Still Following the Trawler

Manchester United vs Real Madrid. 19th April, 2000. This one is hands down favourite Beckham goal - but is it his best? Given the occasion, skill and technique used to execute the shot, I'd argue any day that it beat any of his stunning free kicks or long range efforts. See it here in full: http://youtu.be/LKlp0PzeJQ8

On the 18th May, 2013, 82 minutes into the French League 1 game between PSG and Brest, David Beckham is replaced by Ezequial Lavezzi for the home side. And with that substitution, one of the greatest sporting icons of my or any other generation departs football. These are his final emotional moments as a footballer:

David Beckham. United: 1992 - 2003 Football: 1992 - 2013 Superstar: Eternity.

Amazing graphic by ManUtd.com highlight the extent of Sir Alex's brilliance and what he has achieved during his 26 1/2 years at United.

I have been pondering over this piece for hours. Given that this, football’s greatest managerial reign, was always going to reach an end, you could say I have been thinking about it for years. I have deliberated how I should best express my shock, describing my sadness at the news and fears surrounding the future progress of the club. The most fitting moments I should choose when reminiscing over his 27 years of service that has seen him transform Manchester United from a team locked in mid-table uncertainty to the most successful British team ever and a globally recognisable brand. I wanted to touch upon the changes that have occurred in football over the last 27 years and how there has been only one manager to see it, and succeeded through it, all. From all the icons that have graced, and departed, the Theatre of Dreams, to the vast number of managers our rivals have recruited during that time. Since 1986 there have been 24 Real Madrid, 18 Chelsea, 14 City and 13 Milan managers. At M

"My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch. And you can print that." SAF on Liverpool

"Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy. You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder." SAF on City

"I think he was an angry man. He must have been disturbed for some reason. I think you have got to cut through the venom of it and hopefully he'll reflect and understand what he said was absolutely ridiculous." SAF on  Rafael Benítez in 2009

"It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn't happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing!" SAF on kicking a boot into David Beckham's face in 2003

"He was certainly full of it, calling me boss and big man when we had our post-match drink after the first leg. But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper." SAF on Jose Mourinho

"If he was an inch taller he'd be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in – I'd check the milkman." SAF on Gary Neville

"I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind." SAF on Ryan Giggs

"It's getting tickly now – squeaky-bum time, I call it." SAF on the 2003 title race

"I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football. Bloody hell." SAF after the 1999 Champions League final win

"There can be another Eric, Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo but there can never ever be another Sir Alex Ferguson" Eric Cantona