Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes (born November 16, 1974, in Oldham) is an English football player who has spent almost his whole career at Manchester United.

Related Topics:
November 16 - 1974 - Oldham - English - Football - Manchester United

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With his distinctive head of ginger hair (he is nicknamed "The Ginger Ninja"), Paul Scholes is one of the most influential players for his club. He is an attacking midfielder par excellence. He scores vital goals at vital times, and he times his runs into the box as well as any midfielder playing the game today. Fans have been known to chant "He's Paul Scholes, he scores goals" in matches.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Salford-born Scholes joined Manchester United as a trainee on leaving school in the summer of 1991 and in his first season guided the club to victory in the F.A Youth Cup. But he did not make his breakthrough into the Old Trafford team until the 1994-95 season, when he made 17 league appearances and scored five goals. The 20-year-old Scholes proved himself to be a promising understudy for the likes of Eric Cantona and Andy Cole. In the F.A. Cup final he twice came close to scoring goals which would have seen United and not Everton win the F.A Cup.

Related Topics:
Old Trafford - Eric Cantona - Andy Cole - F.A. Cup - Everton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Scholes was unable to secure a regular first team place until the 1997-98 season, when he played in midfield after the ninth game when Roy Keane was ruled out by injury. He had already made his England debut the previous summer in a 3-1 friendly win over South Africa at Old Trafford, and was part of the England squad for the 1998 World Cup.

Related Topics:
Roy Keane - South Africa - 1998 World Cup

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1998-99, Scholes was a key player in Manchester United's Premiership title/F.A Cup/UEFA Champions League treble success. He scored one of United's two goals against Newcastle in the F.A Cup final but was ruled out of the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension, brought about by a yellow card received in the semi-final away tie against Juventus.

Related Topics:
Premiership - UEFA Champions League - Newcastle - Bayern Munich - Juventus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since then, Paul Scholes has established himself as an excellent midfielder at both club and international levels but announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, claiming that club football was of the utmost priority and that he vowed to excel with the team that had seen the highs and lows of English football with him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In ten years as a first team player at Manchester United, Paul Scholes has won six Premiership titles, three F.A Cups and one European Cup. Now aged 30, he still has a good few years left at the top and will surely add more medals to his already impressive collection after agreeing a two year extension to his current contract which will keep him at the club until 2009. The little fuss involved in the deal highlighted the humility of the man, widely appreciated by all United fans.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~