In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.
Xavi
My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder.
Zinedine Zidane
Rooney is one of the best players in the world and I love watching him play. But if you had to pick out only one, then for their history and for all that they have achieved it would have to be Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs. They are two shining examples for any player.
Andres Iniesta
Everywhere I go the coaches all tell me that Scholsey is the player they admire. But if they think they’ll get him they’re wasting their time! Paul is a Manc lad pure and simple. He loves the club and there’s no chance of him leaving here. If ever he decided to go there would be a stampede, but he won’t be going, he’s here for life.
Sir Alex Ferguson (Jan 2003)
I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is.
Edgar Davids, in his prime
I told Moratti Scholes is a “mission impossible” man. It’s more than money with him. He was born just a few blocks away from Old Trafford. It`s about wearing United’s colours.
Inter owner Massimo Moratti’s adviser, Pino Pagliara (July 2000)
Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him.
Pep Guardiola
I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player.
Laurent Blanc
An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being.
Roy Keane
I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It’s Paul Scholes. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite. I love his nous and conviction that he will find a way to win, to make the killer pass or produce the decisive volley.
Sir Bobby Charlton
The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes.
Patrick Vieira
He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League.
Cesc Fabregas
I can’t understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t seek the limelight like some of the other ‘stars’.
Thierry Henry
Nobody else in the world can play the way Scholes does. The passes he produces all over the field and the way he changes the game is brilliant. Every manager would like him. But luckily he is here and playing with us. Paul practices that all the time. When he has finished training he always goes out and shoots.
Dimitar Berbatov
Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him.
Jose Mourinho
Paul Scholes had the best football brain I’d ever seen in a kid. Let’s face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of its own.
Brian Kidd
Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance.
Marcello Lippi
Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation.
Zinedine Zidane
He is a very complete, spectacular footballer. He always fights for the ball and tries to lose his marker to help his team-mates – either to defend or to have a shot on goal. For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. I would happily end my career with the medals that Scholes has. I am young and I hope that I will be able to surpass him – but it is not going to be easy.
Cesc Fabregas
Juan Sebasticn Veron while at Chelsea being asked in an interview who’s the best English player : “Paul Scholes.”
Paul Scholes is just fantastic. When you play alongside him, you realise what a special talent he is.
Michael Carrick
Very few players can do that, but Scholes is one of them – and I knew he was one of them. That’s why, without question, I think Paul Scholes is the best player in England. He’s got the best skills, the best brain. No one can match him.
Sir Alex Ferguson
England have lost their best player
George Best after Paul retired from international football
There isn’t a player of his mould anywhere in the world.
Glen Hoddle
For me, it’s Paul Scholes. He’ll do ridiculous things in training like say, “You see that tree over there?” – it’ll be 40 yards away – “I’m going to hit it”. And he’ll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best.”
Rio Ferdinand
I wouldn’t swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best.
Gary Neville
He’s always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder – when he’s fit, he’s the best. Some go missing but he’s in the right place at the right time. He’s my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it’s a goal, isn’t it?
Micah Richards
We won’t ever see another one like Paul Scholes. He is a legend and a real benchmark. He is not interested in the modern-day footballer’s life off the pitch, but he is a world-class player on it. He has probably never really got the true recognition he deserved outside of Manchester United because he never did the media. He didn’t do interviews and never put himself out for things like that. I cannot believe he has never been nominated for World, European or domestic individual honours because in his prime he was scoring 20 goals a season from midfield. It is astonishing he has never won a personal award, but given the choice of winning something and then having to get up and do the speech, I think he would rather not have won them!
Darren Fletcher
He’s the best one- or two-touch passer in the country. He sees the game unlike any other player.
Terry Venables
If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. He can tackle, and his passing and shooting is of the highest level. He’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time.
Alan Shearer
Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You’d probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes. When the ball arrives at his feet he could tell you where every player on that pitch is at that moment. His awareness is superb.
Gordon Strachan
Paul, for me, is the best player in the England team. It worries teams. Speak to any other international team and they will single Paul out as England’s key player. For me, he doesn’t get the full credit that he deserves. He is a world-class player and deserves to be up there with the likes of Zidane and Figo.
