Manchester United legend Paul Scholes is pleased to have avoided the spotlight after announcing his retirement.

Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford after more than 26 years in charge and the emotional goodbye helped Scholes quit for the second time, after being lured out of retirement by the wily Scot in January last season.

"For me, it is about the game, a way of playing. The pleasure of striking a ball or finding the right pass. It is not about having my name up in lights," Scholes told The Times.

"I was pleased to retire when I did because I was overshadowed by bigger names bowing out at the same time. I got out under the radar."