球场内，他年少成名却历经坎坷，得到了不少荣誉也有很多遗憾，在球员生涯末期依靠实力和努力收获了大多数人的尊重；球场外，他是 20 世纪末 21 世纪初世界体育商业化浪潮的代表人物，广告收入源源不断的同时，也在公益事业方面尽心尽力，成为足球界和英国的名片式人物。现在和小编一起来欣赏一下贝克汉姆辞去英格兰国家队队长的演说吧！
On November 15th, 2000, Peter Taylor gave me the greatest honor of my career in making me captain of England and fulfilling my childhood dream. Now almost six years later, having been captain for 58 of my 95 caps, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter into a new era under Steve McClaren. It has been an honor and a privilege to have captained the country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can.
2000年的11月15日，泰勒给了我职业生涯中最大的荣誉——让我担任英格兰国家队的队长一职，帮我完成了儿时的梦想。如今六年转眼即逝，在我为国家队效力的95场比赛里，有58场我是以队长身份出场的。现在，英格兰国家队已经进入麦克拉伦时代，我也觉得是时候把队长袖标传给别人了。能带领我的国家出战对我来说是一种荣誉；我想强调的是，我希望能继续为英格兰国家队效力，也期望能以自己的方式尽力去协助麦克拉伦和下任队长。
I came to this decision some time ago, but I had hoped to announce it on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly, that wasn't meant, that wasn't to be. This decision has been, has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and the closest to me, I feel that the time is right. Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress further, and both myself and all the players regret that and are hurt, and are hurt by that more than people realize.
我做这个决定并非心血来潮，我原本打算在一次成功的世界杯后再宣布这个决定。但令人伤心的是，这未能如愿。到目前为止，这是我职业生涯里最难做出的一个决定。但在和我的家人和密友商量过后，我觉得现在是时候这么做了。在本届世界杯上，我们的表现还不够好，也无法再前进一步。我和其他所有球员都为此表示抱歉，我们受到的伤害和打击也远比你们想象的要深得多。
I wish to thank all the players, for their support, during my time as captain as well Peter Tailor, Steven and all the coaches. I would also like to thank the press and, of course, the England supporters who have been both great to me and my teammates and I want them to know for me, it has been an absolute honor.
我感谢在我担任队长期间所有支持我的球员们，还有泰勒、埃里克森和所有的教练。我还想感谢媒体，当然还有所有英格兰队的支持者们，你们给予我和我的队友们许多关爱。我希望他们知道，这对我来说是无比的荣耀。
Finally, I have lived the dream. I have, I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England. And for that, I would always be grateful. Thank you very much.
最后，我要说，我已经实现了我的梦想。能戴上队长袖标成为英格兰国家队的队长，这让我极其自豪。对这所有的一切，我都非常感激。谢谢你们。
他虽然不是足球史上最伟大的球员，但他一定是知名度最高的球员之一。他在竞技层面很难和贝利、马拉多纳等球王相比，但他对于足球运动的影响丝毫不逊于几位前辈，甚至在某种程度上可以说，他和这个时代一道，改变了这项运动。