End it like Beckham

England legend is ‘quitting at the top’

DAVID BECKHAM yesterday brought the curtain down on his glittering career, announcing his retirement from professional football. Beckham, who is currently at Paris St Germain, said: ‘I think over the years, when I have talked to players who have retired, they always say: “You’ll know when you are ready”, and I think I’m ready. ‘Obviously, it’s a difficult decision because I still feel I

can play at the top level and still have over the last six months. ‘I always secretly said to myself I want to go out at the top and, if you’d said to me eight months ago you’ll be playing in the French league, winning the league, and finishing like this, I would have probably said: “Absolutely no chance”. ‘I was given the opportunity and I just feel now is the time. ‘I love the game so much. I just feel ... it’s the right time — I believe it’s the right time but I’ll always believe I could do more.’ Beckham, who is best remembered for his trophy-laden career with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, and his numerous match-winning displays in his 115 caps for England, could still feature in PSG’s final two games of the season. But there are already signs that he could become involved in working with England and the FA in some capacity. England manager Roy Hodgson said: ‘David is a man of many talents and a lot of people now will be wanting him for different jobs and roles, some of which could take him away from us in football. ‘But I’m rather hoping we’ll be able to keep him in football because we can really benefit from his experience, we can really benefit from his charisma and we can certainly benefit from the magnificent past he has had as a football player.’ FA chairman David Bernstein echoed Hodgson’s sentiments, adding: ‘He is an iconic figure — he will be quite a loss to the game.’