“I don't like compliments. No. I prefer criticisms; prefer to prove them wrong”
During an interview in the latter years of his career http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YOti0icEbw
Paul Scholes is an English former footballer who played his entire professional career for Manchester United. He is currently co-owner of Salford City and a television pundit for BT Sport. At club level, he won 25 trophies including 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.Born in Salford and brought up in Langley, Middleton from infancy, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football while at school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being spotted by a scout visiting his school, signing for them as an apprentice on leaving school in 1991, and turning professional in 1993. He made his full debut for United in the 1994–95 season. Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments. Regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, over his career, he has received praise from other managers and players, including Xavi, who called him "the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years". Thierry Henry has cited Scholes as the greatest player in Premier League history. However, Scholes has also been criticised for his disciplinary record, amassing the fifth-most yellow cards in Premier League history with 97, and the second most yellow cards in Champions League history with 32.Scholes made 718 appearances for United, the third-highest number of appearances by any player for the club. Scholes announced his retirement from playing on 31 May 2011, receiving a testimonial match, and began his coaching career at the club from the 2011–12 season onward. However, he reversed this decision on 8 January 2012, and went on to play one more season before retiring again in May 2013.
“I don't like compliments. No. I prefer criticisms; prefer to prove them wrong”
During an interview in the latter years of his career http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YOti0icEbw
A young Paul Scholes when asked about his career ambitions upon signing with United as a teenager
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/andrea-pirlo-dream-xi-paul-scholes-the-only-englishman-as-juventus-star-leaves-out-cristiano-ronaldo-in-favour-of-pippo-inzaghi-9992885.html
Andrea Pirlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkBSmp4IhAE
Fabien Barthez
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/xavi-only-regret-not-playing-7572289
Xavi
http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/07/juventus-star-pogba-i-became-a-better-player-from-watching-scholes-at-manchester-united/
Paul Pogba
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10426976/Sven-Goran-Erikssons-book-Paul-Scholes-was-Englands-best-football-player-but-was-held-back-by-asthma.html
Sven-Göran Eriksson
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2011/07/01/paul-scholes-the-ginger-prince/
Alan Shearer
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince/2
Eiður Guðjohnsen
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/6395/0/exclusive-%E2%80%93-wilkins-%E2%80%98chelsea-will-beat-united-if-they-stop-scholes%E2%80%99
Ray Wilkins
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/01/26/2324153/manchester-united-veteran-paul-scholes-admits-he-doesnt-know
Ian Holloway, 2011
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Zinedine-Zidane-has-admitted-not-playing-with-Paul-Scholes-is-one-of-the-biggest-regrets-of-his-career-article560373.html
Zinedine Zidane, August 2010
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/my-all-time-xi-alan-shearer-1505383
Alan Shearer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25184865
David Beckham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AofzmUFraro
Edu Gaspar
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2203846/Paul-Scholes-simply-best-English-player-generation-Gary-Neville.html
Gary Neville
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8547825/Manchester-Uniteds-Paul-Scholes-lauded-by-players-and-coaches-around-the-world-after-announcing-retirement.html
Sócrates
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/henry-i-was-scared-of-incredible-scholes
Thierry Henry
Andrea Pirlo in his autobiography,'I Think, Therefore I Play'
http://twitter.com/#!/themichaelowen
Michael Owen
“He sees the game unlike any other player.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3611242/What-football-said-about-Paul-Scholes.html#ixzz1NyhISKZi
Terry Venables
http://cantheyscore.com/2011/05/31/paul-scholes-50-quotes-that-define-a-legend/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SportBullet%2Ffeed+%28Sport+Bullet%29&utm_content=Google+UK
Dimitar Berbatov
“At Arsenal me and Patrick (Vieira) didn’t want to face Scholes. We would avoid him.”
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince/2
Emmanuel Petit
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince/2
Fabio Capello
“There is not a better midfield player in the world.”
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince/2
Sam Allardyce
http://thepeoplesperson.com/2013/11/05/what-made-paul-scholes-so-special-30928/
Gordan Strachan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13600064.stm
Gary Pallister
“Scholes is the best i’ve played with and he helped me a lot when I was young. He’s amazing.”
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince
Cristiano Ronaldo
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince
Pep Guardiola
“At La Masia (Barcelona’s Academy) his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.”
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince
Lionel Messi
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/scholes-tribute-the-worlds-top-players-on-the-ginger-prince
Luis Figo
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/4935/9/giggs-hails-scholes-man-uniteds-greatest-ever-player
Ryan Giggs, 2011
http://thepeoplesperson.com/2013/11/05/what-made-paul-scholes-so-special-30928/
Kevin Keegan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/22/paul-scholes-tributes-600-games-manchester-united
Thierry Henry, World Cup winning France forward
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/22/paul-scholes-tributes-600-games-manchester-united
Marcello Lippi, Italian manager who won five Serie A championships and the Champions League with Juventus, as well as the 2006 World Cup with Italy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8922460.stm
Alan Hansen, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/22/paul-scholes-tributes-600-games-manchester-united
Zinedine Zidane, World Cup winning France midfielder and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year
“Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/james-lawton--quiet-scholes-the-half.htmlnt-player-france-fear-most-731769.html
Edgar Davids, former Holland midfielder and current Barnet player-manager
“England have lost their best player.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/paul-scholes-i-know-there-isnt-much-time-left-so-i-have-to-enjoy-it-799562.html
George Best, speaking about Scholes' decision to retire from international football
“What a player Paul is. Everything about him is just perfect.”
http://cantheyscore.com/2011/05/31/paul-scholes-50-quotes-that-define-a-legend/
Pat Crerand
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={FE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC}&bioid=91964§ion=Quote,&page=1
Sir Bobby Charlton, Manchester United legend, current member of the board of directors at the club.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/18/manchesterunited.championsleague1
Roy Keane, former Manchester United captain
“One of the greatest football brains Manchester United has ever had.”
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={FE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC}&bioid=91964§ion=Quote,&page=1
Alex Ferguson, the longest serving Manchester United manager.