Scholes Paul Quotes & Sayings

I've still got Paul Scholes' shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most. Maybe he's not valued as much as he should be in England because of the style of football there and because he keeps a low profile. Perhaps he would have been more valued in Spain, where midfielders like him form part of the 'ideal.' Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount. — Xabi Alonso

At every opportunity, I wanted to play football. — Paul Scholes

Sad to hear of Paul Scholes retirement! One of the best midfielders to grace the Premiership! Idolised him for years! Legend. — Jordan Henderson

For me as a midfielder, Paul Scholes was the best possible teacher. When people ask me my hardest opponent, I always refer to Paul in training. Facing him improved me so much because his astonishing quality gave me something to aim for. He never gave the ball away, he could nutmeg you, he could make you look a fool, his range of passing was remarkable, his touch and awareness, everything was top notch. Seeing Scholesy made you stand back and realize you had a long way to go, because he was awesome. — Darren Fletcher

He has an awareness of what's happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he's proving just as effective from outside the box because he's using his experience in the right way. It doesn't matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world. — Alex Ferguson

I am not a man of many words, but I can honestly say playing football is all I have ever wanted to do. — Paul Scholes

Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United. — Xavi

Funnily enough we have never had one enquiry for Paul Scholes. You know why? Because they all know he will never leave. in my time he would be in the top six or seven (best United players ever) without a doubt. His contribution and quality have been great, even without the fantastic goals he has scored. [ ... ] He has that wonderful velvet touch on the ball. When he gets it, it goes stone dead. It is wonderful to see that amidst all the mayhem that can happen in a football match. — Alex Ferguson

For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He's incredible. He has always been under-rated throughout his career. He's a team player, a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play. — Thierry Henry

Paul Scholes was the jewel in the crown, the first name on the teamsheet and unquestionably one of the finest England players of the age. He flourished at once in the international arena, which didn't surprise me given his fabulous all-round attributes. He had almost everything - talent, intelligence, courage. His only blemish, which he never really shook off, was his tackling. There was always the chance of that red mist coming down. Overall, though, Paul was a wonderful player and he's a lovely lad, a credit to his club and to himself. — Glenn Hoddle

Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes. — Peter Schmeichel

Best player? 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. — Rio Ferdinand

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

I wouldn't swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best. — Gary Neville

For me, Paul Scholes is on the same level as Ronaldo. The real Ronaldo, not Cristiano. I always thought he was a great player but after I played alongside him I realised he was Manchester United's greatest player of all time. He did his talking on the pitch which I respected most. — Fabien Barthez

If I had a Paul Scholes in my team, everything would be around him. At Manchester United, they saw it like that, but I think Paul Scholes is one of the best I've played against in this league, and seen anywhere. — Thierry Henry

Paul Scholes should be included in England's Euro 2012 squad. — Harry Redknapp

Paul Scholes. The best! Great player, person, friend! — Gary Neville

Yes I am finally hanging up my boots for good, — Paul Scholes

When I was in Dutch and Italian football, a lot of people looked at Manchester United, and when they were asked who was the best player, a lot of them said Paul Scholes. Much of what he did looked simple, but actually it was quite hard. Invariably he controlled the ball instantly and passed it straight on, keeping the game moving. He made inch-perfect passes across the pitch; he saw the gaps and could play the ball through them. So it didn't surprise me that so many top-class international footballers recognized his quality. — Edwin Van Der Sar

Sad to hear Paul Scholes is retiring, what a player! Top class and a great role model for any young English midfield player! — Jack Wilshere

When it's over I just want to be able to look in the mirror and say, 'Well, you were a half-decent player.' — Paul Scholes

The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He had elegance in him. Others were pretenders. — Andrea Pirlo

Nobody on this planet had a range of passing like Paul Scholes. Training every day was a pleasure just watching him. Unbelievable career. — Michael Owen

I am a big admirer of Paul Scholes, he is one of the best players of his generation. — Arjen Robben

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

I have played with some great players during my time at United but I would have to put Paul Scholes down as the best. — Ryan Giggs

I don't like compliments. No. I prefer criticisms; prefer to prove them wrong — Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You'd probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes. When the ball arrives at his feet he could tell you where every player on that pitch is at that moment. His awareness is superb. — Gordon Strachan

