Description 
Paul Scholes (born 16 November 1974) is an English football coach, pundit, former player, and co-owner of Salford City. He 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. He 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 widely regarded as one of the best midfielders ever and one of the greatest Manchester United players of all-time, renowned for his technical skills, accurate passing, intelligent movement, powerful shooting from long range and goal-scoring ability.
Scholes 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. He made his full debut in the 1994–95 season. He went on to make 718 appearances for the club, the third-highest number of appearances by any player. He announced his retirement from playing in May 2011 and was appointed as a coach at Manchester United. He returned to playing in January 2012, and played one more season for the club before retiring again in May 2013.
Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2000 and 2004 UEFA European Championships. He announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, citing his family life and his club career with Manchester United as being more important.
Scholes' first managerial position was at Oldham Athletic, for 31 days in February and March 2019. In 2020, he had a short spell as interim manager of Salford City.
Scholes made four appearances for the England national under-18 team, scoring one goal, all of which came in 1993. He scored from a penalty kick on his debut for the team on 30 March 1993 in a 4–2 win over Denmark in a friendly at the Victoria Ground. He was part of the England team that won the 1993 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, which was hosted in England. Scholes played in three of England's four matches at the tournament, including the final on 25 July in which England beat Turkey 1–0 at the City Ground.
Scholes made his debut for the England senior team on 24 May 1997 as a 63rd-minute substitute against South Africa in a 2–1 win at Old Trafford in a friendly. He scored his first goal for England on his full debt on his second appearance, in a 2–0 win over Italy on 4 June at the Stade de la Beaujoire in the 1997 Tournoi de France. He was included in the England squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. England were grouped with Colombia, Tunisia and Romania. During England's first World Cup group match against Tunisia, Scholes sealed a 2–0 victory with a goal late in the game.
His international career continued after England's elimination from the World Cup by Argentina after a penalty shoot-out in the first knock-out round. On 27 March 1999, Scholes managed a hat-trick for England in a game against Poland. In addition, Scholes scored both goals in England's 2–0 win at Hampden Park over Scotland in the UEFA Euro 2000 play-off first leg, sealing a 2–1 aggregate win and qualification for the finals tournament. In a qualifier against Sweden that June, Scholes became the first and last England player to be sent off in an international match at the old Wembley Stadium.
With the turn of the century, Scholes became a prominent player in England's midfield, becoming a first-choice selection for the 2002 World Cup. Immediately prior to Euro 2004, however, 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. 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.
Following the departure of England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson in 2006, there was speculation regarding Scholes making himself available for international duty again under new manager Steve McClaren. In October 2006, McClaren said that he had personally asked Scholes twice to rejoin England, but Scholes declined. In May 2010, McClaren's successor Fabio Capello approached Scholes about a return to international football in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, but Scholes again rejected the offer, saying he would prefer to spend time with his family. On 7 June 2010, Scholes stated that if Capello had given him more time and asked earlier, he would have probably taken the opportunity. On 27 July, Scholes expressed his disappointment in not taking the opportunity to play at another World Cup, saying he may have made a mistake.
Scholes is asthmatic, and suffered from Osgood–Schlatter disease (a knee condition that affects young athletes). He married his childhood sweetheart, Claire (née Froggatt), in Wrexham, Wales, in February 1999. They live in the village of Grasscroft in Greater Manchester, and have a daughter and two sons, the younger of whom has autism.
His off-field personality is said by some to be in stark contrast to the attitude of the stereotypical professional footballer. Roy Keane once highlighted that Scholes did not like the "celebrity bullshit" side of professional sports. With regard to his shunning of celebrity, and instead keeping to his intention to solely focus on doing his job ("a professional footballer"), Keane applauded Scholes after his retirement.
Scholes is known to enjoy betting on football. In June 2019, he was fined and warned over his future conduct by The Football Association (FA) after placing bets worth £26,159 on matches during his time as a director of Salford City. At a tribunal, he was found to have placed 140 bets over three and a half years, in contravention of the FA's gambling rules. The FA fined Scholes £8,000 and asked him to contribute to the costs of the tribunal.
In an interview given before Euro 2004, Scholes described his ideal day as "train in the morning, pick up my children from school, play with them, have tea, put them to bed and then watch a bit of TV".
