Paul Scholes names the footballer who persuaded him it was time to retire

Paul Scholes has revealed he "knew" it was time for him to retire after coming up against in 2012.

is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, having won 11 titles and two Champions Leagues during his time at . He originally retired in 2011, but made a comeback the following year.

Scholes then stayed on for another season after he was persuaded to by manager , but the 49-year-old now admits that was a "mistake" which he realised after struggling against Bale early on in the campaign.

"I actually thought the first time I retired would be the end," Scholes said on the . "I came back for six months originally and then the manager [Ferguson] wanted me to stay for another season and I think that was a mistake.

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"I think it was the first home game of my last season, against . I remember I didn't actually play that badly but I remember playing against Gareth Bale. Now this could have happened to me when I was 21 but he was just starting to burst and he was flying.

"I remember him going past me two or three times and I knew I couldn't compete with that, I had absolutely no chance. I was in the ice bath later and I could've been in there for two days, I could barely move for three or four days.

"That's when I knew that was the end. It was a mistake to play that season. It was a special moment (to come on for his final game) but I didn't really want it, I wanted to go away quietly. I didn't even want to play the last game and even that confirmed I was doing the right thing."

Since retiring for the second time, Scholes has largely worked as a pundit for TNT Sports and Premier League productions. However, he also owns a stake in League Two club Salford City alongside his former United teammates , Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville.

Scholes has tried his hand at management as well, having a stint in interim charge of Salford as well as a brief spell at Oldham Athletic. However, he won just three out of his 11 games as a manager.

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