The announcement yesterday that David Beckham was retiring from football led to an understandable swathe of plaudits and eulogies.

Amongst all the talk of sarongs, Spice Girls and bulging underpants - there was even a nod to football. And by general consensus here was a player who had made the most of his talents, had been integral to success at the clubs he served - particularly Manchester United, and a captain of England who served with honourable distinction.

But Chris Waddle has another view.

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"I would say he has been a good player, I wouldn't put him down as a great," said the 62-time capped former England international.

"You can go down a list of footballers since the Premier League and I don't think David Beckham would probably be in the first 1,000."

Waddle's comments on BBC radio have sparked a fierce reaction on Twitter with users defending Beckham, who won six Premier League titles, a Champions League and collected 115 caps with England.

With most people struggling to even think of 1,000 footballers, Waddle explained his thinking.

"I think there has been a lot more talented players in the world. But he made the most of what he has got," said Waddle, who played more than 100 times for Newcastle, Tottenham, Sheffield Wednesday and Marseille.

Waddle added: "He has got a terrific image and used it very well. He never had a trick, wasn't particularly quick, but he was very good at set-pieces and deliveries, he made chances and made goals and was fantastic for clubs.

"He said the right things, he sold shirts, he put money in the tills wherever he went and conducted himself well.

"As a player I would say he was a fantastic crosser of the ball, a great athlete

"Now people will be talking about him and saying 'how great, how great'. I would say 'how good'.

"I would not say he was a great. He was very good at his job, he worked very hard as a professional footballer."

Beckham's current club, Paris St Germain, have two games remaining this season with manager Carlo Ancelotti confirming the former England captain will play this weekend.

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