Anthony McCool, who once coached Brooklyn Beckham in the youth development ranks at Queen’s Park Rangers, has spoken out in support of the 26-year-old amid relentless online criticism and memes targeting his public image, cooking videos, and perceived lack of direction. In a candid LinkedIn post that quickly gained traction, McCool offered a rare firsthand perspective on what it was like working with a teenage Brooklyn, describing a “strange dynamic” within the Beckham family that he believes made life exceptionally difficult for the eldest son.
McCool, who coached Brooklyn during his time in QPR’s academy, admitted he “felt sorry for the lad” even back then. He wrote: “Brooklyn Beckham getting piled on. But I felt sorry for the lad. I did see some bizarre carry on as his football coach at QPR & certainly seen the anxiety. He might have got this situation wrong, I’m not on either side because I dont know them & his parents were always polite to me. But I did witness myself a strange dynamic which is impossible for us to judge and predict how we would navigate it, both as parents and as a young person.”
He went on to reveal a detail few outside the inner circle knew: Brooklyn had permanent security accompanying him at just 14 years old. “What it did do was open my eyes,” McCool continued. “Being super wealthy & famous isn’t an automatic ticket to happiness. It’s hard to ‘sympathise’ or empathise because most of us will never know. But being flanked by permanent security at 14, plus the many other things I seen made me realise I shouldn’t judge because I haven’t walked a mile in them shoes, or his parents to be fair.”
McCool’s post has resonated deeply online, shifting some of the conversation around Brooklyn Beckham away from ridicule and toward empathy. Many fans and commentators have praised McCool for providing a humanising perspective from someone who knew Brooklyn during his formative teenage years, rather than judging him solely through viral clips or social media memes. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone who actually worked with him speak with real compassion,” one user wrote. “It changes how you see the whole story.”
The remarks come at a time when Brooklyn has faced intense online scrutiny over his recent cooking videos, perceived lack of career focus, and comparisons to his famous parents David and Victoria Beckham. Critics have mocked his attempts at building a public persona as a chef and photographer, while supporters argue he is unfairly targeted because of his surname and privilege.
McCool acknowledged that he does not know the full picture today and is not taking sides in any current disputes. He emphasized that his observations are limited to the short period he coached Brooklyn as a teenager, but those glimpses were enough to convince him that growing up under constant public scrutiny, security presence, and parental expectations was far more challenging than most people could ever understand.
The Beckham family has not publicly responded to McCool’s comments. Brooklyn, now 26, has largely stepped back from social media in recent months, focusing on personal projects and his marriage to Nicola Peltz. David and Victoria Beckham have also remained silent on the matter, choosing to avoid fueling further speculation.
McCool’s post serves as a reminder that behind every headline and meme is a real person who grew up in circumstances most of us cannot imagine. While opinions on Brooklyn Beckham remain divided, Anthony McCool’s perspective offers a rare moment of nuance in an often polarized conversation — one that asks for empathy rather than judgment.
In a world quick to criticize those born into fame, McCool’s words stand out: sometimes understanding requires walking at least a few steps in someone else’s shoes — even if those shoes come with permanent security at age 14.
