David Beckham has brought the curtain down on his glittering career by announcing his retirement from football.
Despite being offered the option of a one-year extension to his current deal at Paris Saint Germain, the 38-year-old has decided to hang up his boots and move back to London to be with his family.
The news comes as something of a surprise, as Beckham had said last month that he had no intention of retiring and would play on next season – either with PSG or another club.
The former Manchester United midfielder is expected to continue his ambassadorial duties with a variety of organisations, which include Sky Sports, Adidas, Unicef and promoting football in China and he said he is 'genuinely excited about what lies ahead'.
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.'
The former midfielder also paid tribute to his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, and four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, saying he '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. 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 [agent] Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support,' he continued.
'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, who joined PSG on a six-month deal in January, recently added the Ligue 1 title to his list of honours, which includes the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga and MLS Cup from his spells with United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy.
And he added: 'I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back.'
On the international stage, Beckham holds the England record for making 115 appearances.
- Metro
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