Paul Scholes

Birthplace: Manchester 16/11/74 - Position: Forward - Squad No: 18 - Appearances : 517 - Goals: 136 - International Caps: 59 - International Goals: 13

Scholes was signed as trainee at United in 1991 and had turned professional by 1993. Likewise he was a member of the 1992 FA Youth Cup winning team and made his first team leage debut at Ipswich in September 1994. Scholes' talents as a striker were soon earning him occasional starts in the United line-up by the time 1994-95 came around. The following season was when Scholes was really handed the responsibility of regular first team football. The suspension of Eric Cantona until October 1995 gave Scholes an extended run in the team and he was hugely impressesive, scoring nine goals in his first 12 games. Cantona's return limited his appearances and he eventually made only 18 starts in the league that season, but still managed 14 goals. The following season had a much happier ending, as United pipped Newcastle United to win their third Premier League title in four years, with Paul picking up his first major honour. To cap the season off he was in the starting line-up for the FA Cup final victory against Liverpool to complete a historic 'Double Double'. A full international, Scholes scored on his full international debut and his first international at Wembley. In 1997-98 Ferguson had no choice but to find room for Scholes in the middle of the park. There he proved not only his versatility as an accomplished attacking midfielder, but also that he can hold his own in a gritty midfield scrap, relentlessly snapping at the heels of opponents when not in possession. Paul played his part in the 1998 World Cup Finals, scoring in England's opening match against Tunisia, and starting all four of their games in the competition. In March 1999, Paul became the first player since Norman Whiteside in 1984 to score a competitive goal for Manchester United on Italian soil. He scored the Reds' equaliser in a 1-1 Champions League draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium. Later the same month, he went on to net all of England's goals at Wembley in a 3-1 win over Poland in a qualifying match for Euro 2000. In 1998-99 had a bitter sweet end for Scholes. In peak form as the campaign reached its exciting climax, his yellow-card offence in the European Cup semi final against Juventus ruled him out of the final. Despite his immense disappointment, he remained as one of the key players in England & Man.Utd squad. In Euro 2000, Scholes scored the fastest goal in the tournament against Portugal. Paul sat out the World Club Championships trip to Brazil in January 2000 to undergo a long-overdue hernia operation, a decision that was vindicated by the fact that he only missed one Premiership match. He bounced back to score seven goals in the second half of the season as the Reds marched to their sixth League title in eight years. 2000/2001 was business as usual for Paul, as he continued to be an England regular and picked up his fifth Premiership winners medal after making 44 appearances and scoring eleven goals. The best of those was the culmination of a 32-pass move against Champions League opponents Panathinaikos. He finished the season with 15 European Cup goals - one more than the long-time holder of the club record - Denis Law. Despite a disappointing season at club level, Paul joined David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Wes Brown in the England squad for the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. Scholesy had a quiet tournament by his high standards, but was still vital to the team in the centre of the park and England reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Brazil. Paul returned to Manchester and got to grips with his new position just behind Ruud for the Reds. After struggling in 2001/02, Scholesy proved what Fergie had known all along - that he can play as a support striker - by knocking in a career-best twenty goals. Just as Ruud came good in the title run-in, so Scholesy weighed in with six goals in six games - including a fabulous hat-trick away at Newcastle. Ruud took much of the credit for United's eighth Premiership title, but Paul Scholes' contribution cannot be overestimated. Paul played a major role in helping United to regain the Premiership title in 2002/2003. He is another centurion having scored 106 goals so far. He suffered more problems with a hernia and has had a second operation to put it right.
Since coming back from injury Paul has started scoring again. During a very poor season in 2004/2005 Paul decided to retire from International football and then had a very productive sequence of games where he scored a few vital goals. He has recently signed a 2 year extension to his contract. Paul started the 2006/07 season refreshed and better than ever. He has been the main reason for United reaching the top of the table and playing consistently brilliant football.