"I have lived the dream, I'm extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England, for that I will always be grateful," said the Real Madrid superstar at a new conference in England's training camp near Frankfurt.

The 31-year-old appeared tearful as he delivered a statement hewrote on Saturday night following the defeat to Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final.

"Having been captain for 58 of my 95 caps, I feel the time is right to pass on the armband as we enter a new era under Steve McClaren," said Beckham.

The Real Madrid player was appointed captain in 2000 and was animportant link between the players and manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He led by example against Greece in 2001, curling in a last-gasp free-kick to send England to the World Cup finals where they were defeated in the quarter-finals.

England could only reach the quarter-finals in Euro 2004 and defeat to Portugal in Germany marked the end of Eriksson's reign and Beckham's last match as skipper.