LONDON, May 31 -- Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes retired from his 17-year soccer career for Manchester United on Tuesday after the 36-year-old made 676 appearances for the club, who made his debut in 1994.
Spain midfielder Xavi dubbed Scholes as "the best central midfielder that I have seen" while France great Zinedine Zidane once branded him "almost untouchable."
"I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honor," said Scholes, who eschewed the celebrity lifestyle of many modern-day footballers and rarely gave interviews.
"This was not a decision that I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing."
Scholes won 10 Premier League titles and 24 trophies in total with Manchester United, scoring 150 goals, but was no longer a regular choice in the first team by the end of the recently completed season.
His last appearance for the northwest power was as a late substitute in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley.
A fortnight earlier, he had helped United claim a record 19th English title, overhauling Liverpool as the country's most successful league team.
He made 66 appearances for England before retiring from international football in 2004 to concentrate on his club career.
A one-club man, Scholes said he will stay at United by taking up a coaching role starting next season.
"What more can I say about Paul Scholes that I haven't said before," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player.
"Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he will be joining the coaching staff from next season. Paul has always been inspirational to players of all ages and we know that will continue in his new role."
After Gary Neville, Scholes is the second member of the batch of young talent to burst into United's first team during the early 1990s, which also included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, to retire this season.
Murray Won the Wimbledon Championship Again 穆雷第二次赢得温网
体坛英语资讯:Djokovic stages humanitarian tennis exhibition tournaments across Balkans
Give Back to Society 回报社会
体坛英语资讯:Colombia boss Queiroz calls for December end to European football season
国内英语资讯:Xi Focus: Xi calls for fostering excellence at opening of hydropower station
礼物是小兔送来的
拼多多创始人黄铮的财富超越马云,成为中国第二富
全球新冠肺炎确诊病例超1000万例
快乐的假期生活
欧盟将对10余个域外国家开放边界 美国不在其中
国内英语资讯:China to partially resume English proficiency tests in July
草莓
The Person I Admire the Most 我最敬佩的人
国际英语资讯:WHO says living with COVID-19 to be new normal as global cases top 10 mln
我的英语老师
教育部:保障今年义务教育巩固率达到95%
国内英语资讯:CPC leadership holds meeting to deliberate Party regulations
Taking up space? 占用空间
假如我会七十二变
体坛英语资讯:EuroLeague cancels remainder of 2019-20 season
国际英语资讯:Merkel, Macron demonstrate unity on post-pandemic EU recovery
英国推中小学补课计划
《隐秘的角落》爆火:秦昊这句台词,已成为大家的口头禅!
国内英语资讯:Chinese vice premier calls for progress in pushing fishing ban
春带来的勃勃生机
月光
国内英语资讯:China, Ethiopia agree to strengthen China-Africa solidarity in fight against COVID-19
体坛英语资讯:(Sports Focus) Desire to scale Qomolangma never dies: 60th anniversary of 1st ascent of nort
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Resurgence in COVID-19 threatens to derail U.S. economic recovery
花瓶