“Rest in Peace. Such Sad News” – David Beckham Joins Soccer Fraternity in Mourning Saddening Loss of Manchester United Legend

The soccer world witnessed the sad demise of Gordon McQueen on Thursday. McQueen was a significant name in soccer from the 1970s and 1980s. The legendary Scottish defender once caused an uproar with his record-breaking transfer to Manchester United from Leeds United.

McQueen left an inedible mark on the sport in his career that spanned over 15 years. After battling with laryngeal cancer since 2011, the Manchester United legend was diagnosed with vascular dementia in January 2021 and died of dementia on June 15. Alongside the soccer world, David Beckham also shared his condolences to McQueen.

David Beckham laments the demise of United legend

The former United superstar David Beckham took to Instagram to mourn the death of McQueen. He captioned the story, “Big Gordon. Rest in Peace. Such sad news.” McQueen’s former clubs, Leeds United and Manchester United, also shared a heartfelt message on Twitter. The loss saddened the fans, especially the ones who watched him play.

One of the fans still remembers his famous goal at Wembley against England that won Scotland the British Home Championship.

One Leeds fan who had known him remembered how his dad and then Leeds coach scouted the legendary defender and signed him.

McQueen spent six seasons with Leeds before the Manchester United transfer in 1978. The Scottish Hall of Famer won the first division title with Leeds in his second season. He was with the Red Devils until 1985 and won the prestigious FA Cup in 1982-83. He ended his soccer career in 1983 with the Hong Kong club Seiko. McQueen also made 30 appearances for the Scottish national team. He made it to the 1974 and 1978 rosters for the World Cup but wasn’t able to make a single appearance.  

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Alongside his defensive skills, McQueen will also be remembered for his infamous transfer to Manchester United that caused a backlash.

Gordon McQueen and the gripping tale behind his Manchester United transfer

McQueen started his soccer career during his school days. To the surprise of many, the center-back played as a goalkeeper during his school days. He later shifted to the defensive position, and the rest is history. The Scottish Hall of Famer made his senior debut with Scottish club St. Mirren. After spending two years, he made a significant stride in his career. 

McQueen decided to play for Leeds United. At Elland Road, the Scottish defender made a massive name for himself. His defensive exploits and nack to get crunch goals made him the hottest property. And soon, top clubs started scouting the defender, with Manchester United being one of the prominent names. But given the rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United, it was going to cause a massive backlash.

However, the former Leeds superstar squashed all those rumors by saying he wanted to end his career at Elland Road. Well, it wasn’t meant to be, as Red Devils got their hands on one of the most sought defenders in the record transfer. On signing for United, McQueen said, “99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars.” And with that, he broke the British transfer record in 1978 by signing with ManU for a whopping sum of £500,000.

Leeds United fans were in disbelief. McQueen joined their arch-rivals only a few weeks after stating that he wanted to stay at Elland Road forever. The move angered the fans, and the Scottish defender faced a massive backlash. 

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While his legacy has such a noteworthy transfer story, the fans will always remember Gordon McQueen for his defensive skills and notching crucial goals. RIP, legend!