Paul Scholes<\/a> has announced his retirement from playing after 16 years at Old Trafford.<\/p>\nThe 36-year-old, who will stay with the Red Devils in a coaching capacity, won 19 major honours in a glittering career with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.<\/p>\n
With the former England international having finally hung up his boots, Goal.com<\/strong> takes a look at what his fellow professionals have had to say about the midfield maestro throughout his career.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
“To be honest I think England have lost their best player. Certainly he’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time”<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nUnited’s greatest ever player, George Best<\/strong>, reacts to the midfielder’s retirement from international football in August 2004.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span>“He’s always one of those people others talk about. Even playing at Real Madrid, the players always say to me ‘what’s he like’? They respect him as a footballer, and to have that respect from some of those players is great”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nDavid Beckham<\/strong> reveals that even the Galacticos of the Bernabeu were astonished by Scholes’ ability.<\/p>\n“Everyone of us should emulate him. We can all learn from Paul Scholes”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nDutch superstar Edgar Davids<\/strong> was a well-known admirer of the Manchester United man.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The legendary
Zinedine Zidane<\/strong> pays tribute to United’s creative catalyst.
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/u.goal.com\/124700\/124717_news.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/span>“He has an awareness of what\u2019s happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. It doesn\u2019t matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world”<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nSir Alex Ferguson<\/strong> explains what set Scholes apart.<\/div>\n
<\/span>“He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nThey may have been rivals but even Cesc Fabregas<\/strong> can’t deny the Ginger Prince’s greatness.<\/p>\n“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. Scholes is a player I have always liked, because he combines great talent and technical ability with mobility, determination and a superb shot. He is an all-round midfielder who possesses character and quality in abundance. In my opinion, he’s been one of the most important players for United under Sir Alex”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nOne of the game’s great managers, Marcello Lippi<\/strong>, waxes lyrical about United’s No.18.<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n“Sad to hear Paul Scholes is retiring, what a player! Top class and a great role model for any young #English midfield player!”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nArsenal’s Jack Wilshere<\/strong> echoes the sentiments of United fans across the world via his Twitter.<\/p>\n“He is a legend and he’s going to be remembered for a long time. Just to play alongside him and learn from him has been an absolute pleasure. I think he is a footballer’s footballer”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\nMidfield partner Michael Carrick<\/strong> admits his luck in having lined up alongside the great man.<\/p>\n\n
“In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen \u2014 the most complete \u2014 is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. If he was Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nXavi<\/strong> admits that he and his World Cup-winning team-mates are in awe of the Red Devils midfielder.<\/p>\n“I wouldn’t swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nLong time team-mate Gary Neville<\/strong> doesn’t think that anybody was comparable to Scholes.<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n“Paul Scholes is my favourite player. He epitomises the spirit of Manchester United and everything that is good about football”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first ever United captain to lift the European Cup,
Bobby Charlton<\/strong>, sums Scholes up in a couple of sentences.<\/p>\n“I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do. To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour. To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege”<\/strong><\/span>\n<\/p>\nThe man himself on retiring from playing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Go here to see the original:
\n‘Undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation’ – what the footballing world had to say on Paul Scholes during his 16-year career<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jonathan Birchall 31 May 2011 12:30:00 Paul Scholes, Manchester United (Getty Images) Related Links Teams Players Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from playing after 16 years at Old Trafford. The 36-year-old, who will stay with the Red Devils in a coaching capacity, won 19 major honours in a glittering career with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. With the former England international having finally hung up his boots, Goal.com takes a look at what his fellow professionals have had to say about the midfield maestro throughout his career<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Paul](\"http:\/\/u.goal.com\/106700\/106731_news.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n