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David Beckham Announces his Retirement


PSG midfielder calls time on career saying it was the 'right time' to finish while still playing at the highest level.

Al Jazeera 16 May 2013

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Football megastar David Beckham announced on Thursday that he is to retire after a glittering 20-year playing career in which he became one of the most widely recognised figures in world sport.



The former England captain, 38, made the announcement shortly after winning the Ligue 1 title with French giants Paris Saint-Germain, which made him the first Englishman to win league championships in four different countries.

He bows out from the game at the same time as his Manchester United mentor Alex Ferguson, who handed Beckham his professional debut in 1993 and thereby launched one of the most newsworthy careers in the history of the English game.

He went on to play for Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, as well as PSG, and won 115 caps for England in an unprecedented feat for an outfield player.


‘Right time’

"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," Beckham said.


Blessed with an extraordinarily accurate right foot, Beckham was renowned for his dead-ball prowess and his seemingly limitless reserves of stamina.

He won six league titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League with United, creating both injury-time goals as Ferguson's side stormed back to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the final, before joining Madrid in 2003, where he won the Spanish league title four years later.

Beckham moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and won two MLS Cup titles with the Galaxy, but he spent two loan spells at Milan and then returned to Europe in January this year, when he signed a short-term deal with PSG.

He is fondly remembered for his exploits in an England shirt, having captained his country for six years and played at three World Cups.

"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."


Global Appeal

Beckham's global celebrity also turned him into a one-man marketing phenomenon with a glut of lucrative endorsements.

He has long-standing sponsorship deals with firms including Adidas, Armani and Samsung and is believed to share a $306 million fortune with his wife, Victoria, the pop star turned fashion designer and mother of his four children.

He added: "I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family.

"I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams. I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period. I also want to thank (manager) Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support."

Outgoing Football Association chairman David Bernstein described Beckham as "an iconic figure", while former United team-mate and close friend Gary Neville saluted his impact on English football.

"He had incredible stamina and energy. He was a joy to play with," said Neville.

"And when you think back on the way football has changed over the last 22 years, he has probably been the most influential player in that time out of England in terms of transforming football."

England manager Roy Hodgson said he hoped Beckham would remain in the game.

"I'm rather hoping we'll be able to keep him in football because we can really benefit from his experience, we can really benefit from his charisma and we certainly benefit from the magnificent past he has had as a football player," he said.

As one of Britain's most recognisable figures, Beckham also worked as an ambassador for last year's London Olympics and carried the Olympic flame to the opening ceremony.

He is due to play his final game for PSG at Lorient's Stade du Moustoir on May 26.


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Out on a high: Beckham is retiring after helping Carlo Ancelotti's PSG win the French title for the first time in 19 years, which he celebrated emphatically with team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right)





Fond farewell: Beckham soaked up the applause in Paris this week during PSG's open-top bus title parade



All smiles: Moments after announcing his retirement, Beckham - pictured today - greeted PSG staff as he left the club's Camp des Loges training ground (above and below)





On his way: Beckham has just two games left for PSG before bowing out




Make mine a treble: Beckham memorably won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999 with Manchester United (above and below)







BECKHAM'S TROPHY CABINET

Manchester United
Premier League – 1996, 1997, 1999, 200, 2001, 2003
Champions League – 1999
FA Cup - 1996, 1999
Community Shield – 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997
Intercontinental Cup – 1999
FA Youth Cup – 1992

Real Madrid
La Liga - 2007
Spanish Super Cup – 2003

LA Galaxy
MLS Cup – 2011, 2012

Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1 - 2013


'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 want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from.

'I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.'

The trailblazing midfielder - who played for some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, as well as Los Angeles Galaxy - is now set to continue his ambassadorial duties with a variety of organisations, which include Sky Sports, adidas, Unicef and promoting football in China.
Beckham's last game of football will be on the synthetic pitch at Lorient's 18,110-capacity Stade du Moustoir, with the last home match of his career this Saturday against Brest at Parc des Princes.



