The spotlight will always be on me, but it`s something I`m learning to live with as the years go by.

It`s one thing I like about America - they respect the sportsman. They put them up on a pedestal. They don`t try to knock them down. And that`s a great thing, to be respected by the whole country. It`s so patriotic!

My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7.

Being at a club that supported me meant a lot.

We stay as a team. I might be England captain, but that doesn`t mean I get treated differently.

I don`t think I`m really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do.

If someone had said in 1998 after my sending off in the World Cup that I would be leading my country out within three years I would have laughed in their face.

I`ve felt a little tired, but I`m only 24. I love playing football. That`s my job and that`s what I love doing.

Everyone`s been so quick to say that I`m really thick or I haven`t got a brain. People will think whatever they want to think.

I am happier now than I have ever been.

When you have kids you do grow up. I have just started realising it now-it changes the world, having children.

The way I and my family have been treated is an absolute disgrace. At the end of the day, I`m a nice person and loving husband and father. I`ve been called a bad father, I`ve been called a bad husband and my wife has been called a bad mother. Things always hurt that are said about my family, and for people to call my wife a bad mother is unbelievable. I`m a strong person, I`m a strong family man, I`m a strong husband and a strong father.

My private life is perfect. If your private life and your life outside football is good, then it is good on the field for you.

I love little kids looking up to me, young players looking up to me, respecting me.

The buzz is still with me. I get goose bumps.

There`s room for boys` and girls` football in the world-that`s what I believe.

I always wanted to be a hairdresser.

Every situation has changed me as a person.

I love scoring goals for England and playing for England. That`s one of the reasons I didn`t retire-I love playing for my country.

Well, I can play in the centre, on the right and occasionally on the left side - when asked if he thought that he was a volatile player

You can practice penalties till the cows come home but it is different when you are out there in front of 60,000 people and the pressure is on.

I have come to accept that if I have a new haircut it is front page news. But having a picture of my foot on the front page of a national newspaper is a bit exceptional.

I`ve got more clothes than Victoria.

Pelé was a complete player. I didn`t see him live obviously, because I wasn`t born.

Tom cruise, he`s a lot more famous than me.

During the past few months, I have become accustomed to reading more and more ludicrous stories about my private life. The simple truth is that I am very happily married, have a wonderful wife and two very special kids. There is nothing that any third party can do to change these facts. - denying any affair with his former personal assistant, Rebecca Loos. [April 2004]

On Real Madrid: "To experience playing and being in the same team as these players is something that might not ever happen again - to have so many players in one team. I just wanted to be one of these stars and play in this team."

I like nice clothes, whether they`re dodgy or not.

I wasn`t as fit as I would of liked to have been, going to the World Cup, but I`m not sure what difference that made.

We`ve been asked to do `Playboy` together, me and Victoria, as a pair. I don`t think I`ll ever go naked, but I`ll never say never.

Joining Real Madrid is a dream come true.

I still look at myself and want to improve.

With United, we`d all grown up together, we all wanted to win the biggest trophy in football. We did it togther.

I think the most important goal I scored in Spain was the first one because people were wary about me coming over to Spain as a player - they thought I was just there to sell shirts.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

People can say what they like. But me and Victoria will always stay together as husband and wife.

Nothing amazes me anymore.

I have got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line, or everything has to be in pairs.

I definitely want (my son) Brooklyn to be christened, but I don`t know into what religion yet.

Alex Ferguson is the best manager I`ve ever had at this level. Well, he`s the only manager I`ve actually had at this level. But he`s the best manager I`ve ever had.

At home things are hard. For instance, my curtains are never open, I get no privacy at all. In fact, I can`t remember the last time I saw daylight in my house.

"Shopping!" - Beckham describing his strengths

I like Victoria for herself, not for nothing else. I`d like her if she worked in Tesco.

In Spain people have lunch and dinner a lot later - when I return to England I`ll have to eat alone at midnight.

As a footballer you always want to test yourself against the best.

Whenever Man Utd lose people always say there`s a crisis.

The England team should be managed by an English manager.

I dream a lot about football and a lot of them have come true for me.