The man who started his United States afterlife with a flight on Elton John’s private jet predicted that David Beckham would become the new Pelé, and bag a knighthood in the process, after buying into the American dream.

The similarities between Beckham and Rodney Marsh are manifold. Both fell foul of managers in Manchester, both were damned for putting style over substance and both were 31 when the lure of the United States enticed them across the Atlantic.

Marsh, who had left England under a cloud after telling his Manchester City chairman that Tony Book, the manager, was “f***ing useless”, became a star for Tampa Bay Rowdies and embraced the hedonistic lifestyle. “I am so up about this news,” he said while on holiday in Florida. “They absolutely love stars in America and there is nobody bigger than Beckham. They will take him to their hearts and it’s two fingers to all the knockers at home.”

Marsh said that it would be wrong to suggest that Beckham is merely topping up his pension fund in the way of fading professionals seeking paydays in places such as Qatar and Japan. “People who go there sign six-month deals and are in it for the money,” Marsh said. “But this will change the sport in America. It will open the floodgates for people like Robbie Fowler and Teddy Sheringham to follow. David Beckham is the Pied Piper.”

The critics will counter that Major League Soccer (MLS) is an easy option for Beckham, who would have had enough suitors to test himself in a more competitive league in England or Italy, but Marsh insisted that the US would be the ideal place for a player who has transcended his sport. “Make no mistake about it, this will be as big as when Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in the Seventies,” he said. “He’s the new messiah. Everybody I have spoken to over here is so excited by the prospect. Beckham will drive the sport on. He will make it.

“At the moment, the Los Angeles Galaxy get crowds of about 15,000, but I guarantee that stadiums will be sold out wherever Beckham plays. It was the same when I joined Tampa Bay. They had crowds of 14,000, but within three years they were getting 35,000.”

A cynical view of Beckham’s move to Tinseltown would be that it is the natural denouement of a career built largely on artifice. However, Marsh believes that the fact Beckham is still a talented player, who only last summer was the captain of one of the World Cup favourites, will give MLS much-needed credibility. MLS has lost millions of dollars since it was founded in 1996, but Beckham has the profile to stop the bleeding.

“People ask me, ‘Do they know who David Beckham is over there?’ ” Marsh said. “That’s a very naive approach. Beckham is a global icon and a worldwide superstar. Everyone knows him and they will love the fact he likes clothes and has a nice haircut. It is a brilliant decision for him and a lifealtering one. His kids are going to grow up over there and he will become part of the American system. It’s a monumental thing for American soccer.”

Marsh made more than 100 appearances for Tampa after being flown out on John’s private jet. “Manchester City sacked me and put me on the transfer list,” Marsh said. “Elton John’s manager rang and said did I want to take his private plane to LA. So I did.”

Marsh returned to sign for Fulham in 1976, teaming up briefly with George Best and Bobby Moore before returning to Florida, ultimately becoming the Rowdies chief executive. His close links with the sport in the US endure, which is why he is so enthusiastic about Beckham’s move.

“The whole world is going to sit up and take notice of this,” Marsh said. “And I’d go further and say that within 24 months David will get his knighthood because of the good work he will have done. We did this 30 years ago because Pelé started something and now David is doing the same.”

Taking a slice of the American pie

Bobby Moore

England’s 1966 World Cup-winning captain joined San Antonio Thunder, of the North American Soccer League, in 1976 and went on to score a solitary goal in 24 appearances for the Texans

Sir Geoff Hurst

Ten years after his hat-trick heroics for England in the 1966 World Cup final, he joined Seattle Sounders and scored eight times in 23 matches to guide his team to the end-of-season play-offs for the first time

George Best

Scored 15 goals in 25 games for Los Angeles Aztecs during his first season in 1976, before less successful spells at Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes

Mo Johnston

The former Rangers and Celtic striker joined Kansas City Wizards in 1996 and played 149 games. He is head coach of Toronto FC, who are set to make their MLS debut this year as the league’s first Canadian club

Steve Nicol

Another Scot to find success in the US, the former Liverpool player joined Boston Bulldogs in 1999. He became head coach of New England Revolution in 2002 and has guided the club to three MLS Cup finals

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