David Beckham to retire

The Prime Minister's view is that David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career but not only that he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did on helping us win London 2012.

The Prime Minister's message would simply be to say: congratulations on a fantastic career.

David is a man with many talents and a lot of people will now be offering him different jobs, different roles, some of which could take him away from football, but I’m rather hoping we will be able to keep him in football.

We could benefit from his experience, we could benefit from his charisma, and benefit from the magnificent past he has had as a football player.

I didn’t know him too well before taking the job, but since I have been appointed he has been unbelievably supportive, if only with things like text messages wishing us luck.

In David Beckham England has a big fan, a great supporter.

It is quite amazing that in a week when Sir Alex Ferguson has retired that we now have David Beckham, another great of the game, ending his unique and hugely successful playing career.

I would like to pay tribute to David for his outstanding contribution to English football. He has been such a great ambassador for the game at home and abroad and was a tremendous performer for his clubs and England.

David always played with the greatest passion and became an iconic figure in our national game.

I am sorry to see him go but wish him and his family very well in his retirement. I am sure he will have so much to give back to the game in future, whatever he chooses to do.