goodbye scholesy

“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance” - Marcello Lippi


" Paul Scholes is the greatest player in the club's history." - Dwight Yorke


 "There isn’t a player of his mould anywhere else in the world." - Glenn Hoddle


 "I'm more an admirer of Paul Scholes than I am of Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a fantastic player, but he has 10 other great players around him every week...Scholes is one of the most complete footballers I've ever seen. His one-touch play is phenomenal. Whenever I have played against him, I never felt I could get close to him." - Eidur Gudjohnsen


"Every one of us (midfielders) is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes." - Edgar Davids.


"I really rate Paul Scholes, because he hasn't got the high profile of many of the Manchester United players, he doesn't get too much attention, but he is one very good player. He is an intelligent player, he works hard and he scores some great goals. He is not flamboyant and is a quiet lad off the pitch but he is a tremendous asset to Manchester United and to England. He has already got my vote as player of the year." - Tony Adams


"He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League." - Cesc Fabregas


"The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes." - Patrick Vieira


"I can't understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it's because he doesn't seek the limelight like some of the other 'stars'." - Thierry Henry


"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder." - Zinedine Zidane


"There is not a better midfield player in the world." - Sam Allerdyce


"What United have got that Chelsea haven't is Paul Scholes. I think he is different to anything else in English football." - Kevin Keegan


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 : "He's always one of those people others talk about. Even playing at Real Madrid, the players always say to me 'what's he like'? They respect him as a footballer, and to have that respect from some of those players is great."

Paul Scholes.

676 Manchester United appearances, 150 goals.

66 England caps, 14 goals

Premier League winners : 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

FA Cup winners : 1996, 1999, 2004

Champions League : 2008

League Cup : 2009, 2010

PFA Team of the Year : 2003, 2007

18th highest scorer in Premier League history - 102 goals

4th most booked player in Premiership history - 87 times