Trophies 
English Premier League…
 2022 | 
English Premier League
2012-2013 |
English Premier League
2010-2011 | 
English FA Community…
2010 | |
Milestones
English Premier League 2…
2000-09-09 |
Former Youth Teams
1991-1993 |
Former Senior Teams
1994-2013 |
1997-2004 |
Former Club Staff
2014-2014
Assistant Manager |
2019-2019
Manager |
2020-2020
Caretaker Manager |
Contracts Fanart
Player PosterBanner
News Reports None found...
Collections None found...
Statistics
| Assists | English Premier League | 2012-2013 | 1 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2012-2013 | 1 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2012-2013 | 761 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2012-2013 | 16 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2012-2013 | 110 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2012-2013 | 3 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2012-2013 | 124 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2012-2013 | 2 |
|
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| Mins Played | UEFA Europa League | 2011-2012 | 58 |
| Appearances | UEFA Europa League | 2011-2012 | 2 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2011-2012 | 4 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2011-2012 | 1168 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2011-2012 | 17 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2011-2012 | 106 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2011-2012 | 2 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2010-2011 | 4 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2010-2011 | 1 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2010-2011 | 1536 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2010-2011 | 22 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2010-2011 | 172 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2010-2011 | 3 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2010-2011 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2010-2011 | 366 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2010-2011 | 7 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2010 | 80 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2010 | 1 |
|
|
| Goals | EFL Cup | 2009-2010 | 1 |
| Mins Played | EFL Cup | 2009-2010 | 93 |
| Appearances | EFL Cup | 2009-2010 | 2 |
| Assists | English Premier League | 2009-2010 | 4 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2009-2010 | 3 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2009-2010 | 1945 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2009-2010 | 28 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2009-2010 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2009-2010 | 3 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2009-2010 | 594 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2009-2010 | 7 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2009 | 45 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2009 | 1 |
|
|
| Mins Played | EFL Cup | 2008-2009 | 208 |
| Appearances | EFL Cup | 2008-2009 | 3 |
| Assists | English Premier League | 2008-2009 | 2 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2008-2009 | 2 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2008-2009 | 1268 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2008-2009 | 21 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 2008-2009 | 1 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2008-2009 | 143 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2008-2009 | 2 |
| Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 2008-2009 | 68 |
| Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 2008-2009 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2008-2009 | 229 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2008-2009 | 6 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Super Cup | 2008-2009 | 90 |
| Appearances | UEFA Super Cup | 2008-2009 | 1 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2008 | 120 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2008 | 1 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2007-2008 | 3 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2007-2008 | 1 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2007-2008 | 1841 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2007-2008 | 24 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2007-2008 | 134 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2007-2008 | 3 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2007-2008 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2007-2008 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2007-2008 | 588 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2007-2008 | 7 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2006-2007 | 1 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2006-2007 | 6 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2006-2007 | 2596 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2006-2007 | 30 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2006-2007 | 317 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2006-2007 | 4 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 3 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 828 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 11 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2005-2006 | 2 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2005-2006 | 2 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2005-2006 | 1616 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2005-2006 | 20 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 558 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 7 |
|
|
| Mins Played | EFL Cup | 2004-2005 | 119 |
| Appearances | EFL Cup | 2004-2005 | 2 |
| Assists | English Premier League | 2004-2005 | 4 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2004-2005 | 9 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2004-2005 | 2610 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2004-2005 | 33 |
| Assists | FA Cup | 2004-2005 | 3 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 2004-2005 | 3 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2004-2005 | 495 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2004-2005 | 6 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 609 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 7 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2004 | 74 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2004 | 1 |
| Assists | European Championships | 2004 | 1 |
| Goals | European Championships | 2004 | 1 |
| Mins Played | European Championships | 2004 | 813 |
| Appearances | European Championships | 2004 | 10 |
| Assists | International Friendlies | 2004 | 2 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2004 | 167 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 2004 | 3 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2003-2004 | 5 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2003-2004 | 9 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2003-2004 | 2190 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2003-2004 | 28 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 2003-2004 | 4 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2003-2004 | 522 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2003-2004 | 6 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 439 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 5 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2003 | 120 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2003 | 1 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2003 | 229 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 2003 | 4 |
|
|
| Goals | EFL Cup | 2002-2003 | 3 |
| Mins Played | EFL Cup | 2002-2003 | 412 |
| Appearances | EFL Cup | 2002-2003 | 6 |
