Former England captain David Beckham will retire from football at the end of the season
Former England captain David Beckham has confirmed that he will retire from football at the end of the season.
The 38-year-old, who started his career with Manchester United, has ‘hung up his boots’ after winning four league titles in four different countries.
After helping United to six Premier League titles between 1996 and 2003, Beckham joined Real Madrid but he only won the La Liga title once. He then joined MLS side LA Galaxy where he won the league play-offs three times before capping off a glistening club career by winning the French Ligue One with Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking about his decision to retire from the game, Beckham said: “I’m thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level.
“Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I’m starting a new adventure and I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead.”
The Leytonstone born midfielder signed a five-month deal with PSG in January and he confirmed that his full wages would be donated to a local Paris charity.
The much travelled winger who won just under 20 professional trophies said playing the game professionally was a dream come true.
Beckham left Manchester United in 2003 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid
“If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy,” he said.
“I am fortunate enough to have realised those dreams.”
During the 1994-95 season, Sir Alex Ferguson loaned Beckham out to Preston North End where he gained some valuable first team experience. He scored twice in five appearances for the Lilywhites, with his most notable goal coming against Doncaster Rovers as he scored directly from a corner kick.
Beckham, who joined United at the age of 14, won the Champions League, two FA Cups, four Community Shields, the FA Youth Cup and an Intercontinental Cup during his decade stay in Manchester.
He was part of a crop of players that Alex Ferguson brought to the club at a very young age. He came through the United ranks at the same time as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. All of whom had great careers in the game.
It was during his lengthy stint at Old Trafford that Beckham became a regular on the international stage. He made his international debut at just 21-years-old in a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova.
However, he had to wait two-years for his first goal for England which came during a 2-0 victory against Colombia at the 1998 World Cup in France.
Beckham’s red card against Argentina was blamed for England’s early exit from the 1998 World Cup
Regrettably for him, the antics which saw him sent-off for a trip on Diego Simeone against Argentina overshadowed his maiden goal for England.
The future England captain was slammed for his actions in that second round match and he was partially blamed for England’s premature exit from the tournament.
Beckham, who went on to captain England 59 times of his 115 caps, he single-handedly sent his country to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan after he scored a priceless stoppage time free-kick, in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford to salvage a 2-2 draw with Greece.
After he secured England’s spot at the 2002 World Cup he went on to captain Sven Goran Eriksson’s side and in the process he redeemed himself by scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot against Argentina.
That sent England up against Denmark in the second round which they comfortably won, before they lost 2-1 to Brazil in the quarter-final.
Beckham’s goal against Argentina put them on the verge of exiting the but when they failed to beat Sweden the early return to South America was confirmed.
“To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country,” he said.
“I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country. I’m honoured to represent England both on and off the pitch.
“I’m fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it’s my time to give back.”
A legend of the British game, who notched 72 assists during his Manchester United career, announced himself in the Premier League in sensational style when he scored from the halfway line for United against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
Beckham was influential in United’s dramatic late Champions League victory over Bayern Munich, as two of his corners led to the goals which were scored by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunner Solskjær at the Nou Camp.
Beckham lobbed Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line in 1996. It was later named goal of the century.
However, the outgoing United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed in 2007 in the Independent that his marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams, as she was then known, impacted on his game at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex said: “He was never a problem until he got married. He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time, he was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing – from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity, football is only a small part.”
Beckham’s time in Salford then ended in 2003 when he left for Real Madrid after an altercation with the United manager. The 2001 BBC Sports Personality of the Year allegedly had a boot thrown or kicked at him by Ferguson.
The London born winger then joined Madrid as part of the Galácticos, but he did not endure as much success during his four years on the continent.
After leaving United for an estimated €35 million, Beckham was part of the Real Madrid side that beat Real Mallorca in the Spanish Super Cup final over two legs. He scored the final goal in the 3-0 win at the Bernabeu after Madrid lost the first leg 2-1.
Beckham then had to wait four years before his next trophy with the Spanish giants as they beat Barcelona on a head-to-head decision to win their 30th league title.
In the same summer, Beckham moved to pastures new as he moved to America where he made 98 appearances for the LA Galaxy.
Beckham demonstrated his support for the MUFC Supporters Trust as he wore the gold and green scarf
During his five years in California, he also spent two loan spells with AC Milan. The only top-flight club he played for where he did not win a trophy.
In his second loan spell at the San Siro that also saw his first return to Old Trafford, where he saw one of the best receptions that any former player has received when returning to the Theatre of Dreams.
Beckham, who came on as a second-half substitute, was on the wrong side of a 4-0 hammering as Sir Alex once again got the upper hand over one of his former players.
However, he showed his love and affinity for the club as he made his way off the pitch by putting a trademark United gold and green scarf around his neck to show his support against the Glazer family.
After he relinquished the England captaincy he was controversially dropped by then England-coach Steve McLaren. The umbrella coach, as he was later referred to, claimed that he was looking to take the national side in a different direction.
Nine-months later McLaren recalled Beckham to the England squad for a friendly match against Brazil. He put in a commanding performance and set up the England goal which came through John Terry.
A ruptured Achilles injury in March 2010 brought an end to his international career as it meant that he would not be part of a world cup squad for the first time since Italia 1990, as England failed to qualify for the 1994 finals in America.
His last England appearance came in October 2009 when he came on as a substitute in the final qualifying match against Belarus, which England won 3-0.
Words: Adam Grice
Photos: BBC Sport, Telegraph, BBC Sport, The Mirror and 12thmanblog.com
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