11 Premier League titles, 2 Champions League and multiple other trophies – that's only one part of Paul Scholes's legacy. The other is unending admiration from colleagues, fellow midfielders and just great players.
Xavi: "In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen is Paul Scholes. He is a spectacular player who has everything."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "He's not the quickest, he doesn't run the most, he never wins a header, he can't tackle but he's the best player."
Ronaldo: "He is the phenomenon."
Here's a player praising Scholes:
Cristiano Ronaldo: "Scholes is the best I’ve played with and he helped me a lot when I was young. He’s amazing."
Zinedine Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."
Andrea Pirlo in his autobiography: "The only great English midfielder in my career was Paul Scholes. He has elegance in him. Others were pretenders."
Game recognises game:
Luis Figo: "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."
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."
David Beckham: "He’s always one of those people others talk about. Even playing at Real Madrid, the players always say to me ‘what’s he like’? They respect him as a footballer and see him as the ultimate."
❓ Best ever English midfielder?
