By Osagie Alonge
David Beckham has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38.
The former England captain who has had an illustrious career playing in England, Spain, US and currently at Paris Saint-Germain in France says he will retire from football at the end of the season.
‘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’, he said in a statement.
‘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 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy’, he added.
Beckham’s professional career began with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17. With United, he won the six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.
He then played four seasons with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club.
In July 2007 Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy. While at Galaxy, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010.
