David Beckham gets set for last hurrah
Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham, of England, talks with reporters during a news conference in Carson, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. Beckham will play his final soccer game for the Galaxy in the MLS Cup next month. AP/Alex Gallardo
LOS ANGELES—Football legend David Beckham dismissed talk of retirement Tuesday saying he has some “exciting options on the table” as he gets set to wrap up his six-year California adventure.
“People talk about my retirement but I still feel I have something left in the game to give,” Beckham said.
“I still feel I have one more challenge in me as a player. Even at 37 years old I feel I can still play at a high level. Where that will be I haven’t decided.”
The former England captain said he doesn’t know what his future plans are except that he hopes to go out with a bang when the Los Angeles Galaxy host Houston in the Major League Soccer Cup final early next month.
He said he won’t be playing in the MLS next season but his family enjoys living in southern California and they plan to remain in the area in at least a limited capacity.
“I haven’t decided where we might go next,” Beckham said. “We might stay here and we might spend more time in Europe. My playing career with the Galaxy ends next Saturday.
“I have some exciting options on the table. I don’t feel if I am ready to retire right now so that is not one of them.”
The veteran of three World Cups said he wants one last challenge before hanging up his football boots for good.
Beckham said he should be ready to make an announcement about where his next stop will be around Christmas time in Europe.
“I have some exciting opportunities on the table but right now my focus is on the final and once that is out of the way we have a tour to do.
“And then it is Christmas which we always spend in London and I will be there and I will make my decision then.
“I haven’t made a decision (where he will play next). My decision will be made in December or in the next year.”
Beckham said he knew several weeks ago that he was going to play his last game with the Galaxy this year but wanted to wait for the right moment to announce it.
“I thought about announcing it then but it was not the right time because we were still in the playoffs,” he said.
“I have been thinking about it for a few months and came to my final decision a few weeks back. Now reaching MLS Cup final in our stadium in front of our own fans I thought it would be right time for me to announce it.”
Beckham has spent the past six seasons with the Galaxy, leading Los Angeles to an MLS Cup title last season when they defeated the Houston Dynamo 1-0.
Beckham and the Galaxy go for their second consecutive crown when they face the Dynamo in a repeat of last year’s final on December 1 at the Home Depot Center.
Beckham said he has reached all his goals as a player in North America but wants to try his hand at becoming an owner of a team. He says he has no interest in joining management.
“I signed a two-year extension last year with option for both parties,” he said. “I came to this decision because I felt I had achieved everything that I wanted to achieve with the Galaxy on the field and off the field.”
