Paul Scholes, born on November 16, 1974, is an English football coach, retired professional player, and co-owner of Salford City FC, a club in the League Two.
Throughout his entire professional career, which spanned from 1993 to 2013, he played for Manchester United FC, participating in more than 700 matches and scoring over 150 goals.
During his time at Manchester United, he achieved 25 trophies, including 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.
He is popular as one of the finest midfielders of his era and one of the greatest players in the history of Manchester United.
REAL FACTS ABOUT PAUL SCHOLES
FULL NAME: Paul Scholes
BETTER KNOWN AS: Scholes
DATE OF BIRTH: 16 November 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH: Salford, England
NATIONALITY: British
OCCUPATIONs: Football Coach, Professional Football Player, Club Owner
MARITAL STATUS: Married
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Paul Scholes, who was born on November 16, 1974, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Scholes. He was born in a publicly owned health facility in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Although he was born in England, he has Irish and Northern Irish heritage. Scholes’ maternal grandmother is from Ireland, while his maternal grandfather is from Northern Ireland.
During his early years, Scholes lived in Greater Manchester.
When he was just 18 months old, his family moved to Langley, Greater Manchester. They resided on Bowness Road and Talkin Drive.
Scholes attended St Mary’s RC Primary School in Langley while growing up. His involvement in football began when he first played for Langley Furrow.
At the age of 14, Scholes started training with Manchester United.
After leaving Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton in the summer of 1991, he officially joined Manchester United as a trainee.
CAREER
Paul Scholes began his journey with Manchester United by joining their academy, known as “Fergie’s Fledglings,” during the management of Alex Ferguson.
He spent his youth career at the academy from 1991 to 1993, developing his skills.
In the 1994-1995 season, Scholes made his full debut for Manchester United and went on to have a remarkable 20-year career at the club.
Scholes holds the record for the third-highest number of appearances for Manchester United, with 718 games played. In May 2011, he retired from playing and became a coach at the club.
However, he made a comeback in January 2012 and played for one more season before retiring for the second and final time in 2013.
His last professional league appearance was on May 19, 2013, as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion.
Throughout his time at Manchester United, Scholes scored more than 150 goals and played a crucial role in the club’s success.
He contributed to 25 trophy wins, including 11 Premier League titles (the most by any English player), three FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.
He achieved success in various competitions, winning five FA Community Shields, two Football League Cups, an Intercontinental Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.
Additionally, he was named the Premier League Player of the Month on four occasions: January 2003, December 2003, October 2006, and August 2010.
Paul Scholes began representing the English National Team in 1997. Throughout his international career, he played in 66 matches and scored 14 goals before retiring from international football in August 2004.
He took part in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2000 and 2004 UEFA European Championships.
Scholes stated that his decision to retire from international football was influenced by his family life and his commitment to his club career.
Following his retirement from professional football, Paul Scholes took on his first managerial role at Oldham Athletic.
However, his tenure lasted only 31 days, from February to March 2019. In 2020, he briefly served as the interim manager of Salford City.
In addition to his managerial ventures, Scholes is also a club owner. In 2014, it was announced that Scholes, along with fellow Manchester United legends Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville, had agreed to acquire Salford City ahead of the 2014-2015 season.
Paul Scholes has also established himself as a commentator and analyst. In July 2014, he agreed to a four-year contract with BT Sport, which marked the beginning of his media career.
He is also seen on ITV’s broadcasts of Champions League matches and England national team games.
Additionally, during the 2013-2014 season, he made appearances as a pundit for Sky Sports. In August 2014, Scholes secured a role as a columnist at The Independent.
PERSONAL LIFE
Paul Scholes, who is currently 49 years old, celebrates his birthday on November 16th every year.
The former midfielder, who stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches, is a devoted family man and is married with children.
Scholes tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart, Claire Scholes (formerly Froggatt), in Wrexham, Wales in February 1999.
The couple has been blessed with three children, consisting of a daughter and two sons.
Scholes and his family reside in the village of Grasscroft in Greater Manchester. He has asthma and has also dealt with Osgood-Schlatter disease, a knee condition commonly seen in young athletes.
Additionally, he is known to have an interest in betting on football.
