Man Utd Thread:

[AQMP]

Paul Scholes, one of the greatest midfielders the game has ever had has retired after an unbelievable career. Well done Paul. Great to see he is staying at the club to coach.

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes has retired from football.
The midfielder, 36, decided to hang up his boots after growing increasingly dissatisfied with his bit-part role.

Scholes — who scored 150 goals in 675 appearances — will take up a coaching role at United next season.

He said: "This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing.

"I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour.

"To have been part of the team that helped the Club reach that 19th title is a great privilege.

"I would like to thank the fans for their tremendous support throughout my career. I would also like to thank all the coaches and players that I have worked with over the years.

"But most of all I would like to thank Alex Ferguson for being such a great manager.

"From the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership."

The Red Devils have also announced Scholes will have a testimonial match at Old Trafford in August.

One of the best English players of the last 30 years.  Ten times the player Beckham ever was with a millionth of the exposure.  Will probably make a good coach.

[ExiledGael]

www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/may/31/paul-scholes-retires-video-tribute

Well worth a watch. Some of the passing at the end is stunning. Similar to Xavi in his peak and the most technically gifted English player I've seen.

[sammymaguire]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQXrMbArqSs

This says it all - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnJGTmN0GXw&feature=related

[Dinny Breen]

Super player and had that bit of dog in him as well.  Himself and Keane formed one of the great midfield partnerships of all time I would suggest, certainly I can think of none better in English league history.

[EC Unique]

SAF: "One of the greatest football brains Manchester United has ever had."

Roy Keane: "No celebrity bullshit, no self promotion - an amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being."

Sir Bobby Charlton: "I love watching little Paul Scholes, he's so in control of what he's doing and is always so accurate and pinpoint with his passing – it's just beautiful to watch."

Glenn Hoddle: "There isn't a player of his mould anywhere in the world."

Rio: "For me, it's Paul Scholes. He'll do ridiculous things in training like say, "You see that tree over there?" - it'll be 40 yards away - "I'm going to hit it". And he'll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best."

George Best: "England have lost their best player."

Laurent Blanc: "I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player."

Micah Richards: "I think we were all disappointed because we all know what he can do. He's always in the right position, always seems to be at the end of the box when the ball drops in. The complete midfielder - when he's fit, he's the best. Some go missing but he's in the right place at the right time. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable. If you give him a chance it's a goal, isn't it?"

Peter Schmeichel: "People say he is a great player, but you have to define what a great player is. For me, it is a player who has a bottom level that means his worst performance is not noticed. If he is having a bad game, a teammate might feel Paul Scholes is not quite on his game, but a spectator wouldn't notice. Scholes, of all the players I have played with, has the highest bottom level. He has an eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have. These days he doesn't get into the box too many times, which is where you can see his age, but he has developed tactically. He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen."

Edgar Davids: "Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes."

Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."

Lippi: "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. An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."

Thierry Henry: "Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is one who directs the way his team plays. On top of that, he has indestructible mental strength and he is a genuine competitor."

Rooney: "He's unbelievable - he's one of the greatest of all time." [17]

Sir Bobby Charlton: "I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It's Paul Scholes. Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite. I love his nous and conviction that he will find a way to win, to make the killer pass or produce the decisive volley. When a game reaches a vital phase, these qualities seem to come out of his every pore. He's always on the ball, always turning on goal. He's always looking to bring other people into the action and if he loses possession you think he must be ill."

Zidane: "There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He's almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get. One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career."

Jose Mourinho: "Why isn't he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him."

Xabi Alonso: "Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount."

Nani: "He's the best midfielder I've ever seen. He can pass, score goals with his left, right, his head – he can do anything. And he can beat a player too, plus he loves to nutmeg you! He's unbelievable."

Arsene Wenger: ""He did not get completely what he deserves as a player because he's not a "media lion". He's not one who runs after the media to be in the papers. I respect that."

Ian Holloway: "When he passes the ball it stays passed. The ball goes exactly where he wants it to. I have always loved him for that. I played against him once or twice and he is an absolute genius. He is a role model for anyone who wants to play football. He is a joy to watch. In fact, I wish he was 21, then I could see his career all over again." (I personally love this one!)

