DAVID BECKHAM has decided to call time on his glittering career.

Beckham, 38, helped Paris Saint-Germain lift the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 19 years at the weekend.

And despite being offered a one-year contract extension by the French giants, the veteran midfielder will retire after Carlo Ancelotti’s men play their last game of the season on May 26.

He 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."

Becks began his path to superstardom at Manchester United, scoring 85 goals in 394 games, before switching to La Liga side Real Madrid.

He left Spain for a money-spinning move to LA Galaxy in 2007 and also enjoyed loan spells with AC Milan during his time in Major League Soccer.

fter his contract expired Stateside, the former England skipper was reunited with ex-Milan boss Ancelotti in the French capital.

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

He 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 realised those dreams.

Beckham won 115 caps for England and netted 17 goals, including the vital free-kick against Greece that took Sven Goran Eriksson’s side to the 2002 World Cup.

He made his international debut in 1996 and scored in three consecutive World Cup tournaments on the way to becoming the Three Lions' most capped outfield player.

Beckham said: “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 honoured to represent England both on and off the pitch."

Along with six Premier League titles and one Champions League success during his time at United, Beckham conquered La Liga in his final season in Spain and won the MLS championship twice.

He added: “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, and 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 management 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.”

Beckham has two games to come before the end of the season, the last home match of his career being this Saturday against Brest at Parc des Princes.

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.”

Leading the tributes to Beckham, FA chairman David Bernstein said: "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.

“It’s unexpected even though he is getting to mature years for a footballer.

“He is an iconic figure in the game and produced wonderful performances for his clubs, particularly Manchester United.

“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.

“I would personally wish him every luck and success — he will be quite a loss to the game.”

Former England boss Steve McClaren, who infamously dropped Becks when he succeeded Eriksson in 2006, added: "He was a great player.

“He made the very most of his talents through sheer hard work and professionalism and always doing extra work on the training field.

“He inspired his team-mates through his performances. He was a winner, he’s won so many things in his career, and that was infectious on his team-mates.

“And he was an inspiring personality to young players with his behaviour and professionalism on and off the field.

“But ultimately he was a leader and people followed him.

“He has been very special in that right midfield position. He was an unbelievable passer, crosser of the ball, and he could score goals as well.

“My lasting memory of David is him continuously being the last off the training pitch and always practising those trademark free-kicks.”

Beckham’s former United team-mate Gary Neville is currently in France having travelled to meet his long-time friend.

And Neville was able to offer some insight into his close pal's thinking. He said: "David just feel it’s the right time.

“He just feels he’s taken it as far as he can. He wanted to come back home, he’s been away for 22 years and he’s got to the end of the road.

“He’s won another championship at PSG, that’s four in four countries, and he just wants to come home.


“He played in the greatest midfield I’ve ever played with: David, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

"David was a crosser of the ball, a passer of the ball. He had incredible stamina and energy. He was a joy to play with.

“And when you think back on the way football has changed over the last 22 years, he has probably been the most influential player in that time out of England in terms of transforming football.

“In leaving the country, going to Milan, LA, Paris, he has transported England around the world and that’s something he was aware of and wanted to do.

“Every clothing garment he wore, every hairstyle was followed — not just in football but out of football.

“That’s why you see him working as an ambassador for the Olympics.”

Current England boss Roy Hodgson added: "I wish him well in the future whatever he chooses to do and I personally hope that it will be in football.

“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 certainly benefit from the magnificent past he has had as a football player.

“In David Beckham, England have a very big fan and a very great supporter.”

By GAVIN GLICKSMAN

The Sun