Paul Scholes says he acted to hastily in cutting his England career short and that he regrets turning down the chance to play at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The Manchester United legend retired from the Three Lions in 2004 aged just 29 after England were dumped out of the Euros by Portugal, saying he had been pondering the decision for some time.
He racked up 66 caps during his international career and played at four major tournaments, but said he hadn't fully enjoyed the experience and was never quite the player he was at club level.
But Scholes he felt regret when he looked back on his time with England, noting that he soon changed his play style at United to more of a deep-lying playmaker - a role that he never got to play for the national side.
There had been reports he and former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson didn't see eye to eye, with Scholes often played on the left wing, but he stressed the real issue was his lack of form and a desire to spend more time with his family.
'I had a young family at the time and going away for England for ten days at a time, sometimes six weeks in the summer, it just wasn’t ideal and I wasn’t enjoying it.' He told BBC 5Live. 'I know a lot was made of Sven-Goran Eriksson playing me on the left-hand side of midfield but that was never the problem.
'My form in the last 20 or 30 caps wasn’t quite good enough and Steven and Frank were two top-class players who he went with centrally. I was on the left but I played there many times for United and was quite successful there, scored a few goals so it was never really why I left England. It was just a personal choice.
'I do regret leaving England so soon. I went back to United and my football changed. I had been a player who was expected to score goals all the time for England, which I was judged on.'
Scholes explained that he felt reborn in his new position and began to enjoy his football much more as he led the club to a handful of trophies - so an opportunity to play in a similar role for England could have helped him flourish had he not quit.
'Sir Alex Ferguson saw that he wanted me to play well into my 30s and I needed a different position,' he added. 'I moved back and controlled games from midfield, sitting deep, and I was never that player for England.
'I ended up playing there for five or six years and looking back playing there from 30-35 was probably the most enjoyable part of my career.
I really enjoyed that position, I wasn’t scoring goals but to sit back and control games, I really enjoyed it. I finished with England too early to progress in that position.'
Throughout Scholes' exile from the Three Lions there had often been calls from fans and pundits for him to return to the fole - thanks to his displays in midfield at Old Trafford - and he admits he had the chance to come back eight years after his retirement, at the 2010 World Cup.
'I was tempted to come back, you’d hear whispers all the time but there was only the one time really officially.
'It was before the World Cup in South Africa, I’d played well that season and they were struggling with a few injuries. Fabio Capello wanted me to come back, I got a phone call from Stuart Pearce who was on the staff.'
Eventually the 11-time Premier League winner said it would have been 'wrong' to show up having not taken part in the qualifying campaign, but now says he looks back on that decision with regret because of how well he was playing for United.
'I had a few days to think about it and I felt I was playing well enough, I just decided that it was wrong, I hadn’t been involved in qualifying and there were other players who had been in the squad for two years, being away from their families.
'Capello didn’t ring me, maybe if he had it might have been different. Maybe he could have twisted my arm. Is it something I regret? Probably I do because at that time I was playing really well.'
Zaodrst
0
Rooney played with both , he said Gerrard was the best English player he played with. Mr bias
at international level, rooney played with scholesy just one year what do u expect!? put everything into context dont jus pick and chose the answers that jus suit ur bias rooney was specifically askes at international level i remember that interview correctly
nimimruyz
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try to speak sense! scholesy never been benched in his entire career ask any England players, Gerrard include that who has always been England best player in training and certainly the ans would be scholesy gerard by his own admition he was intimidated in his few first training session when he joining the England team after watching scholes pull the strings in midfield so respect man respect
Rooney played with both , he said Gerrard was the best English player he played with. Mr bias
nimimruyz
0
think before u Talk bro scholes would never have stayed on the bench
you are repeating what I said without knowing
nimimruyz
0
he knew Gerrard was playing the deep position and he would be a bench warmer.
which tournament did he star in for England ?
zacabknrz
0
this noise maker couldn't resist the heat from stev and lampard I the midfield and was drifted faraway .So he ran away. big time coward
Wuclmnpry
0
he knew Gerrard was playing the deep position and he would be a bench warmer.
think before u Talk bro scholes would never have stayed on the bench
foualorsyz
1
That's why the three lions did won anything, Gerrard in deeper position ahead of Scholes its simple he won 11 league titles steven 0😂😂😂😂😂😂
daheroda8
1
he knew Gerrard was playing the deep position and he would be a bench warmer.
Keep on living in delusion.
Zaodrst
1
he knew Gerrard was playing the deep position and he would be a bench warmer.
try to speak sense! scholesy never been benched in his entire career ask any England players, Gerrard include that who has always been England best player in training and certainly the ans would be scholesy gerard by his own admition he was intimidated in his few first training session when he joining the England team after watching scholes pull the strings in midfield so respect man respect
nimimruyz
1
he knew Gerrard was playing the deep position and he would be a bench warmer.
Luhdimsty
1
Ferguson force you to retired?😠🤬😡