‘I like that one in the little black catsuit…’: David Beckham reveals why he fell for Victoria

David Beckham yesterday recalled the moment he fell for wife Victoria for the first time – as he wished her a happy 21st wedding anniversary.

In a gushing Instagram tribute to the former Spice Girl, shared with his 63 million followers, the 45-year-old footballing legend revealed that ‘Posh’ first caught his eye on the video to her band’s 1997 hit Say You’ll Be There, in which she wore a skintight black PVC outfit.

He wrote: ‘Well, about 23 years ago I was sat in a room with Gary Neville [his Manchester United team-mate] and the spice girls were on the TV and I turned around to him and said, “Ohhhh I like that one in the little black catsuit.”

David (right) and Victoria Beckham (left) celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on Sunday

‘Who would have thought that all these years later we are celebrating 21 years of marriage and have 4 of the most beautiful and perfect kids. Thank you & Happy Anniversary I Love You @victoriabeckham.’

Then Mrs Beckham, 46, responded with her own message, writing: ‘I can’t believe it has been 21 years since we said “I do”. Four children, four dogs, so much laughter and I love you more each day xxxxxx.’

Sons Brooklyn, 21, Romeo, 17, Cruz, 14, piled in shortly afterwards to offer their congratulations.

The couple wed in a star-studded ceremony at Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin on July 4, 1999, and have gone on to amass a £335 million fortune.

David revealed the moment he fell for his future wife two years before they got married, when he switched on the television to see Victoria singing 'Say You’ll Be There' , whilst wearing a skintight black PVC outfit (pictured)

David revealed the moment he fell for his future wife two years before they got married, when he switched on the television to see Victoria singing ‘Say You’ll Be There’ , whilst wearing a skintight black PVC outfit (pictured)

ALSO ON POSH AND BECKS’ WEDDING DAY…

  • Seven-time Wimbledon singles Steffi Graf announced her retirement from the tournament after losing in the final to Lindsay Davenport. In an all-American men’s final, Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi
  • Whitney Houston, Will Smith, the Vengaboys and S Club 7 were all beaten to No 1 in the singles charts by ATB’s 9pm (Til I Come)
  • Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam said she would step down if she was seen as a ‘hindrance’ to the peace process
  • Coronation Street was watched by 12 million viewers, compared with just five million today
  • Tony Blair was PM and Bill Clinton was US President
  • Petrol was 62p a litre, compared with about £1.10 today
  • The UK’s No 1 film was The Mummy, starring a 29-year-old Rachel Weisz
  • A disgruntled Nicolas Anelka left Arsenal, eventually signing to Real Madrid for £22.3 million

Having had homes in Hertfordshire, Madrid and California, the couple – plus their three sons and daughter Harper Seven, eight – now split their time between a £25 million mansion in Holland Park, West London, and a luxury barn conversion in the Cotswolds.

The couple have endured a rollercoaster marriage in the public eye and many doubted that they would achieve 21 years of married life.

One friend admitted: ‘There have been many, many times over the last 21 years when it didn’t seem like it would, or could, last.’

Two years ago, rumours swirled that they were going to divorce. It is also understood there was unrest between the couple prompted by his partying when they returned to London from America in 2013.

Another low came three years ago when emails written by Beckham were leaked in which he claimed his charity work should have earned him a knighthood and he appeared to call the honours committee ‘unappreciative c***s’.

He and his wife both have OBEs, with Victoria saying the honour for her services to fashion and charity made her proud to be British and showed what can be achieved if you ‘dream big and work hard’.

There was, however, one significant critic of their union – Beckham’s Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who once said the player was too big for the club and had ‘made it his mission’ to become a celebrity. 

He said Beckham fell short of becoming an ‘absolute top-dog player’ and blamed his wife, saying: ‘The big problem for me… he fell in love with Victoria. And that changed everything.’

One secret to the couple’s happiness, they say, is having regular date-nights at Casa Cruz, a smart Argentinian restaurant near their London base.

The Beckhams have since had four children together: sons Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and daughter Harper Seven

PS: You may be wondering what happened to Rebecca Loos, David’s former PA, with whom he was accused of having an affair in 2004. She’s now a mother-of-two happily living in Norway, where she is a yoga teacher.