It's only natural to want to select your best players and 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. — Zinedine Zidane

I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo - and the greatest of them all is Messi. — Paul Scholes

I dont like compliments. I prefer criticism..then I can prove those people wrong. — Paul Scholes

The best illustration I can give of his talent is that at Manchester United there was always a possession drill in training designed to develop our passing ability, which might be three players against another three players, or six versus six, or nine versus nine. But no matter what the numbers were, the side with Paul Scholes on their team would always win by keeping the most possession. — Gary Neville

Rooney is one of the best players in the world and I love watching him play. But if you had to pick out only one, then for their history and for all that they have achieved it would have to be Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs. They are two shining examples for any player. — Andres Iniesta

Get up. Go to work. Play the game. Get showered. Go home. — Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are the centrefolds of Man United — Dwight Yorke

To me, Paul Scholes was in a class of his own. — Wayne Rooney

There have been so many outstanding players I've had as team-mates, but if I had to choose I'd choose Giggsy, he can do anything. — Paul Scholes

Nobody else in the world can play the way Scholes does. The passes he produces all over the field and the way he changes the game is brilliant. Every manager would like him. But luckily he is here and playing with us. Paul practices that all the time. When he has finished training he always goes out and shoots. — Dimitar Berbatov

I'm star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can't catch him. Off the pitch he disappears. — Luis Figo

Winning the Ballon d'Or never bothered me. I just wanted to play for Manchester United. — Paul Scholes

We won't ever see another one like Paul Scholes. He is a legend and a real benchmark. He is not interested in the modern-day footballer's life off the pitch, but he is a world-class player on it — Darren Fletcher

I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It's Paul Scholes. In so many ways Scholes is my favourite. — 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. — Bobby Charlton

Paul Scholes is my favourite player. He epitomises the spirit of Manchester United and everything that is good about football. — Bobby Charlton

Some of Paul Scholes' tackles come in so late they arrive yesterday. — Clive Tyldesley

If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. — Alan Shearer

I'm not the best, Paul Scholes is. — Edgar Davids

Playing with Paul Scholes is like playing with the light on. — Carlos Queiroz

Just heard Paul Scholes has retired, best I've ever played against by a mile. Most technically gifted player in english history. Legend. — Joey Barton

Paul Scholes is just fantastic. When you play alongside him, you realise what a special talent he is. — Michael Carrick

Nobody has ever had to go off following one of my tackles and nobody has broken their leg. — Paul Scholes

I am not ashamed to admit that in the games against Barcelona I spent a lot of the time just hoping he would take up positions as far away from me as possible. Elusive is the word that immediately springs to mind when I think about Messi's style of play. You think you have an eye on him and then - blink - he has gone, only to reappear somewhere else in space, with the ball. — Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes is literally on another planet — Kieron Dyer

He was magnificent; very clever with outstanding technique. He could pass the ball over five yards or fifty; he could see things to set up other people; he could shoot and he could score goals. If you gave me Paul Scholes and ten others, I would be happy. I would tell them to give him the ball and then we would have a good team. — Sven-Goran Eriksson

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. — Marcello Lippi

Paul Scholes is the best player I've ever played with. There's talent in every part of his game. — Gary Neville

When you look back you talk about legends of the game, he's certainly up there. Twenty trophies since 1994. He just seems to get better and better. I've had the honour of playing alongside him. The four years I've played alongside him, he is the best player, one of the first names on the manager's teamsheet. He is just a complete legend. There are not enough players like Paul Scholes around any more for my liking. 'Legend' is over-used but this guy is right up there with the very best. — Dwight Yorke

For me, Paul Scholes has been the best midfield player in the Premier League. By a mile. He has the lot. He scores and creates goals, he can pass the ball, he can head it, and rounds all this off with a competitive streak. — Alan Shearer

I think Paul Scholes is the best player in England. He's got the best skills, the best brain. No one can match him. There isn't a player of his mould anywhere in the world. Paul is irreplaceable. — Alex Ferguson

The greatest compliment I can pay Paul Scholes is that he reminds me of Bryan Robson, the way he bombs into the box. — Ray Wilkins