Leeds United legend Jermaine Beckford has named the manager who had the biggest influence on his career out of Simon Grayson, Sven Goran-Eriksson and David Moyes.
Jermaine Beckford signed for Leeds as an unknown quantity, making the leap from non-league football to the Championship in 2006.
After loan spells with Carlisle United and Scunthorpe, Beckford became a firm favourite at Elland Road following Leeds’ relegation to League One, playing a crucial role in Leeds’ promotion under Simon Grayson in the 2009/10 season.
Beckford eventually went on to play in the Premier League, spending time at Everton and Leicester City before eventually retiring in 2019.
Now, he has named the manager who had the biggest influence on his career, paying tribute to former Leeds boss Grayson.
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson and Jermaine Beckford
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Leeds United legend Jermaine Beckford praises Simon Grayson influence
Speaking to the Football Millionaire podcast, Beckford explained why Grayson remains the most important influence on his career.
According to Beckford, despite Moyes and Eriksson’s pedigree at the top of the game, Grayson’s ability to make him feel comfortable and rebuild his confidence set him apart from the other coaches in his career.
Beckford said: “Simon Grayson was amazing for me. I’ve had lots of incredible managers, don’t get me wrong. Sven-Goran Eriksson was incredible. David Moyes was fantastic. But the reason I say Simon Grayson, not necessarily because he’s got the same type of accolades as any of the other guys that have managed me.
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“But he was one of the first managers who really helped me to instil the self-belief in my abilities, that I’m able to play at this level, that I’m able and capable of being a professional football player. I’ve worked with him at three different clubs now.
“And one of the things that he did that set him apart from all the other managers, in my opinion, was the ability to see when I’m feeling c—, see when I’m feeling a little bit low, just pop his arm around me and say, ‘Don’t be silly. Don’t worry about it.’
He added: “You’re going to score for me on the weekend. And as a striker, you thrive on the confidence. And that’s exactly what I needed. He was one of the first managers to really put his arm around me and just say that to me.”
Jermaine Beckford during his playing days for Leeds.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Jermaine Beckford was at his most prolific at Leeds United
Beckford’s assertion that Grayson was the most influential manager of his career is backed up by his record at Leeds.
Grayson was Beckford’s third manager in League One with Leeds, having also played under Dennis Wise and legendary former Leeds midfielder Gary McAllister, and enjoyed the most prolific period of his career with the club.
Club Played Goals Games Per Goal
Leeds United 152 85 1.79
Preston North End 60 21 2.86
Bolton Wanderers 51 11 4.64
Leicester City 49 15 3.27
Everton 40 10 4
Huddersfield Town 22 9 2.44
Scunthorpe United 18 8 2.25
Bury FC 17 8 2.13
Carlisle United 5 1 5
According to TransferMarkt, Beckford scored a total of 85 goals in 152 games for the club before eventually leaving on a free transfer to Everton at a ratio of a goal every 1.78 games.
The closest he came to replicating that hit rate was in a short spell at Burnley, when he scored eight goals in 17 games at a ratio of one goal every 2.13 games.