Phil Neville
Scholes is one of the most complete footballers I’ve ever seen. His one-touch play is phenomenal. Whenever I have played against him, I never felt I could get close to him.
Eidur Gudjohnsen
For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He’s incredible. He has always been under-rated throughout his career. He’s a team player, a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play.
Thierry Henry
He has an awareness of what’s happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he’s proving just as effective from outside the box because he’s using his experience in the right way. It doesn’t matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Man Utd News 24/7
legend of the game
SCHOLESY RETIRES
http://sportpulse.net/content/paul-scholes-announces-his-retirement-972
Oh why oh why oh why
Legend. End of.
fair play to micah richards though
Scholesy is my hero, the epitome of what a footballer should be. Gifted with unbelievable talent and yet he has displayed unbelievable humility. Legend.
Wonderful collection of quotes. Says everything about the man really.
As I said in the previous thread, saying Thanks or saying He will be missed doesn’t adequately justify everything he has offered to us.
It is interesting to see that all the players who have played at the higest level of football for us are also retiring when they are at their peaks rather than their nadir. It holds true for Robbo, Schmeichel, VDS, Scholes and probably Giggs when he does retire.
I’d imagine Gaz would be ready to swap Scholesy for his signifiacnt other given that “one” intimate moment they both shared.
Given how much of a quite person Scholesy is, it will be interesting to see what kind of a coach he becomes. They always are required to voice out their opinion publicly and be pretty outspoken. Seeing Ole’s success, I’d imagine the shift in focus is not that big. So, interesting times ahead for the Ginger Ninja as always. It still remains to be seem what coaching capacity he is offered.
Anybody have any idea whether he has completed his badges? I read that him, Giggsy and Gaz were all working on it.
Just imagine you are aged 15-20 and you are getting to learn from the best mid-fielder of his generation. I really envy the amount of coaching you get at United.
Just an addition, this is a true story. I once got an Excel game built with XL macros wherein you had to type the name of the person in one cell and their probable profession would be displayed in another cell.
After playing around with it, I typed in Paul Scholes and the profession displayed was GOD. I tried it out many times and all the time the profession was the same. Even PC games created in XL for fun realize that Paul Scholes is God.
The greatest English midfielder that can never be replaced.
Hope United do a good job finding one or two CM next season.
Thank you for your genius, true legend!!!!
No more Paul-Gaz kisses?
18 was a shirt full of defiance
19.
Paul Scholes- The Best
O how I love Paul Scholes. TRUE Genius. TRUE Legend.
Great collection of quotes Scott. What more can I say? He’s just Paul Scholes, a true legend.
Come to think of it. May 31, 2011 will be remembered as the fateful day when all of Fergie’s fledglings that were part of the class of 92 left United. Brings tears to my eyes but Scholes, Becks, Butty, Phil, Gary all gone.
Technically, Giggs wasn’t part of the Class of 92 though people tend to club them together.
The future of Manchester United hangs in the balance but the two men I would want in such a position are Sir Alex and David Gill.
Not just a truly great player but one of the last footballers you could like as human being. A premiership fooballer that isn’t a wanker. On the pitch and off it, a Manchester United legend.
Scholes would have won(or come close) the world player of the year if he was an outspoken person.
Legend ! But it is so inappropriate to call him legend. The word is spoiled. He is better than this.
Era goes. The last of the Mohicans.
@MG
Not to mention full of the Dark Side.
i don’t know what to say, i knew this day would come but i’m speechless,sad too. Glad he’s staying on in a coaching role,scholes will have some fantastic ideas from playing with world class players at united and opposition. LEGEND end of
Get up,
Go to work,
Play the game,
Get showered,
Go home.
Thanks for the memories and for scoring one of my favourite goals of all time v barca in that semi.
Thank you Scholes for all the memories which will live with us fans for the rest of our lives. Legend. United is truly blessed to have your services for the past 17/18 years.
Costas
Even Jack Wilshere today recognised his dad
Sad day – Van Der Sar and Scholsey gone
At least Scholes will be back teaching the kids
Imagine what a Pogba or a Tunny could learn if they even paid a little attention?
Imagine what they could learn and become if they paid lot’s of attention?
Every cloud has a silver lining
19
Thank you Paul. I will now go somewhere quiet and have a man cry.
