LONDON, June 14: David Beckham thinks he would be more useful as a player than a coach at the 2012 London Games when Britain field their first Olympic football team since 1960.

The former England captain will be 37 when the Olympics come to London, but he maintains that fitness will not be an issue.

“There are 13 months to go and there are a lot of decisions to be made but I would love to be part of it,” Beckham told the BBC on Monday.

“I’m sure I’d be better as a player than a coach so I’ll have to wait and see. I still feel as if I’m 21 when I’m playing. I still love the game like I did when I was 21, I still feel as fit.

“Everyone knows I have looked after myself — eating-wise, fitness-wise. So I’m not in bad shape and I’ll continue to work hard and hopefully I can be part of it.”

England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce is being lined up to take charge of the team, with The Football Association administering the team and set to provide all the players.

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations won’t be part of the team because of fears it would jeopardise their independence and voting rights within FIFA.

Beckham was at the World Cup last year as a member of England coach Fabio Capello’s support staff after being ruled out with an Achilles’ tendon injury.

hile Beckham made the last of his 115 appearances for England in October 2009, he is still playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy.—AP