Manchester United turned David Beckham into an international superstar and on Tuesday he bid an emotional farewell to Old Trafford before he quits European soccer for the United States.
Beckham joined United in 1991 at 16, debuted the next year, and transferred in 2003 to Real Madrid.
In July, he’s expected to start a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.
”The time I spent at this club was the best time in my whole football career,” Beckham told the 74 000-sellout crowd at half-time of a charity match won 4-3 by United over a Europe XI.
Injury forced him to withdraw from a star-studded European side that faced United to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Union and the Red Devils’ half century of play in continental soccer.
Since he moved to Spain, the 31-year-old had returned to the stadium in north-west England as England captain but hadn’t been able to personally thank United for 14 trophy-filled years.
”I’ve waited four years to actually come back and to actually say thank you to the fans and the people of the club,” he said.
Beckham won six English Premier League titles and a Champions League medal during his United career.
He told supporters that he was grateful for the strong support shown in his darkest hour. In 1998 he became a public hate figure after being sent off for England in a World Cup match against Argentina.
”I think I wouldn’t have got through many things without the people in this stadium,” he said.
On the pitch, he publicly supported his former manager Alex Ferguson who struck Beckham’s eye with a football boot in a dressing room bust-up on the eve of his departure.
”Everybody knows here that you’ve got the best manager in the world at this club,” he told the crowd to rapturous applause.
Ferguson wasn’t surprised at the welcome for Beckham.
”I was in the changing rooms but you expect him to get a reception like that,” Ferguson said. ”All players get a great reception when they come back here.
”David Beckham had some great years here. He came as a boy, all his formative years were here. It was a great learning foundation here before he went to Madrid.”
This season, United are on the verge of emulating the historic treble, which Beckham won here in 1999. The team leads the Premier League by nine points and remains in contention for the Champions League and FA Cup.
”I think this team is going to be incredible and I think they’re going to go on and win many things, not just this year but throughout many years to come,” he predicted.
”So good luck and thank you.” — Sapa-AP