Paul Scholes reveals that facing two Premier League players convinced him to retire from football permanently.

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

After initially retiring in May 2011, the former England international returned to the field in January 2012 to help United during an injury crisis. He went on to play another 16 months before officially retiring in 2013.

During his comeback, Scholes wore the number 22 shirt, as Ashley Young had taken his preferred number 18 upon joining from Aston Villa. Scholes managed to win one more Premier League title, but later regretted extending his career that extra season. Reflecting in 2018 with TNT Sports, he revealed that he was physically “gone” by the start of the 2012-13 season.

“I wish I had stopped then,” Scholes 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 his typical candid manner, Scholes recalled the moment he knew he could no longer start for United. In a 3-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in September 2012, Scholes struggled alongside Michael Carrick against Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele, who effortlessly moved past him and set up Gareth Bale for a goal.

Dembele and Bale essentially signaled the end of Scholes’ career. “I remember playing a game against Tottenham at home… we got beat 3-2,” Scholes recounted. “I played alright in possession, but I remember Dembele just cruising past me, Gareth Bale… I was just watching and thinking, ‘I can’t do this anymore.'”

Scholes considered retiring again mid-season but held back, fearing it would appear “stupid” or “embarrassing.”

Dembele, regarded by teammates as one of the most underrated players, would go on to have a successful Premier League career before moving to Guangzhou City in China in 2019. Bale, meanwhile, left for Real Madrid in 2013—the same year Scholes retired—and went on to become one of the best wingers of his generation.