Ryan Giggs: "I'd go for Scholesy as the club's greatest ever player. I've seen him do things that no other player can do. The way he can control the tempo of games, and his range of passing, are both incredible. We've seen over the years that players just haven't been able to get near him. And you can't forget his goals either."

Alan Hanson: "He is one of the top three to five players to have ever played in the Premier League - his passing, movement and technique set examples to everyone, not just younger players."

Xavi: "To me Paul is a role model. He is the best midfielder I've seen in the last 15 or 20 years."

Cesc Fabregas: "For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence. Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates."

[oakleafgael]

What in Gods name is Micah Richards doing amongst the rest of those quoted in EC's post! Paul Scholes was great to watch and all the better for the lack of bullshit that went with him. I never bought into the train of thought that he couldnt tackle, he knew what he was at with the vast majority of the "mistimed" ones.

[deiseach]

A truly great player. What got me was his heading ability. For someone so small, he seemed to get lots of goals with his head. Hope he enjoys his retirment

[screenexile]

Great player no doubt. Can't say I enjoyed watching him play but I appreciated his ability and that he was probably the best Midfielder in the Premiership for a good length of time.

One thing about him that did annoy me was that there was almost an acceptance that he couldn't tackle and you would hear a commentator laugh "huh, typical Paul Scholes tackle". It was no laughing matter and to be honest it was lucky he didn't break a lot of legs in his time and he most definitely deserved more cards than he got... anyway he was pretty good alright!

[ross4life]

It only feels like yesterday that a small red headed striker scored two goals v Port Vale, since then Paul Scholes became a midfield maestro that won it all, at his peak he wouldn't look out of place in the current Barcelona midfield & it was a measure of the man that so many Barca players wanted his jersey on Saturday night (imagine how much that jersey is worth now?)

At the Parade yesterday it sounded like he was going to stay for another year but clearly he was talking about his teammates & not himself. I'm delighted he's staying at the club in a coaching capacity as he can learn Pogba,Morrision,Tunnicliffe etc a thing or two.

Sad day for Manchester United FC when a legend like Scholes retires but all good things must come to a end,happy retirement Paul.

[Blowitupref]

No doubt Scholes was a good one however he knew it was time to hang his boots when the likes of Carrick,Gibson is getting picked instead of him.

[Square Ball]

It only feels like yesterday that a small red headed striker scored two goals v Port Vale, since then Paul Scholes became a midfield maestro that won it all, at his peak he wouldn't look out of place in the current Barcelona midfield & it was a measure of the man that so many Barca players wanted his jersey on Saturday night (imagine how much that jersey is worth now?)

At the Parade yesterday it sounded like he was going to stay for another year but clearly he was talking about his teammates & not himself. I'm delighted he's staying at the club in a coaching capacity as he can learn Pogba,Morrision,Tunnicliffe etc a thing or two.

Sad day for Manchester United FC when a legend like Scholes retires but all good things must come to a end,happy retirement Paul.

well said, will add one thing to that , please done let him coach tackling

[Blowitupref]

Lee Sharpe on Scholes

"A few of us including Robbo, were watching the Youth team and we ask the boss which ones are staying, going etc. etc. So he points to them one by one, "he's staying" he's going." Robbo says, "What about the little Ginger lad?" fergie - "Well, we're not sure. He's got loads of ability, but he's not the quickest, and we're not sure if he's a striker or a midfielder. he can't tackle either. We'll most likely let him go."

2 minutes later, Scholes runs from a deep position exposing the two centre halves, goes through both with a shimmy and dummy, feints to shoot past the keeper, who then commits himself, and gets beaten by chip over a flailing hand.

Robbo turns to the boss and says, "you don't know f**king much about players, do you boss?".

[Hoof Hearted]

9.30PM on SS1 tonight - Scholes the Goals. On for 1 1/2 hours.

[ballinaman]

9.30PM on SS1 tonight - Scholes the Goals. On for 1 1/2 hours.

Janey he scored some big goals down through the years. Legend

[sammymaguire]

9.30PM on SS1 tonight - Scholes the Goals. On for 1 1/2 hours.

Janey he scored some big goals down through the years. Legend

Joyous viewing, brings a tear to the eye, the little ginger Assasin - he scores goals my Lord, he scores goals!!!