LONDON -- David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he
transcended the sport with forays into fashion and a marriage to a pop star that
made him a global celebrity.
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38-year-old former England captain, who recently won a league title in a fourth
country with Paris Saint-Germain, said Thursday he will retire after the season.
"Its a good way to go out," Beckham said in Paris. "Its every athletes dream,
every footballers dream to go out on the top -- on top form or winning a trophy
... leaving as a champion." Beckham, whose curling free kicks and pin-point
crosses became his signature as a player, has two more matches left at PSG
against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26. He has been giving his
salary to a childrens charity. Asked what led to his decision, Beckham replied
with a laugh: "Probably when (Lionel) Messi was running past me in that home
game," referring to PSGs Champions League match against Barcelona last month.
Beckham started his career with Manchester United and also played for Real
Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning titles with all those clubs and also
making a record 115 international appearances for an England outfield player.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the midfielder as "one of the most iconic
figures in global football." "Its the end of a chapter of an amazing story,"
Blatter wrote on Twitter. "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 Im sure hell approach
with the same dedication & good grace he displayed the last 21 years."
Beckhams fame went beyond the field, with his haircuts and clothing scrutinized
as often as his play, earning him a string of lucrative sponsorship deals.
"Sometimes that has overshadowed what I have done on the pitch or what I have
achieved on the pitch," Beckham said in a television interview conducted by
former United teammate Gary Neville. "And as much as I say that doesnt hurt me,
of course it does. "I am a footballer that has played for some of the biggest
clubs in the world and played with some of the best players in the world, played
under some of the biggest and best managers and achieved almost everything in
football." Beckham was even immortalized on the silver screen in the 2002 film
"Bend it Like Beckham," which told the story of a British teenage girl of south
Asian heritage struggling with family pressures and cultural expectations to
play the sport she loves. Beckhams retirement led to a flood of tweets dubbing
the day "End it Like Beckham." "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," said
Beckham, who also played on loan at AC Milan. "Im fortunate to have realized
those dreams." It was his appearances with Englands national team that raised
his profile internationally. "To this day, one of my proudest achievements is
captaining my country," Beckham said. "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. "Im honoured
to represent England both on and off the pitch." Beckham is now living in London
with his wife Victoria, a former "Spice Girls" singer, and their four children.
"I wouldnt have achieved what I have done today without my family. Im grateful
for my parents sacrifice, which made me realize my dreams," he said. "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." Victoria Beckham
said the couple is "excited about the next chapter in our lives." "The children
and I are so proud of David. Its been an incredible journey for us all as we
have watched him play at clubs all over the world throughout the last 15 years,"
she said. "Myself and the children have cheered him from the stands, as he has
held high trophies ... this was not an easy decision to make, and to me and the
children he will always be an amazing sportsman and a devoted husband and
father. " With United between 1992 and 2003, Beckham won six Premier League
titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup. Beckham
left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck
Beckhams eye with a football boot. Ferguson announced his retirement from
Manchester United last week. Beckham 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. "I just want people to see me as a hardworking
footballer," Beckham said. "Someone who is passionate about the game, somebody
who every time I have stepped on the pitch I have given everything that I have."
There were highs and lows in Beckhams international career. He was blamed for
Englands elimination from the 1998 World Cup for his 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 renew the team with younger players after a quarter-final exit at
that years World Cup. England coach Steve McClaren recalled him the following
year after a poor run of form, and he returned for the remainder of Englands
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 still went to South Africa as part
of Fabio Capellos backroom staff. "I want to thank all my teammates, the great
managers that I had the pleasure of learning from," Beckham said. "I also want
to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to
succeed." Beckham had already started planning for his post-playing career
earlier in the season, becoming an ambassador for Chinese football. "Nothing
will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like Im
starting a new adventure and Im genuinely excited about what lies ahead,"
Beckham said. "Im fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my
career and now I feel its my time to give back." Beckham played a key role in
helping London win the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. He also was involved in
Englands unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and the English Football
Association wants to utilize his influence and star power in the future. "He is
an iconic figure in the game and produced wonderful performances for his clubs,
particularly Manchester United," FA chairman David Bernstein said. "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 organization." Beckhams retirement comes a week after the
71-year-old Ferguson ended his managerial career. "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," Bernstein said.
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. Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career
high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7
shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the
Spurs 11-game winning streak. BOSTON -- Jarome Iginla is finally a member of the
Boston Bruins. Three months after spurning the Bruins advances at the trade
deadline to choose the Pittsburgh Penguins, the long-time Calgary Flames captain
signed a one-year deal with Boston. Its worth US$1.8 million and can reach $6
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late march when it was clear the Flames were going to move him. The Flames and
Bruins agreed to a trade, but Iginla nixed it when he decided he wanted to play
with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. The Bruins swept the Penguins in the
Eastern Conference final, but the team Iginla is joining in Boston next season
year will have a much different look than the one that lost to the Chicago
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in 13 regular-season games, then four goals and eight assists in 15 playoff
games. In 1,232 games, Iginla has 530 goals and 576 assists.
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