Bend it like Beckham: Arguably his finest moment in an England shirt, captain Beckham scored this priceless last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford to send England to the 2002 World Cup





National hero: Beckham was adored by England and rightly celebrated after his superb display in October 2001


BECKHAM'S CAREER BY NUMBERS

Manchester United - 394 games, 85 goals
Preston North End (loan) - 5 games 2 goals

Real Madrid - 115 games 20 goals

LA Galaxy - 118 games 20 goals

AC Milan - 33 games 2 goals

PSG - 11 games 0 goals




Pride of Britain: Beckham won the MLS title twice during his time at Los Angeles Galaxy






King of Spain does an Italian job: Beckham left Real Madrid as a champion in 2007, while he also impressed during his time on loan at Milan


Best pals: Beckham told best friend Gary Neville, with whom he enjoyed 1999 Champions League success at Manchester United, that the time 'was right' to retire


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Golden Mo-ment: Beckham is jubilant after Mo Farah's extraordinary 5,000m Olympics success at Stratford

There were highs and lows in Beckham's international career. He was blamed for England's elimination from the 1998 World Cup for his petulant red card against Argentina, but scored the winning goal against the same team at the World Cup four years later.
Beckham responded to jeering at the 2000 European Championship with an obscene hand gesture to England fans but was lauded by the same supporters little more than a year later when his last-minute free kick against Greece secured a place at the 2002 World Cup.
England dropped Beckham in August 2006 in an effort to refresh the team with younger players after a quarter-final exit at that year's World Cup in Germany.

But coach Steve McClaren recalled him the following year after a poor run of form, and he returned for the remainder of England's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
His last England appearance came against Belarus in October 2009, and he missed the 2010 World Cup because of an achilles injury.

He is the only Englishman to score at three World Cups.
He still went to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's backroom staff and was often captured on camera.


Global warming to Becks: Beckham (pictured with wife Victoria in 2007) has been endorsed by fellow celebrity friends over the years including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith



Box office: President Barack Obamba welcomed Beckham to the White House during his time at LA Galaxy




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Trendsetter: Young Beckham. Over the years, he has set the fashion with his hairstyles






Cut above: The mohawk was replicated by many, while his Alice Band was popular, too




Looking ahead: Beckham is to focus on his ambassadorial duties



Saying goodbye: Beckham, who shone in his duel with Lionel Messi in the Champions League earlier this season, faces his last home game at the Parc des Princes this weekend



DAVID BECKHAM FACTFILE

1975: Born Leytonstone, May 2.
1991: Joins Manchester United as trainee.
1992: Makes debut against Brighton in the League Cup on September 23. Wins FA Youth Cup.
1993: Signs professional contract at Old Trafford.


Beckham celebrates, aged 16, as Man United's youth side win the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland

1995: Joins Preston on loan in February and scores two goals in five games.
1996: Helps United to Premier League and FA Cup double.
Scores goal of the season on opening day at Wimbledon, lobbing Neil Sullivan from the halfway line. Makes his England debut in the 3-0 win in Moldova.


Goal of the season: Beckham scored a stunning 57-yard strike against Wimbledon



National service: Beckham skips past Serghei Nani on his England debut against Moldova in 1997

1997: Collects another championship winners' medal, voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
1998: Scores first England goal, a free-kick against Colombia in Lens on June 26. Sent off in second-round penalty shootout defeat by Argentina.
1999: Helps United win the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup after coming from behind to beat Bayern Munich with two late goals.
Runner-up in World Player of the Year awards, behind Rivaldo.


World beaters: Beckham was voted second behind Luis Figo (centre) with Raul third in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2001

2000: May - Collects fourth championship winners' medal as United win title by a record 18 points.
November - Named England captain for the November friendly with Italy in Turin by stand-in boss Peter Taylor.


