Paul Scholes

Manchester United midfielder regarded by Xavi and Zidane as one of the finest passers in the history of the game.

Paul Scholes was born in Salford in 1974 and spent his entire professional career at Manchester United, making 718 appearances — the fourth most in the club's history — and scoring 155 goals between 1993 and 2013. He won 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions Leagues, including the treble in 1999. His ability to arrive late into the box, his passing range — both short and long — and his reading of the game made him one of the finest central midfielders of his generation. Xavi Hernández called him the greatest midfielder of his era: 'I tell people: if you want to understand the midfield position, watch Paul Scholes.' Zinedine Zidane said he was the best midfielder in the world. He earned 66 England caps between 1997 and 2004, scoring 14 goals, before retiring from international football aged 29 to extend his club career. He retired in 2011 but returned for a final season in 2012–13 before departing permanently. Despite lacking the pace of his contemporaries, his positioning, timing and football intelligence compensated completely. He was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. One of the last great one-club men of English football.

• Champions League 1999, 2008
• Premier League 11x
• FA Cup 3x
• League Cup 2x
• Intercontinental Cup 1999
• Club World Cup 2008