51 Facts About Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes was born on 16 November 1974 and is an English football coach, pundit, former player, and co-owner of Salford City.

Paul Scholes spent his entire professional playing career with Manchester United, for whom he scored over 150 goals in more than 700 appearances between 1993 and 2013.

Paul Scholes is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and one of the greatest Manchester United players of all time.

Paul Scholes went on to make 718 appearances for the club, the third-highest number of appearances by any player for the club.

Paul Scholes announced his retirement from playing in May 2011 and was appointed as a coach at Manchester United.

Paul Scholes returned to playing in January 2012, and played one more season for the club before retiring again in May 2013.

Paul Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments.

Paul Scholes announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, citing his family life and his club career with Manchester United as being more important.

Paul Scholes attended the St Mary's RC Primary School in Langley.

Paul Scholes later joined as a trainee upon leaving the Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton during the summer of 1991.

Paul Scholes came close to scoring twice late in the game, only to be foiled by Neville Southall both times.

Paul Scholes scored 14 goals in all competitions as United became the first English team to win the double twice.

Paul Scholes scored one of Manchester United's two goals against Newcastle in the FA Cup final.

Paul Scholes scored an away goal against Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-final.

Paul Scholes came on as a substitute in the second leg of the semi-final against Juventus as Sir Alex Ferguson opted for Nicky Butt in the starting line up.

Paul Scholes picked up a yellow card which ruled him out of the final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension.

David Beckham took a corner directly to Paul Scholes, who was standing on the edge of the area, who volleyed it in over Dwight Yorke, who was forced to duck.

In European away fixtures, Paul Scholes was often played in central midfield alongside Veron as Keane anchored.

Paul Scholes played in the 2005 FA Cup Final, but saw his penalty saved by Jens Lehmann as they lost to Arsenal in a penalty shootout.

Paul Scholes overcame this problem through the beginning of the year and he appeared in United's final game of the season against Charlton Athletic.

Paul Scholes suffered knee ligament damage during a training session the night before United's Champions League Group F match with Dynamo Kyiv on 23 October 2007, and was out of action until the end of January 2008.

Paul Scholes was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in September 2008.

Paul Scholes announced his retirement on 31 May 2011, with immediate effect, and joined the coaching staff at Old Trafford.

Since the number 18 shirt had been given to Ashley Young, Paul Scholes wore the number 22 shirt.

On 30 May, Paul Scholes signed a one-year extension with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until summer 2013.

On 11 May 2013, Paul Scholes announced that he would make his second and final retirement from football at the end of the season.

Paul Scholes made his 499th and final professional league appearance on 19 May 2013 against West Bromwich Albion as a substitute.

On 27 March 1999, Paul Scholes managed a hat-trick for England in a game against Poland.

Immediately prior to Euro 2004 Paul Scholes was played out of position on the left midfield to accommodate the pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in central midfield, starting on the left for the last five matches of his international career.

Paul Scholes announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, citing his family life and his club career with Manchester United as being more important.

On 7 June 2010, Paul Scholes stated that if Capello had given him more time and asked earlier, he would have probably taken the opportunity.

On 27 July 2010, Paul Scholes expressed his disappointment in not taking the opportunity to play at another World Cup, saying he may have made a mistake.

You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Paul Scholes is as close to it as you can get.

Paul Scholes was highly regarded for his technical skills, and renowned for his accurate passing, intelligent movement and powerful shooting from long range.

Paul Scholes was renowned for his late attacking runs and ability to combine with teammates, as well as an excellent capacity to read the game and control the tempo of play, which enabled him to function in a deep-seated creative role as well as in a box-to-box role in the centre of the pitch; he played in the centre for much of the earlier part of his career, while he was instead deployed in a deeper role in the later part of his career.

Paul Scholes possessed an extraordinary range of passing and frequently initiated dangerous attacking plays after winning back possession.

Paul Scholes was used in a more advanced creative role on occasion, as a deep-lying forward behind an out-and-out striker.

Paul Scholes received frequent criticism for his discipline, particularly regarding his tackling, which was questioned as frequently inept by multiple pundits, fans and Paul Scholes himself.

Paul Scholes has been criticised for his disciplinary record, amassing the fifth-most yellow cards in Premier League history with 97, and receiving four red cards.

Paul Scholes has been booked 32 times in the Champions League, surpassed only by Sergio Ramos.

On 11 February 2019, Paul Scholes was appointed as manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic, having been cleared to take the position by the English Football League in light of his ownership of Salford City.

On 12 October 2020, Paul Scholes was appointed interim head coach of Salford City, following the departure of Graham Alexander.

Paul Scholes left the role on 4 November 2020, following the permanent appointment of Richie Wellens to the post.

In July 2014, Paul Scholes became a pundit after signing a four-year deal with BT Sport.

Paul Scholes would be featuring on ITV's coverage of Champions League and England internationals.

Paul Scholes has been praised for his passionate and no nonsense style of punditry.

Paul Scholes featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series; he was on the cover for the international edition of FIFA 2001, and was named in the Ultimate Team Legends for FIFA 17.

Paul Scholes has endorsed sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials.

Paul Scholes married his childhood sweetheart, Claire, in Wrexham, Wales, in February 1999.

Roy Keane once highlighted that Paul Scholes did not like the "celebrity bullshit" side of professional sports.

Paul Scholes has always liked a quiet life outside of football.