Paul Scholes: An ode to the shy legend

Paul Scholes had everything fallen in place for him and things were becoming even better. The famous 1998/99 season was now awaiting, and Scholes didn’t disappoint.

He played a pivotal role in this treble winning season for united. He scored eleven times, with the highlight of the year being the goal against Newcastle in the FA cup final which led united to victory.

Scholes was suspended from the Champion’s league final, because of the yellow card he picked in the semis. The following few seasons showed the world his true potential as a footballer, him scoring twenty in the 2002/03 season, his career best.

But every story has its downfall too. For Scholes this dark side of this journey started in 2005/06 campaign, when he was ruled out for the second half of the season. The reason was his blurred vision.

He did make a comeback much earlier than expected, but he played less matches and scored lesser goals. But the decrease in the goals did not make his presence diminish a bit.

Nine years later to United’s treble winning season, Scholes made a past mistake right. United made it to the Champion’s league finals, credits to a visually stunning Scholes twenty five yard goal against Barcelona in the second leg of the semifinals. And this time the ginger prince was a part of the eleven in the final. United ended up winning the final 6-5 on penalties to Chelsea and the redemption was now completed for this ginger prince.

Screamer against Barcalona in the Champions League Clash.

The longevity of his career is a question without a perfect answer. The closest answer one can give is the way his game has changed over the due course of time. Be it any position, Andy Cole’s strike partner in his second season to the withdrawn striker behind Ruud van Nistelrooy years later.

His favorite and most celebrated position as a central midfield to the deep lying playmaker in his latter phase of his career. He made every position in a football field his own, as if he has been playing there all his life.

He announced his first retirement on 31st May 2011, only to come back six month later. This was just a small yet effective indication of how much his absence was costing United. An injury crisis at the theatre of dreams made him return as a substitute against their noisy neighbor’s city in the FA cup. His second home coming as a player turned to be a success too.

In his last season for United, Scholes played his 700th game for United, making him the third in the list for most capped player for United behind Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs. He also has a record of scoring in 19 consecutive Premier League season, second behind Ryan Giggs who has scored in 23.

Very few players get a happy ending in their career. As for this legend, the end was maybe not as romantic as his journey but it was a happy one indeed. United winning the Premier League for the twentieth time, him collecting his eleventh league medal and just slipping under the radar with Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell taking all the limelight.

That is all this little lad from Salford ever asked for. Scholes hung up his shoes again and retired for the second time, this time ‘for good’.

So what would we remember Paul Scholes the player for? His simplicity off the pitch and his mastermind brilliance on a football field. Those never misplaced passes, his extraordinary sense of judgement in the goals scored.

From the first debut goal back in 1994 to the goal in his 700th match for the same club. From the famous Class of ’92 to the treble winning team in ’99. Every minute he played, every goal he scored it is truly justified saying that they all are a happy memory for decades to follow.

Paul Scholes is one of the most decorated English footballer of all time. No quote can describe this person in a correct way. But to borrow the words of one of the greatest footballers of all time,

‘’If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more’’ – Pele.

RedBrothersUnited are Anand Sindhu, Pawan Sharma and Akshay Agarwal.