Former England winger Chris Waddle thinks David Beckham would not rank in the top 1,000 Premier League players. "I would say he has been a good player, I wouldn't put him down as a great," Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You can go down a list of footballers since the Premier League and I don't think David Beckham would probably be in the first 1,000."

The ex-Manchester United midfielder will retire from football at the end of the season.

"I think there has been a lot more talented players in the world. But he made the most of what he has got," said Waddle, who played more than 100 times for Newcastle, Tottenham, Sheffield Wednesday and Marseille, winning 62 England caps.

Waddle added: "He has got a terrific image and used it very well. He never had a trick, wasn't particularly quick, but he was very good at set-pieces and deliveries, he made chances and made goals and was fantastic for clubs.

"He said the right things, he sold shirts, he put money in the tills wherever he went and conducted himself well."

"As a player I would say he was a fantastic crosser of the ball, a great athlete," continued Waddle. "Now people will be talking about him and saying 'how great, how great'. I would say 'how good'.

"I would not say he was a great. He was very good at his job, he worked very hard as a professional footballer."