Paul Scholes - The Man, The Myth, The Legend

“One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.” claimed former Wolrd Player of the year Zinedine Zidane about the ageing Manchester United star who appears to just get better and better with age. For Paul Scholes, it seems as though his career is taking off again for a second time.

This is a remarkable feat considering his career came close to a pre-mature ending in 2006 when he was forced to miss the second half of the 2005/06 season with a serious eye injury he suffered from a blow to the head in a Premiership match against Birmingham City. Fortunately, however, Scholes recovered fully from his injury and appears to be back to his controlling best again. Berbatov's goal against Everton over the weekend further shows that the talented 36 year-old still has the vision and passing range in his locker following his cross field, 50 yard pass straight onto the foot of the Bulgarian who is most definitely beginning to find his feet at Manchester United. He is part of a special generation of footballers at Manchester United that included himself, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville in which they appreciate the football side of football ahead of the glamorous side the money involved brings and all three are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon despite being the wrong side of 30.

A testament to his career and ability is shown again via his retirement from International Football in 2004. Appearing to be surplus to requirements with both Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard ahead of him in the pecking order (a move I will never understand!), Scholes announced his retirement from the International game at 29. Yet, both Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello attempted to tempt the midfield maestro out of retirement to aid out their respective, doomed campaigns in charge only for Scholes to turn down the opportunity which, in turn, was a massive, massive blow to England as the Manchester United man is comfortably better than both Gerrard and Fat Frank. His decision may be England's loss but is, most definitely, United's gain as Ferguson never has to worry about the status of his midfield linchpin whenever England play.

His off field personality is a stark contrast to that of the modern day footballer as he prefers to steer clear of all the, apparent, upsides being a professional footballer, and the money that follows, brings as he prefers to concentrate on his football and family first ahead of everything else. However, my one problem with Scholes is his inability to tackle. Ferguson may have said that he tackles like an Englishman yet we all know that he is just really, really bad at that part of his game. It's a shame really because if he could have tackled like Roy Keane, Scholes really would be one of the best footballers to ever grace the game.

All in all, you have to hand it to Paul Scholes. He is comfortably the greatest English midfielder of his generation and it is a shame that his talent was wasted on the International stage. Youth players should look to learn to Scholes' attitude off the pitch and his ability on it. It is certainly going to be difficult to find another Paul Scholes in the foreseeable future but, until then, we should all sit back and enjoy a master ply his trade in the greatest football league in the world.

Will write again soon.

Laters,

Macca