David Beckham's glittering career has come to an end following his decision to hang up his boots at 38 years of age.
After coming through the ranks at his boyhood club Manchester United, the midfielder burst onto the scene for club and country, eventually earning 115 caps for England, as well as becoming the only British footballer to be crowned champion in four different countries.
While Beckham had initially suggested that he could have another year in him, the former England captain has decided to bow out as a Paris Saint-Germain player.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at Beckham's illustrious career.
Manchester United 1993-2003
As a young Manchester United fan, Beckham would never have dreamed about becoming an iconic figure in the club's history and going on to represent his country with the captain's armband. His career began at the Manchester club when he joined the outfit in 1991 as a trainee. The midfielder made his debut for the Red Devils against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup, and helped guide the youth team to FA Youth Cup glory.
Beckham's United career progressed when he signed his first professional contract at Old Trafford in 1993, and following a loan stint in Preston, Beckham would have had his best year so far in a United shirt in 1996. The then 21-year-old made his mark by scoring the goal of the season on the opening day against Wimbledon, when he lobbed Neil Sullivan from the halfway line. It marked the start of a successful campaign for the midfielder as he helped guide United to an FA Cup and Premier League double, as well as receiving his first England cap in a 3-0 victory over Moldova.
Video: Beckham's goal against Wimbledon
Beckham continued his trophy haul by collecting another league title medal and adding the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award to his cabinet in 1997. A year later, Beckham would be brought down from his pedestal on an international stage during the 1998 World Cup. The midfielder was handed a starting spot in the team following his first England goal against Colombia in the group phase, when the Three Lions lined up against Argentina in a second-round knockout game. Despite his promising start, the then 23-year-old was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone after being brought down to the floor.
Things went from bad to worse for Beckham when he returned from the tournament as the press soon turned against him, which was the first time he had experienced negative reaction. Despite a difficult period in his career, Beckham bounced back in 1999 by helping United clinch the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup following a late two-goal surge against Bayern Munich. The midfielder rounded off the year by coming runner-up to Rivaldo in the World Player of the Year awards.
The next two years proved to be another prolific term in Beckham's career as he won his fourth league title with United, as they stormed to the top with an 18-point lead. Things looked up on the international side of things as well, as he was named England captain for the November friendly against Italy. A year later, he added another Premier League medal to his cabinet and fired England into the World Cup finals by scoring a famous curling 25-yard free kick against Greece in a 2-2 draw.
Video: Beckham's free kick against Greece
In 2002, Beckham committed his future to United by penning a new three-year contract, and he got his revenge against Argentina by scoring from the penalty spot for England in the World Cup group phase to clinch a 1-0 victory, but the Three Lions were later booted out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
By February 2003, Beckham's career at United began to dwindle as reports emerged claiming that manager Sir Alex Ferguson had accidentally kicked a boot in the midfielder's face in frustration at his side's FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. While off the pitch Beckham was awarded an OBE for his services to football, the midfielder was shown the door at Old Trafford following suggestions that Ferguson was growing tired of the midfielder's celebrity status away from the field.
Real Madrid 2003-2007
Beckham sought pastures new by signing a contract with Real Madrid in a transfer worth £25m. The move would prove to be lucrative for the Spanish club in terms of shirt sales. The England star won his first trophy with Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, courtesy of a two-leg win over Mallorca, in which Beckham netted the final goal in the return leg at the Bernabeu.
© PA Photos
Beckham experienced a tumultuous term off the pitch during his Madrid stint when his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos accused the midfielder of having a four-month affair with her behind his wife Victoria's back. However, his marriage survived and he continued playing for the Spanish giants until announcing that he will join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy in August. The midfielder rounded off his four-year stay at the club with a La Liga title.
With regards to international duty, Beckham missed a penalty for England in their Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat to Portugal, but he reached his 50th cap for the Three Lions in a friendly against Argentina in Geneva in November 2005. However, it wasn't long before Beckham's England career began to dwindle as he stepped down as captain of his country and was later dropped from new manager Steve McClaren's first game in charge.
Los Angeles Galaxy/AC Milan 2007-2012
Beckham made the controversial move to the United States, with some suggesting that he was too young at the age of 32 to move across the pond. However, the midfielder insisted that he wanted to promote football in the States, and with it came a boost in his profile away from the pitch. He and his wife Victoria were often photographed with A-list movie stars and he continued to market himself as a fashion icon.
© AP Photos
Matters on the field were good as he scored his first goal for LA Galaxy on his full debut against DC United, and he returned to the England squad for his 100th cap in a friendly against France.
Three months after joining the American side, AC Milan announced that Beckham would join them on a loan basis from January, in which he made his first start in a 2-2 draw against Roma on January 11. While initially Beckham was due to remain in Italy during Galaxy's off-season, the midfielder stayed with the Serie A club until the end of May on a 'timeshare' agreement. He moved back to Galaxy fro July to October and then rejoined Milan for the rest of the 2009-10 campaign.
Beckham's World Cup hopes were dashed when he tore his Achilles tendon while competing for AC Milan, just a year after he surpassed Bobby Moore's record of most England caps for an outfield player on 109.
Despite being ruled out of the competition, Beckham was part of the backroom staff in the 2012 World Cup, but it soon became clear that he was no longer a dominant figure in the Three Lions squad.
After winning the MLS Cup with Galaxy by beating Houston Dynamo 1-0 in 2011, Beckham signed a new deal with the club, but turned his attentions to the London 2012 Olympic Games as he acted as an ambassador, but was not selected for Team GB. A few months later Beckham confirmed that he would be leaving the Galaxy after five years.
Paris Saint-Germain 2013
Beckham signed a five-month deal with the Ligue 1 outfit, but had to wait a few weeks before making his debut. The midfielder made his first start for the side in a 2-0 victory over Marseille in the French Cup in February. He later featured in PSG's Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, but the French press slammed his performance.
© AP Photos
Despite guiding PSG to a famous title victory, just a few days later the successful midfielder announced that it is the right time to step away from the game.
Danielle Joynson
