Football news - David Beckham signs off from America after helping LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup Final
Last updated 11/30/2011 9:55:06 AM
David Beckham signs off from America after helping LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup Final
David Beckham's popularity and status in America has never been higher after helping LA Galaxy to victory over Houston Dynamos in the MLS Cup Final.
The 36 year old Beckham could write his own contract if he decided to stay on in Tinsel Town but, already he is looking for another challenge, and looks set for Euro rich Paris St-Germain in the French League.
The former Manchester United and England superstar is contracted to his American team for just one more month and will then make up his mind on the next step of his odyssey.
Although he is set to tour with the American team the final was almost certainly his last performance for the club in the USA and it was a good note on which to sign off as he linked with former Spurs star Robbie Keane to set up home grown Landon Donovan for the only goal of the final.
Beckham said after the final: "Whether I stay or not, I've had an amazing five years.
"People were talking about if we didn't win it was going to be a disappointment and an unsuccessful five years. It's quietened a few people."
Beckham, who played the full game despite suffering a hamstring problem in training last week, joined the Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007.
In the 71st minute of the game - a play-off final between the winners of the Western and Eastern Conferences - Beckham flicked the ball on for Keane to feed Donovan, who scored the decisive goal in front of a record crowd of 30,281 at Galaxy's stadium, the Home Depot Centre.
Galaxy supporters sang "We want Beckham" after seeing their team win a first title since 2005 but he would not discuss his future plans.
His contract runs out at the end of December but he will take part in the club's tour of Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia, which starts next week, where he will be the main attraction.
There are no thoughts of retirement from the player who won six Premier League titles with Manchester United as he has made it clear he wants to be part of the Great Britain Olympic squad on the 2012 Games.
After playing such a large part in the Games going to London instead of favourites Paris it would be cruel if he was not a part of Stuart Pearce's GB squad and he would be a major box office attraction for a sport with a lot of tickets still to sell.
He added: "I've loved it here. The fans have been unbelievable - the owners, the players, every one of them are heroes. They've been incredible all season and this has capped it off.
"I've said that all along, it doesn't matter what happens at the end of the season.
"I'm not in a rush to decide what happens. We go on tour next weekend. We're going to enjoy that, enjoy this week, because we worked so hard to get to this point."
Former Spurs striker Keane had helped the Republic of Ireland book a place at the Euro 2012 finals with a two game play off victory over Estonia earlier in the week and admitted he was struggling in the final stages of Sunday's match.
He said: "It was a very tiring week, to be honest.
"The travelling got to me a little bit towards the end. Six games in two weeks - it's a bit tough, but we won and that's the main thing."