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Paul Scholes
| Category: | Male Player |
| Year Inducted: | 2008 |
Profile by Robert Galvin, the author of Football's Greatest Heroes, the official book of the National Football Museum Hall of Fame:
Paul Scholes has quietly and unobtrusively gone about the business of establishing himself as one of the most highly rated players of the Premier League era, garnering fulsome plaudits from team-mates and opponents for his all-round ability.
A graduate of the Manchester United youth system and a loyal one-club man, the Salford-born midfielder made a vital contribution in bringing the Champions League trophy back to Old Trafford in 1999. Nine years later, in the same competition, Scholes was reportedly the first name on the United team-sheet for the final against Chelsea in Moscow. In between times, he was once described by Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘our best player'.
With England, Scholes amassed 66 caps, between 1997 and 2004, when he announced his retirement at international level. Glenn Hoddle, who handed him his England debut, said: ‘He thinks quickly, he's mobile, versatile and always looking for space. The guy oozes confidence.' It is a measure of his value that successive England managers have tried to persuade him to change his mind. Each time, however, the diminutive and determined Scholes has refused to budge. England's loss, of course, has been Manchester United's gain.
France international Patrick Vieira, a combative opponent in many heated tussles with rivals Arsenal, often nominated Scholes as ‘the best passer in English football', a theme echoed by Sir Bobby Charlton , who once said: ‘Paul is always so in control and pin-point accurate with his passing - a beautiful player to watch.'
His ability to read and then break up the opposition's pattern of play once prompted Sir Alex to describe Scholes as ‘a right nuisance'. Courageous, too. When he had to put his foot in, he was ‘tough and resilient', a player who never shirks a tackle, said Roy Keane, his long-time midfield partner.
Going forward, Scholes was once described by his manager as ‘the best finisher in the club'. In recent seasons, the outstanding range of his contribution was highlighted when he adapted with aplomb - and without fuss - to a deeper, more defensive role in midfield.
A member of youth side that included David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Phil and Gary, Scholes was compared to Kenny Dalglish by Eric Harrison, the youth coach. ‘It's just like watching Dalglish in his prime,' Harrison once said. ‘Paul can score any sort of goal with his craft, intelligence, vision and the vital acceleration over five yards.' Sir Alex once said: ‘He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here.'
An introvert who shuns publicity and rejects the celebrity lifestyle, Scholes is relentless in his pursuit of excellence. Early on, when learning his trade, and for all his abundant natural ability, he was invariably the last to leave the training ground, according to Harrison, who described the youngster as ‘a coach's dream'. His enthusiasm has never waned. In a rare interview recently, the introverted Scholes spoke about how much he would miss playing football when it finally came time to hang up his boots. The same can't be said, though, for all the ‘celebrity' razzamatazz that now comes with it. ‘No, I won't miss that side of it at all,' he said bluntly.
The rewards for all that hard work and sacrifice over the years have been many. Since making his debut in 1995-96, Scholes has amassed eight Premier League winners' medals, three FA Cup and one League Cup gongs. Though listed by UEFA as a Champions League winner, Scholes suffered the disappointment of missing the final against Bayern Munich in 1999 because of suspension. When, nine years later, the chance came to put the record straight, he took full advantage. In the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona, it was Scholes who scored the decisive goal at Old Trafford with a trademark strike from distance. Sir Bobby Charlton was watching from his seat in the stand. ‘Only Paul can score that kind of goal from that distance, smashing a shot from long-range into the top corner like that. It was really wonderful,' Sir Bobby said.
Typically, Scholes slipped away afterwards without doing any interviews. That task was left to team-mate Michael Carrick. ‘We turned around and he just wasn't there. That's just the way he is. He is a superb player, perhaps not as appreciated as he should be. But he is a legend, isn't he? And he's going to be remembered for a long time. I think he is a footballer's footballer. He's been at this level for so long. As long as he is part of us we always feel we have a chance.'
After watching Manchester United defeat Chelsea on penalties in the final, Mark Lawrenson, a member of the Hall of Fame Selection Panel, reflected: ‘Of all the match-winning players - like Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo in this United side - Paul Scholes would always be the first name on my team-sheet.'