Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes (born 16 November 1974) is an English former football pundit, coach and player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Scholes spent his entire professional playing career with Manchester United, scoring over 150 goals in more than 700 appearances between 1993 and 2013.

Scholes won 25 trophies, including 11 Premier League titles, more than any other English player, three FA Cups and two UEFA Champions League titles. He is known for his technical skills, accurate passing, intelligent movement, powerful shooting from long range and goal-scoring ability.

He came through the Manchester United academy as one of Fergie's Fledglings, a group of players recruited by the club under the management of Alex Ferguson. Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships.

Early life

Paul Scholes was born on 16 November 1974 in Salford, Greater Manchester. His family moved to Langley, Greater Manchester when he was very young. He went to St Mary's RC Primary School in Langley and played football for a local team called Langley Furrow. Scholes was also good at cricket. When he was 14, he started training with Manchester United. He later joined their youth team after finishing at Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton. Near the end of his school years, he played for the Great Britain National Schools football team.

Club career

Manchester United

1993–1999

Scholes was part of the Manchester United youth team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in the 1992–93 season, along with Phil Neville. He turned professional in 1993 but didn’t join the main team until the 1994–95 season, where he played seventeen games and scored five goals.

He first played for United on 21 September 1994, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win over Port Vale in the League Cup. He also scored important goals in the league that season. In the 1995–96 season, Scholes got more chances to play as a main player and helped United win important titles. He continued to be a key player in the 1997–98 season, and was very important in United’s big wins in the 1998–99 season, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.

1999–2007

During the 1999–2000 season, Scholes scored some amazing goals, including a hat-trick against West Ham United. In the 2001–02 season, he played in different positions to help the team.

Scholes scored a lot of goals in the 2002–03 season and helped United win the 2003–04 FA Cup semi-final and final. In the 2005–06 season, he missed some time because of health issues but came back to play.

2007–2011

Scholes hurt his knee in 2007 but came back in 2008 and helped United reach the Champions League final. He continued to play well and scored important goals. In 2011, he decided to stop playing and joined the coaching staff.

2012–2013

Scholes decided to start playing again in 2012 and helped United win important games. He played his last game in 2013 and then retired for the second time.

Royton Town

In 2018, at age 43, Scholes briefly played for his son Arron’s team, Royton Town. They played a few matches, but Scholes didn’t stay long.

International career

Paul Scholes played for England's youth teams and scored a goal in his first match in 1993. He helped England win the under-18 championship that year.

Scholes made his first appearance for the senior England team in 1997. He scored his first goal in his second match and was part of the team for the 1998 World Cup. He continued to play for England, scoring important goals in several matches. However, he stopped playing for England in 2004 to focus on his family and his club, Manchester United. Later, he was asked to return but chose to stay with his family instead.

Player profile

Paul Scholes was known for his great skills with the ball. He could pass accurately, move intelligently, and shoot powerfully from far away. Though he started as a forward, he became a skilled player who could fit into many midfield roles because of his stamina, vision, and strong sense of where to be on the field. Scholes was good at reading the game and controlling its pace, whether playing deep or further up.

Scholes wasn't known for his speed or dribbling, but he stayed calm under pressure and made smart decisions. Some people thought his tackling could be rough, but many admired his overall playing ability. Fellow players and coaches often praised Scholes, calling him one of the best midfielders of his time. They loved watching him pass the ball and control the game.

Football ownership and coaching career

In 2014, Paul Scholes joined some of his old teammates from Manchester United to buy a smaller team called Salford City. They wanted to help the team grow. Later, they sold part of the team to a rich person named Peter Lim.

After helping with coaching at Manchester United for a little while, Scholes and another teammate, Phil Neville, took charge of Salford City for one game in 2015. In 2017, Scholes traveled to Vietnam to help train young players.

In 2019, Scholes became the manager of another team, Oldham Athletic, but he left after only a few games because he didn’t feel it was the right fit. Later in 2020, he stepped in to help Salford City again for a short time until a new coach was found.

Outside football

In July 2014, Scholes began working as a sports commentator. He signed a deal with BT Sport and also appeared on ITV for special matches. He had previously worked with Sky Sports during the 2013–14 season. In August of that year, he started writing for The Independent. People liked his honest and direct way of talking about the game.

In October 2025, Scholes decided to stop commentating to better support his 20-year-old son, who has autism.

Scholes also worked with EA Sports on their FIFA video game series. He was on the cover of the international edition of FIFA 2001, and was included in the Ultimate Team Legends for FIFA 17.

He supported sportswear company Nike and appeared in their ads. In a big Nike campaign before the 2002 World Cup, he starred in a commercial called "Secret Tournament" alongside famous players like Thierry Henry, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho.

Together with other players from the 1992 FA Youth Cup, Scholes suggested starting a university in Greater Manchester called University Academy 92. This university would offer different kinds of courses for students who might not usually go to college.

Personal life

Paul Scholes had some health challenges, like asthma and a knee condition that often affects young athletes. He married his childhood friend, Claire, in 1999 in Wales. They lived in a village in Greater Manchester and had three children together. One of their sons has autism. In 2020, Paul and Claire separated but continued to share care for their children.

Scholes was known for preferring a simple life away from the spotlight. He enjoyed spending time with his family and often said he didn’t care much for the famous lifestyle that comes with professional sports. Even after retiring, people respected his focus on just doing his job well.

Career statistics

Club

International

England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Scholes goal

Managerial statistics

As of 4 November 2020

Honours

Paul Scholes won many important awards during his time with Manchester United. He helped the team win the Premier League many times and also won the FA Cup, the Football League Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. He was also recognized for his great skills with awards like the Premier League Player of the Month and a place in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Scholes also achieved success with the England U18 team, winning the UEFA European Under-18 Championship. He received several individual honors, including the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award and the FWA Tribute Award.