Beckham ends stellar career in tears
PARIS—David Beckham hugged his teammates with tears in his eyes, then walked off the pitch to a standing ovation — for the last time in front of a home crowd at a football game.
A clearly emotional Beckham was mobbed by his teammates on the field when coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to substitute him in the 81st minute of a 3-1 win over Brest on Saturday, giving him a customary sendoff in his last home game before retiring. Even goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu ran out to congratulate the former England captain on his career, while Brazil winger Lucas bowed in reverence.
“To end my career in front of a crowd like that, with players like that, it’s very special,” Beckham said, adding that emotions had already started overpowering him before he was taken off.
“It started about 20 minutes before that, to be honest. I started thinking and then, you know, I couldn’t concentrate by then, and it was difficult,” he said. “You know, you try to hold the emotion back because it is what it is, but it’s difficult.”
As the crowd rose to its feet — including former President Nicolas Sarkozy — Beckham applauded in return as he walked off the pitch slowly before being replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
“I want to say thank you to everybody in Paris. To my teammates, to the staff, to the fans,” Beckham told the fans. “It’s been very special to finish my career here. It could not have been any more special.”
With PSG already having clinched the French league title, Beckham announced Thursday that he is retiring at the end of the season. He has yet to say whether he intends to play in PSG’s last game away against Lorient on May 26.
“I just feel that it’s the right time. I feel that I’ve achieved everything that I could in my career. I wanted to go out as a champion,” Beckham said. “I’ve finished my career in a team that has treated me like I’ve been here for 10 years.
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said it was unlikely that Beckham would feature in the last game of the season away to Lorient on May 26.
“We have to decide, but I don’t think he will play. He will come with the team but I don’t think he will play... a plastic pitch is difficult for a 38-year-old,” Ancelotti said. (AP)