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Beckham bids farewell to Old Trafford

David Beckham, left, sits with his wife, Victoria Beckham, before a soccer match between Manchester United and a Europe XI team at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Tuesday. PHOTO: EPA

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 US.

Beckham joined United in 1989 aged 14, debuted in 1992, and transferred to Real Madrid in 2003.

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 halftime of a charity match won 4-3 by United over a Europe XI.

Injury forced him to withdraw from the star-studded European side which faced United to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the EU 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 northwest 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.

On the pitch, he publicly supported his former manager Alex Ferguson, who struck Beckham's eye with a soccer 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," Beckham told the crowd to rapturous applause.

"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," Ferguson said.
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