Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes on Tuesday announced his retirement from football with immediate effect and will join the club’s coaching staff.
The 36-year-old made 676 appearances for the club, winning 10 Premier League titles as well as two Champions Leagues and the FA Cup three times.
There had been growing speculation about Scholes’s future in recent weeks and it had looked increasingly likely the 36-year-old would end his stellar career after growing dissatisfied with his bit-part role.
Announcing his retirement, he said: “This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing.”
“I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do,” he said. “To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour.
“To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege.”
Scholes was a second-half substitute as United lost 3-1 to Barcelona in Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley. — AFP