Paul Scholes
Scholes was born in Salford and grew up as
an Oldham Athletic supporter, but has trained with Manchester United
since the age of 14. He then later joined as a trainee upon leaving the
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School, Middleton, Greater
Manchester in the summer of 1991.
Contrary to popular belief, he was not a member of Manchester United's
1992 FA Youth Cup-winning squad, but he was part of the youth team that
reached the final in the following season. Scholes turned professional
on 23 July 1993, but 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. His debut for the senior squad came
on 21 September 1994, where he scored twice in a 3-2 victory over Port
Vale in the League Cup. The 20-year-old Scholes proved himself to be a
promising understudy for the likes of Eric Cantona (who was banned for
eight months after 25 January for assaulting a spectator against
Crystal Palace) and Andy Cole (who was cup-tied for United's FA Cup
games). Scholes came on as a substitute in the FA Cup final against
Everton, and came close to scoring on two occasions late in the game,
but Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall foiled his shots and United
lost the game 1-0.
In 1995-96, after fellow striker Mark Hughes moved to Chelsea, Scholes
had even more first-team opportunities. He stood in for the suspended
Eric Cantona as Andrew Cole's strike-partner for the first two months
of the campaign, and even after Cantona's comeback there were still
plenty of first team opportunities for Scholes, who scored 14 goals in
all competitions as United became the first English team to win The
double twice.
Scholes picked up another league title medal in 1996-97, but was restricted to just 16 league games 3 goals.
Scholes reinvented himself somewhat from a striker to that of a
midfielder and forward attacker, featuring in midfield during the
1997-98 after Roy Keane suffered a knee injury in late September and
did not play again that season. United finished the season without a
major trophy, only the second time in the 1990s that this happened.
In 1998–99, Scholes was a key player in Manchester United's Premiership
title, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League "Treble" success. He scored
one of United's two goals against Newcastle in the FA Cup final. He
also scored a vital away goal at the San Siro against Inter Milan in
the quarter-final of the Champions League, but was ruled out of the
final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension.
Established player
During the 2002–03 season, Scholes netted 20 goals in all competitions,
including a hat-trick away to Newcastle United and a 25 yard strike off
the underside of the bar against Everton.
In 14 years as a first team player at Manchester United, Scholes has
won eight Premiership titles, three FA Cups, two UEFA Champions League
titles, and an Intercontinental Cup, amongst many other personal
achievements. As of 30 April 2008, he has scored 139 goals for
Manchester United in his club career.
Unlike other modern footballers, Scholes does not have an agent and
negotiates deals on his own behalf. He rarely gives interviews or
accepts advertising contracts.
David Beckham said that, among his teammates at Real Madrid, which
included Zinedine Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo, Luís Figo and Roberto Carlos,
Scholes was the most admired opponent, while Micah Richards called
Scholes his "favourite player of all time".
Duncan Drasdo, head of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust, said,
"As much as we love Cristiano Ronaldo, you don't get the same kind of
connection as you do with Paul Scholes."
Recent years
Since retiring from international football, Scholes has been able to
concentrate on his club career. However, he was ruled out for the
second half of the 2005–06 season with blurred vision. The cause of
this was initially uncertain, sparking fears that it could end his
career.He overcame this problem through the beginning of the year and
he appeared in United's final game of the 2005–06 season, against
Charlton Athletic. Reportedly, Scholes' vision has not completely
recovered.
On 22 October 2006, in the 2-0 Premiership victory over Liverpool at
Old Trafford, twelve years after marking his Red Devils début with a
League Cup brace against Port Vale, Scholes became the ninth United
player to reach the 500th appearance landmark, following the likes of
Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Denis Irwin and current team-mates
Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Scholes was voted Man of the Match and
gave a rare interview after the game.
Inspired goalscoring form during late 2006 and early 2007 saw players
from rival Premiership teams tip Scholes to be named Footballer of the
Year. Thierry Henry and Cesc Fàbregas of Arsenal, and Luis García of
Liverpool, all said he was the player that they most admired. Many
commentators have said that Scholes was their personal player of the
year, over the high scoring Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba,
although he eventually finished third behind these two, with Ronaldo
claiming the top prize. He also made it into the PFA Team of the year
alongside 7 of his fellow team-mates. In one edition of Match Of The
Day Lee Dixon claimed that Scholes was the best footballer in the
Premiership.
Scholes was dismissed by referee Martin Atkinson, during Manchester
United's 1-0 victory over Liverpool F.C. at Anfield on 3 March 2007,
for swinging an arm at Xabi Alonso. It marked the first time he has
been sent off in the league since Manchester United lost 1-0 to Everton
FC in April 2005. He missed the next three domestic games. The loss of
Scholes was described by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as
"a disappointment." A month later he was sent off in the first leg of
United's Champions League quarter final at A.S. Roma. On 13 May 2007,
four seasons after Manchester United's last league championship,
Scholes won his 7th Premiership title.
Scholes scored his first goal of the 2007-08 campaign in United's
second game of the season away to Portsmouth. Following the 0-0 draw
against Reading at Old Trafford, this was Manchester United's first
goal of their extremely successful 2007-2008 season, ending in the
European Double, consisting of the FA Premier League and the UEFA
Champions League. On 23 August 2007, Scholes was shortlisted for a
place in the National Football Museum Hall of Fame 2007. Viewers of
BBC's Football Focus on 1 September 2007, however, ultimately voted for
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
In his autobiography, Sir Bobby Charlton wrote that he believed that
Scholes was the one player still playing who truly epitomised the
spirit of Manchester United and what is great about football.[citation
needed]
Scholes was ruled out of action until the end of January 2008, after
scan results showed he had suffered knee ligament damage. He sustained
the injury after turning awkwardly in training the night before
United's Champions League Group F clash with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday 23
October 2007. Scholes made his long awaited return coming on as a
substitute in United's 3-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth
round of the FA Cup, in which he had a notable "first pass".After a
slow start following his return from injury, Scholes earned Man of the
Match performances against Liverpool and Aston Villa.
On 23 April 2008, Scholes completed his 100th UEFA Champions League
appearance in a semi-final, 1st leg 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou versus
Barcelona. In the 2nd leg, on 23 April, Scholes scored the only goal in
a 1-0 victory in the 14th minute, giving United a place in the 2008
UEFA Champions League Final. Manchester United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson stated immediately that Scholes would start the final of the
2008 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea, which United won on
penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Scholes himself received a
blood injury, and yellow card, early on after a clash with Claude
Makélélé, but returned to play a significant part in the match until
his substitution by Ryan Giggs in the 87th minute. Scholes is also the
only midfielder to score two hat-tricks, one against Newcastle United
F.C. and one against West Ham United, in the history of the Premier
League.[citation needed]
Scholes was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in
September 2008, alongside former club and international teammate David
Beckham.
|
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 02 November 2008 12:10 |
Add comment
|
|
Partners
Watch ManUtd with Cable HD TV
|
Information 
