Retirement beckons for Becks
Most-capped England outfield player in history David Beckham today announced his impending retirement from professional football at the age of 38.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder feels the time is right to step aside from a playing career that has spanned 20 years at the very top. Capped 115 times by his country, Becks will be forever held in the highest regard by England supporters and football fans around the world for his contribution to the game he adores.
Starting out as a youngster at Manchester United, the club he followed throughout his childhood, was a dream come true and he made a huge impact for the Old Trafford-based outfit during his ten years in the first-team set-up. Beckham captured numerous titles including the Premier League six times and the 1999 Champions League after that breathless victory over Bayern Munich. It was his corner that got flicked on for Solskjaer to score the late winner that handed triumphant manager Alex Ferguson his first European Cup triumph.
The star scored one of his most memorable goals in a United shirt in 1996 when he flighted an audacious attempt from the halfway line which sailed over the helpless Wimbledon goalkeeper into the net. Arms aloft, the stylish midfielder took the acclaim while announcing his true potential to the football world.
His England international career began in 1996 and by '98 he was one of the mainstays of Glenn Hoddle's side. Unfortunately, he lost his head in a clash with Argentina at the World Cup that year, resulting in a sending-off for the dejected Beckham and a devastating dumping out of the tournament for his team.
After his kick out at Diego Simeone which caused the red card, Becks endured at least a year of abuse from boo-boys at Premier League stadiums up and down the country. It was a dark time for the precocious playmaker and some doubted his ability to get back on track at international level. That all turned around in astounding fashion when Beckham captained England to qualification for the 2002 World Cup under Sven-Goran Eriksson, his free-kick equaliser against Greece in the deciding qualifier sending English fans into delirium and sealing the country's spot at the tournament in Japan/South Korea. Afterwards, 'Golden Balls' as he was christened, could do no wrong!
His spectacular falling out with Ferguson, which followed a flying boot in his direction from his boss and a nasty cut above the eye to show for it, was a massive low-point in the career of David Beckham and many observers feel he could have achieved a great deal more had he stayed on. However, the writing was on the wall after that dressing room spat with Fergie and he duly moved on to Real Madrid in 2003.
He joined up toward the latter part of the 'Galacticos' era and it took time for the team of superstars to grab the title back from a resurgent Barcelona, led by a 'Galactico' of their own in the shape of Brazilian magician Ronaldinho. They finally did it in 2007, Beckham's final year at the Bernabeu, despite a sticky first half of the campaign which saw the England captain frozen out by head coach Fabio Capello. Despite repeated claims that Beckham wasn't required, the Italian eventually had to turn to him in a desperate attempt to claw back superiority in La Liga. Ever the professional, Beckham had kept himself sharp despite the lack of playing time and he came roaring quickly back to form to drag Real to the Spanish championship.
Still in his prime, he made the extraordinary decision to join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, leaving suitors from all over Europe deeply disappointed. He spent two loan spells with Milan in 2009 and 2010 during the American off-season, but his main attention was on the Galaxy and he managed to win two back-to-back titles to end his time in California in great style.
One last European adventure beckoned when PSG made him a contract offer of five months from January of this year. True of the gentleman that he is, Beckham pledged his full salary to a local children's hospital in Paris in a bid to give something special back, a trait he's displayed throughout much of his time in the public spotlight. On the field, the Englishman got the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League again, as he assisted the French side in their run to the quarter-finals. The Parisians followed that up by clinching the Ligue 1 championship with time to spare, meaning Beckham has now lifted the top-flight league title in four separate countries.
With just two matches to go in the season, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football we've ever seen decided to call it a day. The final competitive fixture of his dazzling career will take place on May 26th at Lorient and he will be sorely missed from the game that has given him so much, but that he has also given so much to in return.
His playing career has taken an almost fantasistical path, what with winning trophies for his boyhood team, moving to one of the biggest clubs in the universe Real Madrid, then featuring for giants like Milan and PSG, not to mention captaining his country and taking part in three World Cups. A great ambassador for the sport, Beckham will surely be part of the fabric of football for years to come.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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