A tribute to Scholesy as he turns 50

Paul Scholes was described by Sir Alex Ferguson as a genius and it is impossible to try to argue against that assessment of the Manchester United legend.

As our former midfielder turns 50, it seems not so long ago that he was breaking into the first team and scoring twice on his senior debut, against Port Vale in the League Cup.

When musing over the prospects in his brilliant youth team, Ferguson once commented that, if the flame-haired rookie did not make it “then we might as well all give up”.

Yet, although some may tell you otherwise about the schoolboy footballer with asthma, there was never truly any doubt he would rise to the top. Not only did he possess extraordinary talent but he also had the steel and determination of any Salfordian.

All The Goals: Paul Scholes Video

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Scholes was unmistakeably tough and, allied to his ability to run matches from midfield, even though he broke into team as a striker and poacher, it was a mix that helped him win 11 Premier League titles.

A one-club man, he was, and still is, revered at Old Trafford. His Champions League-winning strike against Barcelona in 2008 is one of the most precious moments the famous old ground has witnessed since the turn of the century.

He was so good that he retired, had a testimonial and then returned to weave his magic and win another championship, making his 718th and last appearance in SIr Alex’s final game in charge, at West Brom. Only Ryan Giggs and Sir Bobby Charlton have played more times for this magnificent club.

As someone who remembers watching Scholes in his youth-team days, and marvelling at his unique ability to master a football, I could wax lyrical about his talents for some time. I saw him as the natural heir apparent when Eric Cantona retired, but Sir Alex had other ideas – signing Teddy Sheringham and moving Scholes deeper. Those two technical players would combine sublimely in the FA Cup final win over Newcastle United during the Treble season in 1998/99.

I feel it is better, though, to leave the tribute with the words of Sir Alex, who offered this glowing appreciation of on of his favourite sons in Scholesy’s testimonial programme.

“I can pay our Scholesy no bigger compliment than to say that he was an absolute genius of a footballer,” wrote our legendary manager. “There’s no question that he was one of the finest players of his generation.

“He was never recognised as such in terms of individual awards, although if he had been – knowing Paul –  he probably would have refused them, anyway. Individual accolades and the celebrity side of life never appealed to him. He never embraced it and didn’t see the need to do so.

“Paul was much happier when he could just head back to his family in Oldham after training and spend time with his wife and kids. I admire him for having that attitude.

“He had a fantastic career, and I just wish he’d played even more games for us. He had one or two injuries that kept him out for lengthy periods and, of course, we probably lost about six months due to his suspensions!

“I never once had to fight off interest from another club for Paul’s signature. I think everybody else in the game knew there was no point in even trying. He wouldn’t have been interested in moving. If any club had ever tried to approach him, then they would have received a firm rebuttal.”

Maybe Paul is seen as something of a throwback these days. So loyal, so head down, play football and ignore all the fuss and the noise around the game. We still get to see him in his role as a TV pundit, which is ironic considering he hated doing interviews as a player. But it was a privilege to watch the entire glittering career of, as Sir Alex said, one of the finest footballers from that generation.

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