Shy genius Paul Scholes calls off duty. Now left Ryan Giggs the only member of FA Youth Cup Class of 92 to continue.- DWIGHT YORKE, former team-mate: "When you talk about legends of the game, he's up there. Twenty trophies since 1994. He just seemed to get better and better."
- CLAYTON BLACKMORE, former team-mate: "You talk about Ryan Giggs, who has been fantastic at the club, and Scholes is in the same bracket. He has played more than 600 games and scored over 100 goals."
- GORDON MCQUEEN, former United star: "His contribution has been absolutely massive. We'll see now how difficult it is replacing players like that. It's getting harder and more expensive."
- DAVID GILL, Manchester United chief executive: "It is a very sad day for Manchester United fans around the world. "Paul was one of the players who came through the ranks of the academy system in the 1990s and has established himself as one of the greatest players ever to wear the United shirt."
- CRAIG BROWN, former Scotland manager: "He is a great example of a professional footballer and to have played more than 600 times for Manchester United is exceptional."
- DAVID BECKHAM, former United team-mate: "Paul was always one of those people others talk about. Even at Real Madrid, the players always said to me 'What's he like'? They respect him as a footballer."
- MICAH RICHARDS, Manchester City rival: "He's always in the right position, the complete midfielder. He's my favourite player of all-time, unbelievable."
- GLENN HODDLE, former England manager: "There isn't a player of his mould anywhere else."
- TERRY VENABLES, former England manager: "He sees the game unlike any other player."
- ALAN SHEARER, former England striker: "If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes."
When his peers were asked about Scholes they were always gushing with praise.
When it was put to Edgar Davids at the peak of his powers that the Dutchman was the best midfielder in the world, he replied: "I'm not the best, Paul Scholes is. "Every one of us is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes."
Zinedine Zidane was a Champions League and World Cup winner and regarded as one of the greatest to ever touch a football. Yet he said: "My toughest opponent? Scholes. He is the complete midfielder. He is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation."
Scholes played his final game as a sub in Saturday's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona. One man was determined to swap shirts with him. Xavi said: "He was the best central midfielder that I have seen. The most complete. "He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn't give possession away. If he had been Spanish, maybe he would have been valued more."
mantop!!!
ReplyDelete