Sir Alex Ferguson is returning to the Old Trafford dugout next month to manage David Beckham and a host of other stars in a charity match.

For 11 years Beckham was a member of Ferguson's all-conquering Manchester United team, but the pair had an acrimonious split in 2003 after the Scot accidentally kicked a boot that struck the former England captain above his left eye.

Ferguson sold Beckham to Real Madrid four months after the dressing room incident and then criticised the ex-England captain in his autobiography, but the pair are now on good terms.

Beckham contacted Ferguson recently to see if he wanted to get involved in a charity match designed to raise funds for UNICEF and the former United manager has accepted the offer.

The 73-year-old will manage a Great Britain and Ireland XI, which will be captained by Beckham, at Old Trafford on November 14.

Glasgow Times:

It will be the first time the retired Scot has returned to the dugout since calling time on his 26-year reign as United manager in 2013.

In the opposing dugout will be Carlo Ancelotti, who managed Beckham at AC Milan and Paris St Germain.

The Italian will manage a Rest of the World XI led by former Real Madrid and France star Zinedine Zidane.

The other players involved will be announced over the next month.

Beckham, who has been a UNICEF ambassador for 10 years, said: "I want a world where children can grow up safe from violence, free from poverty and protected from preventable diseases.

"This match gives me the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and vital funds to help reach the children who need it most. I am delighted that my friend Zizou (Zidane) will join me in leading two teams, full of our friends and team mates, at the best stadium in the world."

Former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina will officiate the game, which is being called 'The Match for Children'.

Tickets are now available on the Manchester United website and are priced from £20 for adults and £10 for children.

On Ferguson's involvement in the match, Beckham told BBC Radio 1: "I called him and asked him. He's like a father figure to me.

"The other day I saw him for the first time in a long time. We'd never even think about having a little glass of wine or beer (as players) in front of him but the other day someone handed me a glass of wine and I was talking to him (Ferguson) for 20 minutes with the wine hidden behind my back. Me, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes all said the same thing, we all hid the glass of wine behind our back."

However, Beckham admitted on talkSPORT: "Putting a game like this together is difficult.

"It's the weekend between international games so I can't have international players there unfortunately - but there will be a lot of top players there. I've played with some great players and great teams and they're supporting this."

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old believes former team-mate Ryan Giggs can emulate Ferguson and become United manager one day.

Giggs is assistant to Louis van Gaal and Beckham said: "Ryan is manager material, he's got that streak that runs through him.

"He could be a top manager. He's learned from Sir Alex over the years, now Louis van Gaal. He's taking his time and doing all the right things. All the fans would like to see him be manager at some time.

"He's got that appreciation and understanding of Manchester United, he'd be perfect to step in."

On United's current crop, Beckham added: "They look good players. I saw Gary Neville on TV the other day and he said they're not great players, they're still young and have to prove themselves over a certain amount of time - but they're doing very well now.

"It's about continuing and I'm sure they will. They've got that attitude."