By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – David Beckham says captaining Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics would be a “special” way of giving something back to his country after a distinguished career.
Beckham signed a new two-year contract with LA Galaxy earlier this week after talks with Paris St Germain broke down, with a clause allowing him to play at London 2012 if selected.
“I would love to be captain,” the 36-year-old said.
“I have led my country before and know how special it would be to lead them into the Olympics.
“It’s an Olympics in the east end of London, where I grew up, and I am excited about, hopefully, being involved.
“I’ve had conversations with Stuart Pearce and as long as I’m fit, healthy and in form, hopefully I have a chance of making the team.”
Beckham was a highly visible member of the bid team that helped London secure the Games in Singapore in 2005 and is one of 184 players contacted by the Football Association to have expressed their desire to play for Team GB.
“I would love to be part of Team GB,” he told a news conference, before thanking Timothy Leiweke (pictured left), President of LA Galaxy owners AEG, and Galaxy coach Bruce Arena (right) for agreeing to give him time off from the MLS.
“Obviously it’s great that Galaxy are on board with the fact that I will be gone for that time.”
Beckham revealed he hopes he can keep playing professional football beyond the end of his new contract in 2014.
The former England captain, who turns 37 in May, said: “I still feel young and I will continue to play as long as I can.
“I enjoy training, I enjoy games, I enjoy being part of a team.
“My new contract will take me up to almost 39 and then we will see.”
Beckham said that as well as interest from PSG, “one or two” unnamed Premier League clubs had offered him the chance to return to England for the first time since his final competitive game for Manchester United in May 2003.
“I think people expected me to either move away or retire at the end of my old LA deal,” he said.
“Retirement was never a part of my plans.
“It had been talked about by other people but it always is when you get to this stage in your career.
“I’ve not even started thinking about retirement yet.
“Last season was such a special season, not just because we were [MLS] champions but the way we played and conducted ourselves on and off the field.”
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