to move up and down
David Beckham hugged his teammates with tears in his eyes, then walked off the pitch to a standing ovation — for the last time in front of a home crowd at a football game.
A clearly emotional Beckham was mobbed by his teammates on the field when coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to substitute him in the 81st minute of a 3-1 win over Brest on Saturday, giving him a customary sendoff in his last ever home game before retiring. Even goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu ran out to congratulate the former England captain on his career, while Brazil winger Lucas bowed in reverence. (Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)
David Beckham is retiring: The end of an era
The 38-year-old Beckham, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United.
“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,” Beckham said in a statement Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images/AFP/Files)
Branislav Ivanovic scored with an injury time header on Wednesday to give Chelsea a 2-1 win over Benfica in the Europa League final and secure the club’s second European title in as many seasons after winning last year’s Champions League.
The Serbian defender rose at the far post to send a looping header over Benfica goalkeeper Artur from a Juan Mata corner to seal the match in the 93rd minute.
A Fernando Torres solo effort gave Chelsea the lead on the hour mark and Oscar Cardozo levelled from the penalty spot eight minutes later — setting the stage for Ivanovic’s last-gasp decider.
Amid a carnival atmosphere at a rainy Old Trafford, Manchester United gave the retiring Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes a perfect send-off in their final home match by beating Swansea 2-1 in the Premier League.
Ferguson, who is stepping down at the end of the season after nearly 27 years as United manager, jumped out of his seat and punched the air in delight after Rio Ferdinand volleyed the winning goal into the back of the net in the 86th minute.
Scholes played 66 minutes in his last home match before coming off to a standing ovation from more than 76,000 fans taking one final opportunity to salute a manager and player who have contributed so much to the club over the past three decades. (Photo by Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
“Today it was David and Goliath. It was following a dream”
Wigan won the FA Cup for the first time in its 81-year history by beating big-spending Manchester City 1-0 on Saturday in one of the biggest final upsets the tournament has seen.
Ben Watson headed in the winner in the 90th minute at Wembley Stadium from Shaun Maloney’s corner after City, six minutes after City defender Pablo Zabaleta was sent off.
“The boys were fantastic and they deserve it,” Watson told the BBC. “To come on and score the winner in the FA Cup final is a dream.” (Photos: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images, Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images)
‘They came here to fight’: At least four players from Argentine club Arsenal were detained for interrogation after a confrontation with Brazilian police at a Copa Libertadores match on Wednesday.
Police said at least two officers and a journalist sustained minor injuries in the brawl after Atletico Mineiro’s 5-2 win over the Argentine club in the city of Belo Horizonte.
Authorities said the players will likely be charged after throwing punches and kicking the officers who were trying to protect the referees as the final whistle blew at the Independencia Stadium. (Photo: Douglas Mano/AFP/Getty Images)
DOUBLE DUTY: U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed BOTH the Los Angeles Kings and L.A. Galaxy to celebrate their respective 2012 championship wins at the White House on Tuesday.
Dustin Penner was very excited about it.
(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
On a snowy night more suitable to slaloms than soccer, Clint Dempsey scored early in his first start as the American captain and the United States beat Costa Rica 1-0 on Friday in a key qualifier for next year’s World Cup.
Plows and shovels were used to clear the penalty areas, centre circle and midfield stripe as snow got heavier, and a yellow-and-purple ball was used. There was even a brief stoppage in the 55th minute when it was unclear whether the match commissioner would let the contest continue.
(Photo by Jack Dempsey/The Associated Press)
Suit & Tie: David Beckham showed off some of his skills on Wednesday during his trip to China, playing with students at a middle school in Beijing.
Beckham is on a five-day visit to China at the invitation of the China Football Association as China’s first international ambassador. (Photos: Alexander F. Yuan/The Associated Press; Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s David Luiz, left, jumps for the ball against Manchester United’s Robin van Persie during their English FA Cup quarter-final soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday March 10, 2013. (Photo: Jon Super/The Associated Press)
