LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID BECKHAM AS HE HANGS UP HIS BOOT

       

The midfielder, who turned 38 earlier this month, was reportedly offered a new one-year-contract by Paris Saint-Germain but has chosen to end a 20-year football career. He will quit at the end of the season, with his final game away to Lorient on May 26.

       

He said in a He said in 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."

Beckham won league titles in four countries with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and PSG, and also enjoyed two spells on loan at AC Milan.

        

He won 115 England caps, placing him second all-time behind Peter Shilton, scoring 17 goals and playing at three World Cups.

       

Beckham added: "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.

       

"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 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."

              

       

PSG wrapped up the Ligue 1 title on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Lyon - Beckham has played 13 times for the French team since joining on January 31.

       

The London-born Beckham started his career at Manchester United, the club he supported as a boy, making his first team appearance at the age of 17 in 1992.

       

      
His trade-mark free kicks and pin-point crosses established him as a key player, while his good looks made him a pin-up for teenage girls and later his marriage to former Spice Girls band member Victoria Adams established him as an off-field celebrity.

   

While his commercial appeal kept growing and his friendships with Hollywood A listers grew, his main passion of football - and in particular England - held firm.

   

After a decade at Old Trafford, where he won six Premier League titles, he left for a four-year spell at Real Madrid where he won La Liga in his final season.

  

He then crossed the Atlantic in 2007 to become the biggest import in the United States, joining LA Galaxy with a mission to raise the profile of the sport in the country. He won the MLS championship twice with the Galaxy before moving to Paris in January for what turned out to be his last hurrah.

There he demonstrated one of his other sides as his salary was paid to a children's charity in the French capital.

   

Roy Hodgson (England manager): "He’s had a glittering career, iconic status, and I wish him well in the future. A lot of people now will be offering him jobs which could take him away from football, but I’m hoping we can keep him. It’s been a strange week for me seeing Rio Ferdinand retire, and not so long back John Terry, and now David Beckham, it does seem like the end of an era."

   

Gary Neville (former team-mate with Manchester United and England: "He played in the greatest midfield that I ever played with. David was different – he was a crosser of the ball, a passer of the ball, he was a joy to play with. At the time I played with him, he was someone who worked extremely hard in a fantastic team. He has probably been the most influential player out of England in transforming football. The impact he has had is enormous."

    

Sven-Goran Eriksson (former England manager): "A fantastic football player, a fantastic man, probably the biggest sports personality in the world. If you talk about David Beckham, all over the world they know who that it is. I don't think there is any other football player more popular than him. I remember all the matches with England and all the travelling - airports, hotels - and it was all about Beckham all the time. I rank him very, very highly. I never had any doubts about picking him."

    

Steve McClaren (former England manager): "I have been very fortunate to work with some great players, and he was one of them. He made the very most of his talent. He inspired his team-mates through his performances and was a winner. He was a leader – people followed him."
        
Phil Neville (former team-mate with Manchester United and England): "David Beckham-what an unbelievable career-4 titles in 4 countries over 100 caps for eng and the best ambassador this countries has had!"

    

Lee Sharpe (former Manchester United team-mate): "David Beckham's had a remarkable career. Whatever he goes on to do now he will be huge - he's an unbelievable bloke."

    

Bruce Arena (former coach at LA Galaxy): "We were honoured to have him here. He did wonderful things for our club and our league. He is a global icon and a terrific ambassador for the game."

     

      

Sepp Blatter (FIFA president): "David Beckham, one of the most iconic figures in global football is retiring from playing. It’s the end of a chapter of an amazing story. David grew up as a football loving child & achieved his dreams, and unquestionably inspired millions of boys & girls to try & do the same. Whatever he chooses to do next I’m sure he’ll approach with the same dedication & good grace he displayed the last 21 years. Good Luck!"

   

David Bernstein (FA chairman): "In the week following Sir Alex Ferguson retiring, which came as a bit of a shock, now we have the iconic David Beckham coming out of the game. When you look at his playing and work for England, no one would ever accuse him of being unpatriotic and not giving everything for his country. He is a real loss to the game and I am sure the FA will want to embrace him and to get him closely associated with the organisation."

    

Terry Butcher (former England captain): "He's been a fantastic ambassador for football not only in England but all around the world. Wherever he goes he catches the media attention and the fans' attention as well... the legs have gone lately but he's produced some fantastic memories for England."

      

Gary Lineker (former England striker): "David Beckham has retired. A wonderful player, global superstar and a magnificent ambassador for England and football."

      

David Cameron (Prime Minister, via spokesman): " "David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career. Not only that he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did in helping us win London 2012. The Prime Minister's message would simply be to say, congratulations on a fantastic career."

        

AC Milan (former club): “One of Milan’s most famous fans is hanging up his boots. David Beckham, who spent two and a half seasons with the red and black of Milan, will play no more. An impeccable professional, he made his debut for the Rossoneri in January 2009 against Roma is a match that ended 2-2. He left the club in March 2010 with an Achilles tendon problem after the match against Chievo. Always ready to sacrifice himself for the cause, Beckham on that evening got off the pitch as quick as he could to allow Milan to push forward and for Clarence Seedorf to score the game’s only goal. His arrival at the club may have been greeted with some skepticism but his performances as a player quickly won over the non-believers. Two goals against Genoa and Bologna as well as 29 appearances with AC Milan helped the team towards two Champions League qualifications. Thank you and good luck from all the fans and everyone at the club to David Beckham.”

       

Okusami Itunuoluwa (Sportunes): Although the game gave more to you than you gave it.. All your antics on and off the pitch will not be forgotten in a while. Goodluck!