Beckham Praise for Tragic Speed

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - England great David Beckham praised Gary Speed and offered condolences to his family Monday after the young Wales manager’s tragic suicide stunned the world of football.

Beckham hailed his fellow former Premier League midfielder, who had stints with Everton, Newcastle and Bolton, for his successful playing career and highly promising start in management.

“I think he was an amazing, talented player, a player that had such a glittering career and just began a great career in management as well,” Beckham told media in Jakarta, where his LA Galaxy team are playing this week.

“On behalf of myself, the players, the manager and everybody at the Galaxy we’d like to send our love and thoughts to his wife, his children and his family,” he said.

“It is a sad time to lose a man like this,” added Beckham.

Speed, a 42-year-old father of two, was found hanged in his home in northwest England on Sunday in a case which shocked English football. Police have not speculated on a possible motive.

Beckham is visiting Jakarta as part of a post-season tour by newly crowned Major League Soccer champions Galaxy, who will play an Indonesian Super League all-stars line-up on Wednesday.