Scholes: A tribute

Tuesday, 31/05/2011

by Stuart Baxter

In a week where FIFA president Sepp Blatter appeared to steal all the headlines, English football mourns the loss of one it’s modern greats.

Following his retirement from football the plaudits for Paul Scholes pour in by the bucket load, and rightly so. In a career that spans more than 17 years, Scholes has cemented himself in the Premier League hall of fame.

Having made 676 appearances for Manchester United, picking up 66 England caps and a roll of honour as long as your arm it is difficult to find the superlatives for a player like Paul Scholes.

More recognised for doing his talking on the pitch, the self-confessed quiet man lit up the centre of the park with tough tackling, creative flair and a distinguished auburn appearance.

Scholes’ tenacious nature was well-documented throughout his career, more notably in battles with the likes of Dennis Wise, Patrick Vieira and infamously missing the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich through suspension.

But this was part of his game. A fiery character with a great touch, great vision, determination, desire and the ability to score from nothing. Hence Fabio Capello’s decision to try and talk Scholes out of international retirement last summer at the tender age of 35.

In the same way England did when Scholes retired in 2004, Manchester United and the Premier League now have a void that requires filling which isn’t always as easy as it might seem.

Paul Scholes now joins Alex Fergusons backroom staff at Old Trafford as a coach where he hopes to remain in the game, and old Chinese proverbs suggest sometimes the whisperer is louder than the shouter.....

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