The PSG Team That Played in David Beckham’s Last Ever Game – What Happened Next?

David Beckham brought down the curtain on a glittering 21-year playing career on 18 May 2013, lining up for Paris Saint-Germain against Brest at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1.

Beckham had joined PSG in January of that season, arriving as a free agent following his departure from LA Galaxy after the victorious 2012 MLS Cup final.

The former England captain confirmed when he arrived that his entire PSG salary for the duration of his short-term contract would be donated to a local children’s charity. Beckham mainly appeared as a substitute for PSG in that 2012/13 run-in, which saw nouveau riche PSG claim a first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and only their third ever.

Against Brest, the last home game of the season, the 38-year-old was made captain by coach Carlo Ancelotti. He contributed an assist in the 3-1 win, and knowing it was his farewell game was substituted in the closing stages to a standing ovation, reducing him to tears.

Here’s a look at the PSG team that lined up that day and what happened next…

Salvatore Sirigu (GK)

Bought from Palermo in 2011, Sirigu was PSG’s starting goalkeeper for four seasons up until losing his place to new signing Kevin Trapp in 2015.

That prompted loans to Sevilla and Osasuna, the latter relegated from La Liga, in 2016/17, before permanently returning home to Italy to join Torino in the summer 2017. Sirigu replaced Joe Hart as Torino starter and has kept goal for I Granata ever since.

Christophe Jallet (RB)

A number of PSG players colour their hair in the red, white and blue of the French flag that night, but Jallet was the boldest example. The right-back was named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Year for 2012/13 and was included again in 2014/15 following a move to Lyon.

Later played for Nice between 2017 and 2019 and is still playing aged 36 for Amiens, who were relegated to Ligue 2 when the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season was abandoned.

Zoumana Camara (CB)

Camara had already played for six different clubs in Italy, France and England – he was at Leeds during the disastrous 2003/04 relegation season – by the time he joined PSG in 2007.

The Paris-born defender had previously been a regular starter when fit but was only a bit-part player by 2012. He remained a back-up at most for PSG until his retirement in 2015. Camara later went on to work for the club in a coaching capacity.

Mamadou Sakho (CB)

Sakho appeared to be a star in the making at the time and had first captained PSG aged just 17 on his debut six years earlier in 2007. He often wore the armband in the seasons that followed.

The 2012/13 campaign proved to be Sakho’s last with PSG as Liverpool paid a sizeable £18m fee to take him to Anfield. Inconsistent form and injury trouble plagued his time on Merseyside, but Crystal Palace paid £24m to sign him in 2017.

Siaka Tiene (LB)

Ivory Coast international Tiene only spent three seasons with PSG, the last of which was 2012/13. He had started with famed Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, before moving to South Africa and getting his chance in Europe with Saint-Etienne.

PSG signed the defender after a spell with Valenciennes, while he later retired after a spell with Montpellier ended in 2015. Tiene went to eight major international tournaments in his career.

Clement Chantome (MF)

After a significant role in PSG’s title win, Chantome joined Toulouse on loan in the summer of 2013 and eventually left his first club for a permanent switch to Bordeaux in 2015.

Chantome lasted only a year with Bordeaux and moved on to Rennes. He then dropped out of top flight football in 2017 to join Lens on loan, followed by a deal with Red Star back in Paris. Most recently he signed a short-term deal with fourth tier club Poissy.

Blaise Matuidi (MF)

The arrival of Matuidi marked PSG’s new found ambition in 2011, plucked from Saint-Etienne and helping the club to four Ligue 1 titles before he left for Juventus in 2017.

The combative midfielder has won two further league titles with Juve, which could yet become three if the 2019/20 season resumes. He also won the World Cup with France in 2018 and is arguably the member of this team who has enjoyed most success since 2013.

David Beckham (MF)

After hanging up his boots in 2013, Beckham, whose title with PSG was his 10th in a fourth different country, has remained in the public eye for a number of reasons.

He has continued his longstanding charity work, launching a fund in his own name with UNICEF in 2015. He has also ventured into club ownership by creating Inter Miami as a new MLS franchise and later joining his ex-Manchester United teammates as a part-owner at Salford City.

Javier Pastore (MF)

Pastore was PSG’s first blockbuster signing following the Qatar takeover, bought for around €40m to make him one of the most expensive players in the world at the time.

The Argentine midfielder stayed with PSG until 2018, winning 13 major honours in total, including five Ligue 1 titles. He was sold to Roma for a healthy €24m, although injuries have hampered his chances in Italy and he has only started 11 Serie A games in close to two seasons.

Kevin Gameiro (FW)

Having initially made his name at Lorient, Gameiro found chances harder to come by in his second season at PSG in 2012/13 and left for Sevilla at the end of that campaign.

Gameiro re-established himself as a top player in Spain, winning three successive Europa League titles and netting 29 times in 2015/16 alone. A big money move to Atletico Madrid followed with mixed results, before the Frenchman joined current club Valencia in 2018.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FW)

Although a success everywhere he has ever been, Ibrahimovic enjoyed the most concentrated period during his PSG days, staying at the French club longer than he has any other.

After 156 goals in 180 appearances, the Swede left when his contract expired in 2016 and joined Manchester United. Injury curtailed a very promising short spell in Manchester, paving the way for 53 goals in 58 games for LA Galaxy. With AC Milan since January 2020.

Substitutes

Lucas Moura (MF) – Still only a few months into his PSG career at the time after a January move from Sao Paulo. Stayed until 2018, at which point he joined Tottenham.

Alphonse Areola (GK) – Replaced Sirigu early in the second half for only his second senior appearance. Undisputed starter in 2017/18, now on loan at Real Madrid.

Ezequiel Lavezzi (FW) – The player to come for an emotional Beckham. Accepted a big money to join Hebei China Fortune in February 2016, staying until his 2019 retirement.

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