End it like Beckham: England legend calls time on glittering career and retires



Former Man United star shone brightly at top of the game for 20 years



Ex-England captain won 115 caps – a record for an outfield player



Only British player to win titles in four different countries



'I’m fortunate to have realised my dreams,' says Beckham

He adds: 'Now is the right time at end my career, playing at the highest level'



Tributes pour in from across the football world



He is now set to focus on ambassadorial duties

David Beckham has retired from football, bringing an end to a glittering career on the field.



Since his debut for Manchester United two decades ago, the 38-year-old has emerged as arguably the most iconic sportsman of his generation, captaining England, collecting 115 caps, and celebrated as a champion in four different countries - the only British footballer in history to do so.



Despite the offer of an extended one-year deal at Paris Saint-German, the 38-year-old has played his last game, bowing out on a high after helping Carlo Ancelotti's side win the French title for the first time in 19 years.

Confirming the blockbuster announcement , Beckham 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.'

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

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

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

'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 realized those dreams.'



On the international stage, centurion Beckham holds the England record for appearances as an outfield player after his 115 caps.



'To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country,' Beckham added.



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

VIDEO: Beckham's greatest goals







He said: '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.'

Having relocated from LA in January, Beckham is expected to set up a permanent base in London with his wife Victoria and children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

Family man: Beckham, won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award in 2010 and thanked his family for their support

BECKHAM'S FAREWELL

David Beckham will bow out from professional football at the end of the season. His final two games for Paris Saint- Germain will be at home to Brest on Saturday at 9pm and then his last ever game will be Lorient on Sunday May 26.

'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,' he added.



'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.'



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 (right)



In a special interview with Sky Sports, conducted by best friend Gary Neville, Beckham said: 'You know when you're ready and I think I know I'm ready. It's a difficult decision because I still feel I could play at the top level and have done for the last six months.



'But I always secretly said to myself that I want to go out at the top and if you'd have said to me eight months ago that I'd be playing in the French league, winning the French cup and league and finishing like this I would have probably said "absolutely no chance". But I was given the opportunity to come to PSG and I just feel now is the time.



'I think it's every athletes dream, every footballers dream to go out at the top - on top form, or winning a trophy. It doesn't happen that often but I’ve been lucky. When I left United we won the league; when I left Madrid we won the league.



'Like you said, leaving the Galaxy after two years of winning the championship there and obviously coming here and winning the league; it’s nice to go out like that.



'People look back and it's written, it's simple - you're leaving as a champion and that's why I think it's the right time.



'I just want people to see me as a hard working footballer. Someone that's passionate about the game and someone that every time I stepped on the pitch, I've given everything that I have because that's how I feel.



'Going into games at the end of my career that's how I look back on it and hope people see me. I think over the years it's been my life and my career.'

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

Going out at the top: Beckham admitted he was pleased to be retiring as a champion

His vast fortune of an estimated £165million comfortably makes him the richest athlete ever in British sport, with a host of lucrative sponsorship deals and salary payments over the last decade amassing his wealth.

Born in Leytonstone, east London, Beckham started out with Ridgeway Rovers before being singled out by Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton at a Soccer School in Barcelona.



At 14, he signed schoolboy terms at Old Trafford and joined the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt in United's famous youth class of 1992, going on to make his first-team debut against Brighton in the League Cup that same year.

Controversy: David Beckham was infamously sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup in Saint-Etienne

Headlines news: Frustrated Beckham kicked out at Diego Simeone, leading to his dismissal and sparking a national frenzy after England's exit - this was the front page of the Daily Mail the following morning (right)



Revenge: Beckham put four years of personal anguish behind him as his penalty sunk Argentina at the Sapporo during the group stage at the 2002 World Cup

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson sent him out on loan to Preston North End to gain first-team experience, before returning to make his Premier League debut for United in the draw with Leeds in April 1995.

His deadball ability became apparent at Deepdale and of the two goals he scored in five appearances, one was direct from a corner.



Back at United, Beckham played a key role in a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first full season, the most notable achievement of which was the winner in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Villa Park.



The journey begins: Beckham (kneeling, far front left) and his Ridgeway Rovers team

Old school: Beckham (again, kneeling far left), pictured with his Waltham Forest District side, aged 14 in 1989

TRIBUTES TO BECKHAM

David Cameron

Best wishes as David #BeckhamRetires His magical free kicks for @MUFC and England will live long in the memory of all football fans

Phil Neville:

'David Beckham-what an unbelievable career-4 titles in 4 countries over 100 caps for Eng and the best ambassador this country’s has had!

Gary Lineker

David Beckham has retired. A wonderful player, global superstar and a magnificent ambassador for England and football.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson

Best wishes to David Beckham and his family on news of his retirement from football – great guy and exemplary ambassador for London2012. Sepp Blatter

David grew up as a football loving child & achieved his dreams, and unquestionably inspired millions of boys & girls to try & do the same



He missed the cut for Euro 96 but was promoted to United's No 10 - he took No 7 a year later - after Mark Hughes left, and he celebrated with arguably his most famous moment, the stunning halfway line goal against Wimbledon.

Beckham had landed. However, he and his reputation would come crashing down in the summer of 1998 when his red card against Argentina - petulently kicking out at Diego Simeone - ultimately cost his country their World Cup place.



The controversy spurred Beckham on to one of the best seasons of his career, United's 'treble'. He was an integral part of the squad, scoring vital goals in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, in the decisive game of the Premier League season against Tottenham, and providing the corners from which Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored in the Champions League final.

After the Treble success and six league titles, Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after the famous clash with manager Sir Alex Ferguson which resulted in a cut above the player's eye having been accidentally struck by a football boot.



The Englishman spent four years in Madrid - winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to Major League Soccer, where he won the title twice.

He then made a surprise switch to PSG in January of this year and that move was vindicated when he lifted the French title last weekend, before announcing his retirement on Wednesday.



Statesman: Beckham's enormous popularity has seen him engage with some of the world's most senior figures, including a meeting with Nelson Mandela in South Africa 10 years ago

Hands on: Beckham greets Brazilian great Pele at a gala in New York in 2008

Proud as punch: Beckham was honoured to share an audience with Muhammad Ali (left) at the Beyond Sport Summit in London last year

Premier League: Beckham joined Prime Minister David Cameron to watch the London 2012 Olympics last summer, here enjoying the BMX

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

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

Trendsetter: Beckham, over the years, has set the fashion with his hairstyles

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



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

VIDEO: Great Beckham memories