When i come home and see my kit with his name from the 07-08 season i will tell myself – this guy isn’t a professional footballer anymore.
Yesterday i was so different.
SCHOLES OF MANCHESTER
Scholesy should have two jobs:
1) Coach of the Academy
2) Chief United Scout
Ever since 1994 when angry questions were raised in Parliament about United only putting out kids against Port Vale in the League Cup I have loved Paul Scholes, who of course scored twice that day in a 2-1 win. What a great player he’s turned out to be, fulfilling every promise, showing the world an incredible range of skills, passing long and short, holding the ball, running with the ball, laying off the ball, flicking, back-heeling, volleying the ball, making the ball talk, crashing in headers from close in or from distance, chipping, caressing, nudging the ball, controlling the ebb and flow of a match, dribbling and body-swerving , retaining possession, quick-quick-slow, forty yarders to the wings, 30-yarders into the back of the net, 70, 000 people on their feet in ecstacy, how can I ever thank him enough for the pleasure he’s given me over so many years?
@MG and Costas,
Pretty safe to say this is how we all feel now: http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/
Perfectly fitting for the Sith Lord, don’t you think?
thank you scholes..
@ MG: I was just thinking about the same thing. What Pgba, Morrison and Tunni could learn from him.
Scholesy we love you and you will be sorely missed.
LEGEND.
@Giles Oakley – oh my God ! Another classic from you Sir. Makes my heart melt.
Balaji/Sir Ryan Giggs
May be the force be with those kids they have lots to learn from Master Scholes
LEGEND.
Thank you Scholsey for everything.
Scholesy is irreplaceable really, so maybe we should retire the 18 shirt like they do for Legends in other team sports!
How apt would that also be for the club this season saying goodbye to 18 in more ways than one!!
@ Giles: Brilliant post mate. I am in tears now!
@Balaji
Hehe. I didn’t know such website existed! I definitely needed that.
@MG
They say that a Sith can only have one apprentice. In Scholes’ case, you will either join the dark side or get struck down with a 40 yard pass.
HE SCHOLES THE GOALS!
@ Costas: I hope Tunni learns about the dark side and Pogba the 50 yard pass. LOL.
In 2009 Scholes was caught speeding and received six penalty points. After failing to respond to either a court notice or summons, he was fined £525 for failing to provide driver identification documents, plus £60 costs and a £15 court fee.
From Scholesy’s wikipedia page, I think that is the best negative bit of news that has come about Scholesy in his 20 year career. A penalty for speeding.
Does anything more need to be said about the great man than that?
@Sir Giles, Wonderful post as always.
End of an Era..
The class of 92 goes is finally extinguished…
My dream of seeing Paul Scholes play in person will now never be fulfilled…
The grief is just unbearable…words fail me…
Paul Scholes…Love you and wish you all the best for the rest of your life
Any and all words of thanks and appreciation are not enough for the moments of sheer joy you have given me…
Xavi + Iniesta + The Dark Side = PAUL SCHOLES
Oh and BTW, Arron Scholes signs trainee terms with Manchester United in a few years. You heard it here first.
Who better to take over from Darth Vader than Luke himself?
Is anyone else pissed off that scholes didn’t get the send off he deserves. I know scholes doesn’t like to make a fuss and would rather just get on with it but, seriously he needs to understand how much we as supporters love him and appreciate the what 15-20+ years he has dedicated to making us one of the best clubs in the world.
Gutted, i was hoping he would give us 1 more year, but maybe i’m asking too much of him, he deserves a break and defiantly will be missed.
THEIR’S ONLY 1!!! PAUL SCHOLES!!!!
I am now in favor of human cloning. Manchester United must get a hold of Scholesy’s DNA.
Just read that 5 players from Barca wanted Scholes’ shirt at the end of the match on Saturday. They had to draw straws and Iniesta won.
SCHOLES OF MANCHESTER
Makes him sound like some great, mythical legend. Which he is, of course.
