Paul Scholes admits playing against two Premier League players made him decide to retire from football for good

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has admitted that two Premier League players made him realise that it was time to retire for a second time.

After initially stepping away from football in May 2011, the former England international was tempted out of retirement in January 2012.

With the club in the middle of an injury crisis, Scholes went on to play for another 16 months before eventually calling time on his career in 2013.

During his second spell at Old Trafford, Scholes wore the unfamiliar number 22 shirt as Ashley Young had been given his preferred number 18 shirt after joining from Aston Villa.

He managed to add another Premier League title to his collection but regretted staying on for that extra season. Speaking to TNT Sports in 2018, Scholes admitted he was 'gone' physically by the time the 12/13 campaign started.

"I wish I had stopped then," he said. "That was enough, really, because we got to the next season and the manager gave me another year, but when I say I was gone the first time, I was definitely gone this time."

In a typically honest fashion, Scholes then pinpointed the exact game he knew he wasn't cut out to be starting for United.

Scholes started alongside Michael Carrick in a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in September 2012 and struggled to get to grips with Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele, who glided through the pair and helped set up Gareth Bale for his goal.

In fact, Dembele and Bale hold the dubious honour of letting Scholes know his time had passed.

"I remember playing a game against Tottenham at home, it was only the third or fourth game of the season, and I think we got beat at home 3-2," Scholes continued.

"I played alright in possession but I remember [Mousa] Dembele just cruising past me, Gareth Bale.... I know they cruise past people but I was just watching and thinking 'I can't do this anymore'.

"I wanted to retire early again that season but I just thought it would look a bit stupid, a bit embarrassing."

Image credit: Getty

Dembele, who is often named by his former teammates as one of the most underrated players ever, would go on to enjoy a successful Premier League career before moving to Chinese side Guangzhou City in 2019.

Bale, meanwhile, joined Real Madrid in 2013 – the year of Scholes' retirement – and became one of the best wingers of his generation.