David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 3:54 pm
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16.20 Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has joined the growing line of footballing people ready to pay tribute to the midfielder.
"I wish him well in the future whatever he chooses to do and I personally hope that will be in football," Hodgson said.
"David is a man of many talents and a lot of people now will be wanting him for different jobs and roles, some of which could take him away from us in football.
"But 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."
16.10 Leyton Orient have been getting inundated by telephone calls following Beackham's announcement just to confirm that they will NOT be playing in Ligue 1 anytime soon.
Meanwhile, here's Beckham's official statement: "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.
"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 one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy. I'm fortunate to have realised those dreams.
"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. 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 honored to represent England both on and off the pitch.
"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realize 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 Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support.
"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.
"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. I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."
16.00 Preston North End supporter Bash has fond memories of Beckham's "peach" of a goal while on loan at Deepdale.
"His peach of a free-kick at Deepdale against Fulham will always be fondly remembered," emailed in good old Bash.
I'm guessing a few more people recall his dramatic last-minute equaliser against Greece though ...
15.55 Bury's most famous son end everybody's favourite football pundit, yes Gary Neville, is actually in Gay Paree where he has been discussing Beckham's future. Luckily Beckham's former team-mate has been chatting to his current employers Sky Sports.
"He just feel it's the right time," Neville told them.
"He just feels he's taken it as far as he can. He wanted to come back home, he's been away for 22 years and he's got to the end of the road.
"He's won another championship at PSG, that's four in four countries, and he just wants to come home."
Neville also paid tribute to the way Beckham has not only influenced football but also transcended it.
"You look at it and think 'wow', he's got an incredible array of caps and medals, an incredible longevity," said Neville.
"He played in the greatest midfield I've ever played with: David, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. David was a crosser of the ball, a passer of the ball. He had incredible stamina and energy. He was a joy to play with.
"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.
"In leaving the country, to Milan, LA, Paris, he has transported England around the world and that's something he was aware of and wanted to do.
"Every clothing garment he wore, every hairstyle was followed - not just in football but out of football.
"That's why you see him working as an ambassador for the Olympics."
Gary's brother Phil, we believe, is not in France but he has been on Twitter ...
15.45 Steve McClaren, the former England manager, has been on the television hailing the former national captain.
"He was a great player," said the man who dropped Beckham in his first match in charge before handing him a recall. "He made the very most of his talents through sheer hard work and professionalism and always doing extra work on the training field.
"He inspired his team-mates through his performances. He was a winner, he's won so many things in his career, and that was infectious on his team-mates.
"And he was an inspiring personality to young players with his behaviour and professionalism on and off the field.
"But ultimately he was a leader and people followed him.
"The young players followed him in how he played and in his personality, and even off the field the young players of today are following him through his fashion."
McClaren added: "By the end of his career he was a fantastic ambassador, not only for football around the world but for our country as well in helping bring major events to this country."
16.20 Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has joined the growing line of footballing people ready to pay tribute to the midfielder.
"I wish him well in the future whatever he chooses to do and I personally hope that will be in football," Hodgson said.
"David is a man of many talents and a lot of people now will be wanting him for different jobs and roles, some of which could take him away from us in football.
"But 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."
16.10 Leyton Orient have been getting inundated by telephone calls following Beackham's announcement just to confirm that they will NOT be playing in Ligue 1 anytime soon.
Meanwhile, here's Beckham's official statement: "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.
"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 one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy. I'm fortunate to have realised those dreams.
"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. 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 honored to represent England both on and off the pitch.
"I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realize 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 Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support.
"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.
"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. I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."
16.00 Preston North End supporter Bash has fond memories of Beckham's "peach" of a goal while on loan at Deepdale.
"His peach of a free-kick at Deepdale against Fulham will always be fondly remembered," emailed in good old Bash.
I'm guessing a few more people recall his dramatic last-minute equaliser against Greece though ...
15.55 Bury's most famous son end everybody's favourite football pundit, yes Gary Neville, is actually in Gay Paree where he has been discussing Beckham's future. Luckily Beckham's former team-mate has been chatting to his current employers Sky Sports.
"He just feel it's the right time," Neville told them.
"He just feels he's taken it as far as he can. He wanted to come back home, he's been away for 22 years and he's got to the end of the road.
"He's won another championship at PSG, that's four in four countries, and he just wants to come home."
Neville also paid tribute to the way Beckham has not only influenced football but also transcended it.
"You look at it and think 'wow', he's got an incredible array of caps and medals, an incredible longevity," said Neville.
"He played in the greatest midfield I've ever played with: David, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. David was a crosser of the ball, a passer of the ball. He had incredible stamina and energy. He was a joy to play with.
"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.
"In leaving the country, to Milan, LA, Paris, he has transported England around the world and that's something he was aware of and wanted to do.
"Every clothing garment he wore, every hairstyle was followed - not just in football but out of football.
"That's why you see him working as an ambassador for the Olympics."
Gary's brother Phil, we believe, is not in France but he has been on Twitter ...
15.45 Steve McClaren, the former England manager, has been on the television hailing the former national captain.
"He was a great player," said the man who dropped Beckham in his first match in charge before handing him a recall. "He made the very most of his talents through sheer hard work and professionalism and always doing extra work on the training field.
"He inspired his team-mates through his performances. He was a winner, he's won so many things in his career, and that was infectious on his team-mates.
"And he was an inspiring personality to young players with his behaviour and professionalism on and off the field.
"But ultimately he was a leader and people followed him.
"The young players followed him in how he played and in his personality, and even off the field the young players of today are following him through his fashion."
McClaren added: "By the end of his career he was a fantastic ambassador, not only for football around the world but for our country as well in helping bring major events to this country."
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 3:56 pm
Thank f*ck the circus is over, just gutted billy the kid didn't put him on the spinning wheel and misfire a flying blade into hisforehead
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 4:08 pm
But keano said he was coming to Cardiff. 
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 4:17 pm
One of the best midfielders of our time, and goes to show you don't have to be a pacy winger whose constantly up and down the touchline like a headless chicken. Think he went out to America far too early and it was a fallacy that he continued to play for England while other there.
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 8:56 pm
After Real Madrid he was just being bought for shirt sales more than his ability.
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 8:58 pm
He retired when he joined LA Galaxy didn't he?
Re: David Beckham To Retire
Thu May 16, 2013 9:00 pm
BluebirdJM wrote:He retired when he joined LA Galaxy didn't he?
He was at PSG.