Beckham Quits As Captain.

[Jockstar]

This from soccernet.com.

Beckham hands in captain's armband

A tearful David Beckham has quit as England captain following their World Cup exit after five-and-a-half years at the helm.

RossKinnaird/GettyImages

Dave Beckham exits the press conference via the back door, a downtrodden man

The Real Madrid star announced his decision barely 12 hours after England had been dumped out of the competition on penalties by Portugal.

Beckham revealed it was 'the most difficult decision of my career' and added he had taken it some time ago after consulting with his family.

Beckham was given the armband initially by caretaker boss Peter Taylor for the friendly international with Italy in Turin in November 2000.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson decided to keep Beckham in charge when he took over as coach in January 2001 and he has led his country 58 times.

Beckham read a prepared statement before leaving the stage with tears in his eyes without making any further comment.

He said: 'It was the greatest honour of my career when Peter Taylor made me England captain and I fulfilled the England dream. Now I feel is the right time to pass on the armband as we enter a new era.

'I stress that I want to continue to play for England and help the new manager Steve McClaren and the new captain.

'This is the most difficult decision of my career and I came to it some time ago, but I hoped to leave on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly it was not to be.

'After discussing it with my family, I feel the time is right. I would like to thank all the players and manager for my support as captain, the media and England supporters.

'For me to do this job has been an absolute honour. I am so proud I lived the dream.'

Beckham, by his own standards, has had a mediocre World Cup and he was in tears when a knee injury forced him to be substituted early in the second half against Portugal.

Already there had been signs that Aaron Lennon would be pushing hard to replace him on the right flank.

But he did have the distinction of becoming the first England player to score in three successive World Cups via his free-kick winner against Ecuador.

For many people the defining memory of Beckham will be his last-gasp free-kick goal against Greece in 2001 which ensured England's place in the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan.

Beckham's career with England has been an up and down affair ever since he became public enemy number one with England fans following his sending-off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

Now attention will turn to his successor with John Terry and Steven Gerrard likely to be front-runners for the role.

[Jockstar]

Can one of the mods please move this to the football/world cup forum? Sorry i meant to post it there.

[Pink Mist]

your wish

[Old Croc]

It's a wonder he had any tears left to shed after crying about his twisted ankle

[aaaaaa]

well, he better had to find few tears, squeezed a bit, put on some performance - because reportedly fans back home don't so eagerly and tenderly enticipate his returning ! media reports that his effigies were burned all over .... righteous anger would have doubled and tripled if he won't cry a bit, especially after all his and his team-mates boasts !

but then, hey, who won't be upset ? Ronaldo wasn't shown crying, but neither he was smiling or something - left straight to changing room away after final whistle with quite rigid face.

[Pink Mist]

the who cares faction beckhum blahh

[kayo]

good. He´s the only english player I´ve never liked. Metrosexual d1ck.

[redrus]

Piss off, the guys a ######in top man. <deleted> to your media made views.

Thanks Becks, your reign was only ######ed up by your support for that tit Erricson.

redrus

[Totster]

Beckham was once a force to be reckoned with on the football field... his performance this world cup finals was utter crap.. he didn't look fit.. he was next to useless, it is right that he steps down.

If sven had a backbone he would've played Lennon from the start of the last two games and kept Beckham on the bench.. he would have also kept that useless idiot Lampard on the bench also.

totster

[redrus]

Yeah, Lampard and Terry and Gerrard set the fookin world alight didn't they. <deleted>, get off the guys back.

redrus

[kayo]

Look Redrus, we know you a manc, but we like ya. Don´t go degrading yourself by defending that <deleted>

[redrus]

Look Redrus, we know you a manc, but we like ya. Don´t go degrading yourself by defending that <deleted>

TROLL.................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

redrus

[kayo]

:D You bast.ard!

[redrus]

:D :D You bast.ard!

Shut up you lesbian..................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

redrus

[Rinrada]

It's a wonder he had any tears left to shed after crying about his twisted ankle

Missed out on his bonus... No wonder he was crying.. however sure he wont be signing on first thing Monday morning...

[lampard10]

.. he would have also kept that useless idiot Lampard on the bench also.

totster

OOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[mrbojangles]

It's a wonder he had any tears left to shed after crying about his twisted ankle

Actually OldCroc, he has a torn Achilles tendon and i can tell you from experience, it is mighty fooooking painfull. He's out for about 6 weeks.

Piss off, the guys a ######in top man. <deleted> to your media made views.

Thanks Becks, your reign was only ######ed up by your support for that tit Erricson.

Agreed again Red (this has to stop) . I have no reason to like Becks as he was a red but i thought he was a top captain and as a player, you knew he always had something in his top drawer. Without his pin point accuracy we wouldn't have got past Ecuador.

I watched him read his statement and he was clearly emotional, get off his backs lads, he was a good servant and i for one, hope he still gets picked

[Pink Mist]

as a non soccer person I am not really qualified to talk about the technicalities of the game.

Beckham seems to be a very skillfull player and to be made the pommy captain wouldnt be chosen lightly so what is the problem.

[thankuverybig]

fair play to beckham.i think he is standing down for the england team as much as anything.i think the tears said that.

it will be good to see somebody who is a bit more naturally vocal ,captain england.a shouter maybe.

it will be great to see beckham have the freedom to be just a player again,who can replace him as far as crosses & free kicks? he loves the big games aswell.

[kayo]

It's a wonder he had any tears left to shed after crying about his twisted ankle

Actually OldCroc, he has a torn Achilles tendon and i can tell you from experience, it is mighty fooooking painfull. He's out for about 6 weeks.

Piss off, the guys a ######in top man. <deleted> to your media made views.

Thanks Becks, your reign was only ######ed up by your support for that tit Erricson.

Agreed again Red (this has to stop) . I have no reason to like Becks as he was a red but i thought he was a top captain and as a player, you knew he always had something in his top drawer. Without his pin point accuracy we wouldn't have got past Ecuador.

I watched him read his statement and he was clearly emotional, get off his backs lads, he was a good servant and i for one, hope he still gets picked

Statement about racism before the last game... Good god, I´vwe known five year old thai kids to be better Public speakers than posh becks. In English too!