David Beckham: 'I'm secure as a person, a husband, a dad'

NEW YORK, March 17 (UPI) -- David Beckham doesn't pay mind to tabloid gossip about his family and personal life anymore, the British athlete told GQ in his first cover interview for the magazine.

The retired soccer player, 40, said "I'm secure as a person, as a husband, as a dad. I've gone past the point of really worrying, caring" about what the media says.

"When I was 22 years old, it might have affected me differently. I'm 40, I've got four amazing kids, and an amazing wife, amazing parents, amazing in-laws, amazing friends who I trust: It doesn't matter what people say."

The celebrity father, currently married to fashion mogul Victoria Beckham, told the outlet he gets "physically ill" when he has to leave his kids for work, but has been teaching them how to deal with the possibility of future public scrutiny through the media. His eldest son, Brooklyn, 17, recently broke out as a fashion photographer for Burberry while his son Romeo recently began modeling for the brand.

"We know [Brooklyn is] going to make his mistakes," Beckham said. "We know he'll have opportunities because of us. But he's making opportunities for himself, too. So far we've been very lucky that he's found a passion. Whether people believe it or not, he's got talent."