Harper's Dad Believes Jose is a Genius

David Beckham believes his former club Real Madrid have a 'genius' at the helm in the form of Jose Mourinho.

Beckham spent four years with Real between 2003 and 2007, helping the club to the Primera Liga title in what proved to be his final campaign in Spain.

Since then, Real have seen arch-rivals Barcelona reclaim their dominance at home and clamber to the summit of European football.

Mourinho is the man charged with the task of returning Los Blancos to the top of the pile, with his first season in charge at Santiago Bernabeu producing just a solitary Copa del Rey success.

Beckham believes the Portuguese tactician is the ideal candidate to lead Real to further silverware in the future, with his record at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan the envy of most coaches.

"They have one of the best coaches in the world. Mourinho is a genius and he has proved that with all the teams he has coached," the former England captain told Marca.

"Madrid are building a powerful side with important players and they can win all the competitions.

"They are a team that strikes fear (into their rivals) and I have no doubt they will be able to win everything."

Phenomenon

Beckham is currently preparing to line up against Real in a glamour friendly for LA Galaxy and admits he is looking forward to locking horns with Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who inherited his No.7 jersey at Manchester United.

"Ronaldo is a phenomenon and one of the best players (in the world). I look forward to seeing him," he said.

While Beckham was only too happy to take on a new challenge in America when the Galaxy came calling, helping to raise the profile of the game in the United States, he admits things could have been different had the Real presidency not changed hands in 2005.

Florentino Perez, the man who helped to take Beckham to Madrid, stepped down two years after his arrival and did not return to the post until 2009, by which time the Englishman had moved on.

"If Florentino had stayed, I am sure I would have retired at Real Madrid," Beckham said