David Beckham, Britain’s most popular footballer and a former England captain, said on Thursday he will retire from professional football at the end of the current season.
Beckham, 38, who now plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain, said: “I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level.” He didn’t reveal plans for the future. “I feel 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,” he said.
The announcement comes just a week after the shock retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, his former manager at Manchester United.