how he felt about seeing his former teammate knighted for his services to sport and charity, Teddy Sheringham told Oddspedia it was “surreal.”

Sheringham explained, “I never thought I’d see Sir David Beckham knighted. When I recall my time with him in the Manchester United dressing room, I think of a little lad from Chingford who would always be giggling in the corner with Gary Neville – like two school kids who couldn’t believe they were playing for the club or England.”

“They had their own clique that kept them going and allowed them to become the brilliant players they were.”

“He’s achieved so much in his footballing career and beyond since he retired, but to see David awarded with a knighthood is so surreal, and I couldn’t be happier for him and his family.”

Teddy Sheringham on Unorthodox Striker Mbappe, the Van de Ven and Romero Pairing and Fickle Fans

As part of the Manchester United team that won the treble, Teddy Sheringham knows what a club needs to succeed – from the most effective strikers to the skill pairings that leave other clubs on the back foot.

We caught up with the former manager (and one of the top centre forwards of modern times) to find out why he’s classing Kylian Mbappe as “an unorthodox striker,” and why he feels Van de Ven and Romero are now the centre back pairing to beat.

Teddy Sheringham spoke exclusively to Oddspedia to explain what the Van de Ven and Romero pairing has that others lack and which other players could cause an upset this season.

Mbappe not suited to lone striker role, says Teddy Sheringham

Mbappe has long been one of Europe’s most prolific strikers, along with the likes of Kane and Haaland. But his effectiveness relies on a strategy that some say is a little out of the ordinary.

Sheringham told us that despite his proven ability to score against the best clubs in the world, Mbappe actually falls short when it comes to two of the key traits top centre forwards have.

Speaking exclusively to Oddspedia, Sheringham said: “I don’t see Kylian Mbappe as an ‘out-and-out’ centre forward – he’s more like Thierry Henry in that he wants to drift out wide and cut inside. I don’t think he is as skilled in holding the ball up or linking play, which are two important traits of a proper centre forward.”

Sheringham told us that he would class Mbappe as “an unorthodox striker.” By that, he means that the player’s most effective strategy involves taking defenders on directly. “That’s where he’s really effective and can cause the opposition defence a lot of problems,” Sheringham went on to say.

A lone striker role doesn’t suit Kylian Mbappe and risks leaving him less dangerous than he otherwise could be. As Sheringham explained, Mbappe is “more effective coming from wide areas of the pitch.”

“That said, wherever he plays, he fills defenders with fear with his pace and dribbling. There are aspects of his game that would scare any defender in the world – it’s just about getting him in the right areas at the right time.”

Sheringham: Conor Bradley reminds me of a young Steven Gerrard

Younger players showed us why they’re the ones to watch last night. Alexander-Arnold’s heir apparent Conor Bradley was of course under the spotlight, but his shining display showed he’s got what it takes to stay cool under pressure.

Conor Bradley caught the eye of Teddy Sheringham, who told us the 22-year-old’s stellar performance at Anfield last night reminded him of a young Stevie G.

Speaking to Oddspedia, Sheringham said: “Conor Bradley definitely stepped up to the plate last night against Vinicius.”

“Bradley has probably not found that level of consistency yet, but parts of his game make me go, ‘wow’. I look at him like a young Steven Gerrard coming onto the scene – he’s got that tenacity and drive about him and has a huge amount of quality.”

Vinicius is one of the best players in the world, so Bradley’s performance against him shows that he’s got the makings of Liverpool’s next star right-back.

“The challenge for him now is whether he can sustain those levels, but I’m confident he’ll be able to in the future,” said Sheringham.

Sheringham: “Liverpool fans’ reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold is a perfect example of supporters being fickle”

The reception Trent Alexander-Arnold got at Anfield last night showed the fickle side of football fans.

Tensions were running high last night when Alexander-Arnold returned to the home of Liverpool FC for the first time since leaving the club for Real Madrid.

Prior to the Champions League game, it was reported that Trent’s mural had been vandalised with the words “Adios El Rata,” and the reds weren’t shy about voicing their feelings on what some have called his “betrayal” as the game got underway.

There’s little doubt that Trent would’ve been hurt by the reaction of his former fans, but what does the strength of this ill-feeling tell us about the fickleness of football fans?

“There’s clearly a few who give him grief for moving onto bigger and better things,” but “if Trent signed back for Liverpool next season and started performing well, they’d love him all over again,” said Sheringham.

“You don’t leave Liverpool to join many other clubs because they’re obviously one of the biggest clubs in the world, but when you get the chance to go to Real Madrid, you’re almost obliged to try your trade there and see if you can do it in a different country at another fantastic club.”

“Trent will be upset that the Liverpool fans reacted like that, but it’s just the way football fans are,” Sheringham explained.

Van de Ven and Romero in same bracket as Gabriel and Saliba

Spurs defensive pairing Van de Ven and Romero are the bedrock of the team. Thomas Frank will be glad these two players are currently on top form and showing their class. Without them, things could quickly get very stressful for Tottenham.

Sheringham believes the centre-back partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is so effective it’s now comparable to that of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at Arsenal.

Speaking exclusively to Oddspedia, Sheringham said: “Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are in the same category as Gabriel and William Saliba.”

“Everyone talks about the best Premier League centre-back pairing being Gabriel and Saliba.”

“You can also make a case for Liverpool’s defensive partnership: Virgil van Dijk is still a fantastic player, although there are still question marks around Ibrahima Konate. But I would place Van de Ven and Romero in the same bracket as those two pairings.”

The effectiveness of the pairing lies in the way the two players complement one another, Sheringham explained.

“If one gets beaten, his partner is there to cover for him. It’s unusual for a centre-back pairing at Spurs to be likened to the Premier League’s elite defenders, but they’re the bedrock of a stable team.”

“We saw last year how Spurs struggled without that pairing and it ultimately contributed to Ange Postecoglou’s downfall.”

Teddy Sheringham was speaking exclusively with Oddspedia. All quotes in this article are taken from an exclusive interview conducted by Oddspedia. Journalists and media outlets are welcome to use these quotes, provided they are attributed to Oddspedia. Please ensure links back to the original article to provide full context for readers.