Reaction to Beckham announcing his retirement

Reaction to David Beckham's decision to retire from football at the end of the season, which he announced Thursday:

"He is a fantastic footballer and a fantastic person. All over the world you say 'David Beckham' and people know who that is." - Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I wish him well in the future whatever he chooses to do and I personally hope that will be in football." - England coach Roy Hodgson.

"The Prime Minister's view is that David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career, but not only that, he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did on helping us win London 2012." - statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron's office.

"David always played with the greatest passion and became an iconic figure in our national game ... I am sure he will have so much to give back to the game in future, whatever he chooses to do." - English Football Association chairman David Bernstein.

"My lasting memory of David Beckham is him continuously being the last off the training pitch and always practicing those trademark free-kicks." - Former England coach Steve McClaren.

"He just feels he's taken it as far as he can. He wanted to come back home, he's been away for 22 years and he's got to the end of the road ... In leaving the country, to Milan, L.A., Paris, he has transported England around the world and that's something he was aware of and wanted to do. Every clothing garment he wore, every hairstyle was followed - not just in football but out of football." - Former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville

"I felt that for the last three or four years possibly he's been a global celebrity superstar and it's not been about football." - Former Manchester United player Gordon McQueen.