National treasure: Beckham was named England captain for the first time in 2000 by caretaker boss Peter Taylor


2001: May - Collects another Premier League title with United.
October - Curls in a 25-yard last-minute free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford to earn England a 2-2 draw and send them into World Cup finals.
2002: May 11 - Signs new three-year contract reported to be worth between £90,000 and £100,000 a week.
June 7 - Scores from the penalty spot in the World Cup group stage match against Argentina to seal a 1-0 win.
England bow out in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual winners Brazil.
2003: February - Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson accidentally kicks a boot into Beckham's face in frustration at United's FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.




Stitch up: Beckham saws the scars from an incident where Manchester United manager Ferguson kicked a boot at his eye



June 14 - Awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to football.
June 17 - United announce they have accepted a £25million bid from Real Madrid for Beckham, who agrees personal terms.
2004: June 24 - Misses a penalty as England lose to Portugal in a shootout in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals in Lisbon.



Happy days: Beckham was sold by Ferguson

2005: November: Captains England for 50th time in friendly against Argentina in Geneva.
July 2 - Stands down as England captain.
August 11 - Dropped from squad for friendly against Greece, Steve McClaren's first match as manager.
2007: January 11 - Beckham announces he will leave Real Madrid and join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy on a five-year contract in August.
January 13 - Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello says Beckham will never play for the club again.


Global superstar: Beckham was chased on the pitch by Chinese nurses in 2003

May 26 - McClaren hands Beckham a shock England recall for matches against Brazil and Estonia.
June - Wins the La Liga title with Madrid, having won back his place in the team.
August 16 - Beckham scores his first goal for Galaxy on his full debut in the SuperLiga semi-final meeting with DC United with a trademark free-kick.
2008: March 26 - Wins 100th cap in the friendly against France.
October 30 - Milan announce Beckham will join them on loan on January 7, 2009.
2009: January 11 - Makes shock first start for Milan in 2-2 Serie A draw at Roma.
March 9 - AC Milan announce that under a unique 'timeshare' agreement, Beckham will stay with them in Italy until the end of the season, return to the Galaxy from July to October and then rejoin the Serie A club for the rest of the 2009-10 campaign.
March 28 - Comes on as a half-time substitute against Slovakia at Wembley to win his 109th cap and break Bobby Moore's record for an England outfield player.
July 20, 27 - Twice confronts fans who gave him a hostile reception in his first home games after returning to the Galaxy.


Pride and glory: Beckham played for England 115 times - a record for an outfield player

2010: March 14 - Tears his achilles tendon in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo - an injury that rules him out of the World Cup.
June - Part of England's backroom staff for World Cup campaign which ends in second-round defeat by Germany.
August 11 - England career appears to be at an end when Capello tells ITV: 'Probably he is a little bit old.'
2011: November 20 - Wins the MLS Cup as the Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the final.
December 31 - Five-year deal at the Galaxy expires.
2012: January 19 - Re-signs with the Galaxy.
June 28 - Announces he has not been included in Team GB's squad for the Olympic Games.


By Royal appointment: Beckham was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2001 and attended Prince William and Kate's Royal Wedding

November 16 - Football Federation Australia claim a representative of Beckham approaches them with a view to the midfielder making a short-term move to the A-League in the MLS off-season. A Beckham spokesman says his client has 'absolutely no plans to play in Australia'.
November 20 - Confirms he is to leave the Galaxy after MLS Cup on December 1.
December 1 - Ends his time in MLS in style by winning a second MLS Cup with a 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo.



Scarf ace: Beckham surprisingly moved from the USA to Paris

2013: January 31 - Signs a five-month contract with Paris Saint-Germain, revealing at a press conference he will play without a salary, donating what he would have earned to a children's charity in the French capital.

February 24 - Makes his PSG debut as a substitute against rivals Marseille.

April 2 - Starts Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona. A brief substitute appearance in the following week's second leg was his final European game.

May 12 - PSG clinch the Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 win over Lyon. Beckham becomes the first Englishman to win league titles in four different countries.


May 16 - Announces his retirement from football.




Thanks for the memories, David: Beckham is set to end his playing days with just two more games left for PSG




Waving goodbye: David Beckham will retire from football after 20 years at the top


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