Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes on Tuesday announced his retirement from football with immediate effect and said he will join the club\'s coaching staff. The 36-year-old made 676 appearances for the club, with his last coming as a a second-half substitute as United lost 3-1 to Barcelona in Saturday\'s Champions League final at Wembley. The midfielder won 10 Premier League titles as well as two Champions Leagues and the FA Cup three times in a career spent entirely at United. There had been growing speculation about his future in recent weeks as he grew dissatisfied with his increasingly bit-part role at Old Trafford. Announcing his retirement, he said: \"This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing.\" \"I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do,\" he said. \"To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour. \"To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege.\" Factfile: Paul Scholes Scholes paid tribute to Alex Ferguson, calling him a \"great manager\". \"From the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership,\" he said. His role within the United coaching set-up has still to be outlined, although there could be an opening available with the reserves, where Warren Joyce has been acting alone since the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.