| Assists | English Premier League | 2002-2003 | 4 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2002-2003 | 14 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2002-2003 | 2741 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2002-2003 | 33 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 2002-2003 | 1 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2002-2003 | 166 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2002-2003 | 3 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 2 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 2 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 764 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 10 |
|
|
| Assists | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 3 |
| Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 2 |
| Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 1119 |
| Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 13 |
| Assists | International Friendlies | 2002 | 2 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2002 | 213 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 2002 | 4 |
|
|
| Goals | English Premier League | 2001-2002 | 8 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2001-2002 | 2757 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2001-2002 | 35 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 2001-2002 | 180 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 2001-2002 | 2 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2001-2002 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2001-2002 | 1099 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2001-2002 | 13 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2001 | 90 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2001 | 1 |
| Goals | International Friendlies | 2001 | 1 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2001 | 221 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 2001 | 4 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 2000-2001 | 2 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 2000-2001 | 6 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 2000-2001 | 2449 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 2000-2001 | 32 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2000-2001 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2000-2001 | 6 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2000-2001 | 1045 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2000-2001 | 12 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 2000 | 90 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 2000 | 1 |
| Assists | European Championships | 2000 | 1 |
| Goals | European Championships | 2000 | 6 |
| Mins Played | European Championships | 2000 | 884 |
| Appearances | European Championships | 2000 | 11 |
| Assists | International Friendlies | 2000 | 1 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2000 | 399 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 2000 | 5 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 1999-2000 | 7 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 1999-2000 | 9 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1999-2000 | 2410 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1999-2000 | 31 |
| Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 1999-2000 | 75 |
| Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 1999-2000 | 1 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1999-2000 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1999-2000 | 3 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1999-2000 | 941 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1999-2000 | 11 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Super Cup | 1999-2000 | 90 |
| Appearances | UEFA Super Cup | 1999-2000 | 1 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 1999 | 90 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 1999 | 1 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1999 | 4 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 1999 | 1 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 1998-1999 | 8 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 1998-1999 | 6 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1998-1999 | 2137 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1998-1999 | 31 |
| Assists | FA Cup | 1998-1999 | 2 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 1998-1999 | 1 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 1998-1999 | 328 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 1998-1999 | 6 |
| Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 4 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 915 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 12 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 1998 | 70 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 1998 | 1 |
| Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 2 |
| Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 421 |
| Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 5 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1998 | 180 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 1998 | 2 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 1997-1998 | 4 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 1997-1998 | 8 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1997-1998 | 2443 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1997-1998 | 31 |
| Assists | FA Cup | 1997-1998 | 1 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 1997-1998 | 140 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 1997-1998 | 2 |
| Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1997-1998 | 2 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1997-1998 | 533 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1997-1998 | 7 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 1997 | 90 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 1997 | 1 |
| Goals | International Friendlies | 1997 | 2 |
| Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1997 | 267 |
| Appearances | International Friendlies | 1997 | 4 |
|
|
| Goals | English Premier League | 1996-1997 | 3 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1996-1997 | 1407 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1996-1997 | 24 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 1996-1997 | 2 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 1996-1997 | 180 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 1996-1997 | 2 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1996-1997 | 53 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1996-1997 | 4 |
|
|
| Mins Played | FA Community Shield | 1996 | 65 |
| Appearances | FA Community Shield | 1996 | 1 |
|
|
| Goals | EFL Cup | 1995-1996 | 2 |
| Mins Played | EFL Cup | 1995-1996 | 90 |
| Appearances | EFL Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| Assists | English Premier League | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 1995-1996 | 10 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1995-1996 | 1448 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1995-1996 | 26 |
| Goals | FA Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 1995-1996 | 26 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| Goals | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 136 |
| Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 2 |
|
|
| Assists | English Premier League | 1994-1995 | 2 |
| Goals | English Premier League | 1994-1995 | 5 |
| Mins Played | English Premier League | 1994-1995 | 792 |
| Appearances | English Premier League | 1994-1995 | 17 |
| Mins Played | FA Cup | 1994-1995 | 108 |
| Appearances | FA Cup | 1994-1995 | 2 |
| Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 34 |
| Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1994-1995 | 2 |
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