Tearful Beckham bids farewell
Former England captain ends career at PSG with win over Brest.
Beckham helped PSG to their first league title since 1994 with a win over Lyon last week before announcing he would retire at the end of the season. PHOTO: AFP
PARIS:
With the Beatles ringing in his ears and tears in his eyes, David Beckham admitted that his starring role in Paris Saint-Germain’s French title party was the last chapter of his colourful career.
The 38-year-old former England captain, one of the most high-profile players to shuffle between football and celebrity, made his final home appearance for the Ligue 1 champions before heading into retirement.
Although PSG have one more game left to play, next weekend’s meaningless fixture on an unforgiving plastic pitch at humble Lorient will almost certainly see Beckham watching from the sidelines.
“We have one more game officially, but it’s a plastic surface and it was only a few years ago that I ruptured my Achilles [tendon]. So whether or not I play, who knows?,” said Beckham after PSG marked their Ligue 1 triumph with a 3-1 win over relegated Brest.
PSG President Nasser al Khelaifi, the helmsman of Qatar’s huge financial stake in the Paris club, is convinced that the Beckham story is over.
“Up to the coach but basically, I think that will be the last match for him,” al Khelaifi told the BBC.
The stadium gave Beckham a standing ovation as he left the pitch 10 minutes from time in floods of tears at the end of an evening which had seen him handed the captain’s armband by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
He was saluted by a guard of honour from his teammates before he climbed the podium to receive his Ligue 1 title medal.
“The emotions started kicking in about 20 minutes before I went off,” said Beckham. “It was hard to even run and kick the ball. And to see the reaction of the players was really special.”
Beckham said he felt humbled by being named captain.
“When the manager told me, it was really special. To be an Englishman as captain on a night which meant so much to the fans. It was an amazing gesture and I will always be thankful for it.”
On the pitch, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while Beckham had a hand in the other PSG goal, a trademark, inch-perfect corner finding Blaise Matuidi to hit the target.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
With the Beatles ringing in his ears and tears in his eyes, David Beckham admitted that his starring role in Paris Saint-Germain’s French title party was the last chapter of his colourful career.
The 38-year-old former England captain, one of the most high-profile players to shuffle between football and celebrity, made his final home appearance for the Ligue 1 champions before heading into retirement.
Although PSG have one more game left to play, next weekend’s meaningless fixture on an unforgiving plastic pitch at humble Lorient will almost certainly see Beckham watching from the sidelines.
“We have one more game officially, but it’s a plastic surface and it was only a few years ago that I ruptured my Achilles [tendon]. So whether or not I play, who knows?,” said Beckham after PSG marked their Ligue 1 triumph with a 3-1 win over relegated Brest.
PSG President Nasser al Khelaifi, the helmsman of Qatar’s huge financial stake in the Paris club, is convinced that the Beckham story is over.
“Up to the coach but basically, I think that will be the last match for him,” al Khelaifi told the BBC.
The stadium gave Beckham a standing ovation as he left the pitch 10 minutes from time in floods of tears at the end of an evening which had seen him handed the captain’s armband by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
He was saluted by a guard of honour from his teammates before he climbed the podium to receive his Ligue 1 title medal.
“The emotions started kicking in about 20 minutes before I went off,” said Beckham. “It was hard to even run and kick the ball. And to see the reaction of the players was really special.”
Beckham said he felt humbled by being named captain.
“When the manager told me, it was really special. To be an Englishman as captain on a night which meant so much to the fans. It was an amazing gesture and I will always be thankful for it.”
On the pitch, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while Beckham had a hand in the other PSG goal, a trademark, inch-perfect corner finding Blaise Matuidi to hit the target.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.