David Beckham set to retire at the end of the season

Former-England captain David Beckham is set to retire at the end of the season after a career spanning 20 years

Former-England captain David Beckham is set to retire from football at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old has represented some of the biggest clubs in European football and appeared for England 115 times, wearing the captain’s armband on 59 occasions.

Right Time

The former-Manchester United star revealed to Sky Sports that he felt the time was right to call it a day.

He 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.

“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.”

Incredible

David Beckham has enjoyed an incredible playing career. He has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, not many players can say they have appeared for three of the biggest football clubs in the world.

Beckham has also claimed league titles in four different countries, a feat achieved by very few in the game and no other English player. Beckham won league titles in England with United, before winning a title in his last year at Real Madrid.

During his five years in the MLS, Beckham claimed the MLS Cup twice with LA Galaxy, before moving on to PSG at the end of last year and helping the club to their first title in nearly decade this season.

His farewell appearance is likely to come on 26th may when PSG play Lorient. The game will bring down the curtain on a glittering career, which has taken in two different continents.

Hard work

David Beckham was without a doubt a very talented footballer, but what is even more impressive is how hard he works. He mixed his talent with sheer graft to get where he wanted to be. At times, he was overrated and at times underrated, Beckham never hid on the pitch though even when times got hard.

Villain to hero

The World Cup in 1998 played a big part in the midfielder’s career. His infamous sending-off against Argentina in many people’s eyes cost England the game and made him public enemy number one with the English press and opposition supporters up and down the country.

However, that moment seemed to motivate Beckham to work even harder and do even better in a Three Lions shirt. The turnaround from villain to hero in an England shirt ironically came at Old Trafford.

England was losing 2-1 to Greece in a qualifier for World Cup 2002 and needed a draw or a victory to make the World Cup finals. In true dramatic style, England won a free-kick just outside the penalty box in stoppage-time.

With virtually the last kick off the ball, the England captain curled home a superb effort past the Greek keeper and sent the Three Lions to the World Cup. His turnaround from villain to hero was complete.

Celebrity

David Beckham is a worldwide brand with his pop star wife and his interests outside of football. The midfielder is famous throughout the world. His celebrity lifestyle meant that people knew of him and some did not even know he was a footballer.

Prior to his arrival in the United States, a large number of people knew the celebrity David Beckham, but not the footballer. It was a strange situation for a footballer.

Beckham has been derided for his exploits outside of football. However, he has made the most of what he has and in the process brought people happiness.

It is just a shame that his incredible football career may have the shine taken off it because of all the commercial activity outside of the game. David Beckham should be remembered as a superb footballer and not just another celebrity vehicle to sell products.

Glorious

Despite the criticism Beckham has received for all his commercial activity, it has to be remembered that the former-England captain has enjoyed a glorious football career. He won silverware virtually everywhere he went and played a major part in his clubs successes.

I am sure that David Beckham the footballer will be remembered far more fondly than David Beckham the celebrity will and that is how it should be. Whatever the former-England captain does in the future, he will always be remembered as a superb footballer and that is no bad thing.

What are your memories of David Beckham?