Read a report by Steve Bartram on manutd.com, interesting to see other Reds thinking along the same line with regards to the younger players
“It is a masterstroke of Sir Alex Ferguson to retain Scholes’ experience in a coaching capacity. Unwittingly, he’s been educating his fellow pros for years, and if he can work directly with United’s FA Youth Cup winners – particularly midfielders Pogba, Morrison and Tunnicliffe – then his brilliance will live on at first team level.”
and probably the only thing that consoled me since Saturday night
“Barcelona’s players certainly recognised his worth on Saturday. Stood, clad in Iniesta’s sweat-drenched shirt, Scholes had to disappoint Messi, Xavi, Busquets and Pedro by informing each that he had already surrendered his jersey. For all their modern mastery of the football, Barcelona’s pass-poppers recognised that they were in the presence of the greatest little maestro of his generation.”
@ahjs
they didn’t, they all had to asked and we all let down when he told them he had given it up to iniesta. lol
There is NO excuse for not turning up to his testimonial short of a family tragedy.
Scholes…Its like you knew it was going to happen but you couldn’t face the truth. Now its only Giggs, the last remnant of the class of ’92. It feels like the end of an era.
Ive heard tales on the training pitch that if you were to turn your back on him he would bang the ball 45 yards on the back of your head
Extraordinary man, never seeked the spotlight like so many modern wankers.
Thank you Scholesy for all the memories, esp the goal against Barca.
I’m going to go and cry now.
@United4eva
You could be the first person i meet from ROM that day, i’d like to see what could stop me
i almost have tears in my eyes!!!!thank you scholelsy for all the moments of happiness and joy in our sad boring and insignificant lives over last 20 yrs………
England never really knew how to get the best out of Paul Scholes. Luckily for us, Sir Alex did. Cheerio Scholes of Manchester. True legend.
Another departs and the class of 92 is almost gone. Just Giggsy remains now. Thanks Paul Scholes for all the goals and the 40 yard passes. Thanks for being the bane of Man City. Thanks for quitting the England squad, when that clown Sven couldn’t fit you in your normal position. Most of all, thanks for being a United player and a good human being. Take note Rooney. He scores goals……
fuck it.. My idol is gone.. this is what i was fearing whole season and it happened
fuck it, i cant take it..i just cant
England’s midfield should have been made up of Scholes and Hargreaves, with Gerrard occasionally playing as an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1 formation. Then England would have won things.
A real trow back, probably the classiest and most dedicated player i saw in an Utd Shirt, we all new this day was coming, but it feels surreal its as if he died, a truly sad day. Paul Scholes 1991-2011 (the second best utd midfielder ever)
Irreplaceable
Saad @ 10:45
Very accurate post , but you should have add Pirlo to that equation too
Zinedine Zidane – “If i have any regret in my life then its i didnt had a chance in my carrer to play alongside him”
“Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.” Socrates
“Paul Scholes retires .. One of the best players I’ve seen in my life! Training was a sight! It was a pleasure playing with him!” Gerard Pique
What a fantastic player scholes was he will be missed. United legend…he scores goal galore
Hi,
Thank you to the Ginger Prince. It´s been a pleasure watching you and a privelege to have had you wear a United shirt.
There is never better praise than from your peers. Roy Keane puts it beautifully, for me.
How are we ever going to replace him?
COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS…………..UNITED WE STAND
Thanks for all the memories SCHOLESY!!! You will be sourly missed…. however All the Best for your future endeavors in life!!!!
I guess its a good time to see this again… :’(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKFuBWky3xU
Even scholes is gone, one of our best lost forever. i already miss you scholes.
Gary Neville was having a piss one day, 45 yards away by a fence. Scholes whacked him right in the arse.” – Alex Ferguson
Absolute genius!!
The best evidence of Paul Scholes’ greatness can be seen from the fact that almost every budding footballer wants to do what he does. I speak from experience, however lame this might sound coming from a commoner’s mouth. Be it spraying the ball long to the wings, splitting the opposition defense with an unstoppable pass or drilling the ball into the back of the net from distance. Ah, sweet dreams are made of these.
We will never forget you Ginger Ninja. You were the reason I started watching football. Manchester United is a poorer club without you. The greatest midfielder that ever lived.
18=number_of_the_LEGEND. Surely we will retire it now?
