Little fanfare as Beckham puts full stop on career
New phase of England great's life begins after he spends his final game sitting on PSG's bench
For David Beckham the soccer player, this really was the very end. Now begins the rest of his already very famous life.
At a small, homely stadium on the Brittany coast of western France, with seagulls flying overhead and a world away from soccer's temples like Manchester United's Old Trafford where fans used to sing his name, Beckham officially became the sport's most famous new retiree.
I don't think there's anybody who has the potential to become the next brand Beckham
A thigh injury made him unavailable for Paris Saint-Germain's final match of the season, so he sat this one out.
Hands buried in the pockets of his team tracksuit top, his usually immaculately coiffed hair toasting under a woolly hat, Beckham took his place on the PSG bench with zero fanfare. It is probably safe to say that many in the 16,336-strong crowd did not realise he was there at all and that they were party to a final little dollop of Beckham soccer history.
Lorient president Loic Fery marked the occasion by giving the England great one of his team's orange jerseys with Beckham's name on the back above the number seven and the word Kenavo, or "Goodbye" in Breton, the Celtic language of Brittany. Up in the stands, fans played bagpipes and lounged in the warm evening sun.
In the 81st minute, the match turned bizarre as referee Benoit Bastien sent off PSG keeper, Ronan Le Crom. Reserve keeper Le Crom was born in Lorient, and at 38, it is possible this was his last season.
So Ancelotti brought him on, a kind gesture, for the last 30 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Le Crom trudged off in tears.