Tearful Beckham bids farewell to Paris

David Beckham, skipper for the night, bade a tearful Parisian farewell as the former England star made his final appearance at the Parc des Princes for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain before heading into retirement.
Last week, Beckham had helped PSG to their first league title since 1994 with a win over Lyon, and then announced he would retire at the end of the season having captured a championship in a fourth different league after England, Spain and the United States.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti made the 38-year-old captain last night and Beckham duly basked in the applause as the capital club coasted to a 3-1 win over relegated Brest capped with two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Beckham had a hand in the other Paris goal, his corner finding Blaise Matuidi as the former Manchester United star signed off with an assist while Charlison Benschop replied for Brest.
There followed a standing ovation for Beckham as Ancelotti withdrew him with 10 minutes remaining and the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and LA Galaxy star, watched by wife Victoria and his parents, left the arena in tears to warm applause from his teammates, who each afforded him a hug.
He reappeared after the final whistle as the lights went down and lasers cut through the night sky, to the ear-shattering accompaniment of electropop as PSG prepared for a party worthy of a send off for anyone -- not just England's most high-profile footballing ambassador of recent decades.

Beckham may only have made barely a dozen appearances for PSG since joining on loan in January yet his presence has spurred the club on, as well as giving the French game a huge shot in the arm in terms of publicity.
Elsewhere yesterday, the kind of publicity the French game does not need again surfaced just a week after celebrations marking PSG's title success degenerated into violence which forced the cancellation of a gala dinner in the capital.