Sad, sad day for football. Can’t really believe it…
Nice piece about Scholesy on Phil Mcnulty’s blog calling him a true great!:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/05/the_cause_was_a_losing.html
Also have a look at this amusing piece about the reason for him retiring!
http://newsthump.com/2011/05/31/paul-scholes-calls-time-on-attempting-to-learn-how-to-tackle/
True legend!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-x0DZwoiE&feature=related
You will always be remembered! Stand tall stand proud my ginger prince!! fookin sad!!
arghhhhhhh
Nice article, shame Goal.com decided to copy the idea and make it their own. Albeit it with not so many good quotes
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/05/31/2511609/undoubtedly-the-greatest-midfielder-of-his-generation-what
Never before has reading quotes given me goosebumps and brought a tear to my eye. LEGEND
My heart sank today when I saw the article… Paul Scholes’ game first showed me the beauty in football, not Becks’ crosses, not Ronaldo’s feints… I feel as I’ve lost a dear dear friend, our number 18 has been my ONLY favourite player since first sitting in front of the TV to watch a match consciously and I’ve long lost count of gasps / standing ovations I’ve done by myself (I’m surrounded by Scouse/Rent lost souls) watching him. I’ll miss you dearly Ginger Ninja, football has lost its most shining example of the way the game should be played and respected
i am gutted! you cant replace the irreplaceable. thank you Paul Scholes.
Unbelievable it feels like Ive lost three european cup finals this week, first Wembley then the double wammy of NO MORE SCHOLES.
If other players are considered legends then Paul Scholes is legender!
U made me a Red Devil,will greatly miss you
legendEST!
LEGEND he was man of the match on sat by a mile for us the other useless fuckers should take notice now he is coach
Part of me died today
Each and every accolade aimed at Scholes is not enough praise.Because he didn’t seek the limelight he was over-looked for Player of the Year etc.But each of us here know his value.
Scholes gave his soul to United and none of us could ask for more than that.
Enjoy the coaching Paul,perhaps one day someone may come along and be worthy of the shirt 18 you wore with pride and distinction.Until that day a big big void is in my heart.
Pure Legend, Ole got a banner we should make one for Scholes, maybe a goodbye 18 in reference to him and the 18 titles too….
he made the game look easy!!
He made passing look easy, shooting look easy, mistiming tackles look easy
At the end of the day no superlatives can describe the talent that is Paul Scholes!!
“Paul Scholes is an amazingly gifted footballer who has remained an unaffected human being.” – This can be said about no other footballer. Maybe this is His greatest achievement.
Probably the best thing that Scholesey ever did was quitting England. Showed everyone out there that United > England.
Fucked up Sven, failing to play Scholes instead of Gerrard AND Lampard.
They wouldn’t get a sniff when Scholes’ around.
I ask my dad who is the best player you ever saw easy Big Duncan.When I get to to my dads age and people ask me its a no brainer its not just his skill as a player but his working class ethic no fuss this is a man who is so far removed from the glitz and glamour of todays footballing world its unreal.I count myself lucky to have seen scholes play and knew how good he was thanks for the memories
Here is my quote for Paul Scholes -
“Who says nobody is perfect, PAUL SCHOLES is.”
- Che.
Dear Mr. Scholes, you deserve all the praise written by fellow footballers and fans, from my part I enjoyed every game that you played in and football in general will be missing your natural talent.
GOOD LUCK in your new role, and thank you for remaining at Man Utd throughout your career.
Paul Scholes – PURE and APPLIED!!!!!
Great post and comments glad he came back. Ma idol for real wake him up at 3.30 in morning and ask him to play that 50 yards pass on right wing to valencia and he will pass wit his eyes closed and most important thing isthough gifted player but remain away from limelight
After having watched Davide Petrucci this season for the reserves there’s no doubt in my mind this kid has what it takes to make it @ United. He’s got everything! He’s been tremendous this season after his injury hell last season. He oozes class this lad. Just like Scholes, he bosses things in midfield, can pick a pass..long or short, can score goals, find space etc and just makes the game look bloody easy at times. Who agrees with me that Petrucci has a big future in the game and hopefully that’ll be for United?
One of the best players ever.
Can control a game like no other. But sven still decided to play him wide left for England. Maybe if he had been central he would not have retired and the 2 world cups since may have been more successful.