David Beckham: Brooklyn always steals my clothes so I must still be cool

David Beckham says he is glad that his son Brooklyn borrows his clothes — because it proves he is still “pretty cool” at 44.

The former footballer is widely regarded as one of the world’s most stylish men. He and his wife, fashion designer Victoria, have three sons — Brooklyn, 20, Romeo, 17, and Cruz, 14 — and daughter Harper, eight.

Asked if his children take advantage of his wardrobe, he said: “Definitely. But they are not as tidy as me. So when I walk into my closet I can see [that], ‘Right OK… he [Brooklyn] has had those jeans, that jumper.’

"I see it as a good thing. I must be doing something pretty cool for a 20-year-old to be wanting to borrow my stuff.”

The former England captain said he caught Brooklyn borrowing one of his suits only this week.

“The other day he FaceTimed me from a restaurant,” Beckham said. “And I was like, ‘I have seen that suit somewhere before.’ So I said, ‘Mate, what suit have you got on?’ And he was like, ‘Erm, I borrowed it from your wardrobe.’

"And I was like, ‘Mate, I have just bought that suit, I’ve not even worn it.’”

He added: “It was funny. I said to him: ‘When you get in tonight, hang it up.’ And he did.”

Beckham retired from football six years ago and now travels the world promoting philanthropic causes and working on his various fashion and lifestyle brand partnerships. He is also setting up MLS club Inter Miami.

He said he and Victoria, 45, share a similar work ethic. “Our children know that we still work really hard,” he said. “We do that for many reasons [but mainly] to set a good example.

“They have seen me have a long career as a footballer but now they see me on the business side. They see me work harder these days than most.

“It could be easy for them to sit back and enjoy it. But they are great kids and amazing human beings.

"We try to set the right example for them.”

He said the couple have had a “few years practice” at juggling work and family life, adding: “The majority of the time when I am away, she is at home. We always do that. We overlap at times. But we always make it work. Our priority will always be our family.”

Beckham, who grew up in Leytonstone, said this Christmas the family will spend time together in London. He will be cooking Christmas dinner — with the help of his mother, Sandra.

He said: “There is quite a lot of pressure on Christmas Day. I like to cook with my mum.”

Beckham was speaking at the adidas flagship store on Oxford Street.

Yesterday, he surprised fans who had ordered his Ultraboost 19 trainers through the adidas Bring It To Me in-store delivery app by presenting them with the shoes himself.

Beckham admitted he was a trainer addict. “I am a big trainer collector. You know what, I have quite a lot. I don’t know the number but I have a fair few.”

Yesterday Maya Jama hosted an evening of discussions at the store about the future of sport, with speakers including Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.