Paul Scholes

Born on November 16, 1974, in Salford, Greater Manchester, Paul Scholes joined the Manchester United youth academy at fourteen, becoming a core member of Sir Alex Ferguson's famed 'Class of '92' alongside David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, and Nicky Butt. Scholes made his senior first-team debut in September 1994, scoring both goals in a League Cup victory against Port Vale. Known for his uncanny spatial awareness, pinpoint 50-yard diagonal passing, thunderous long-range volleys, and ability to dictate the tempo of matches from anywhere in the midfield, Scholes became the engine room of Manchester United's golden era. In 1998–1999, he was an indispensable architect of United's historic Treble, scoring in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United. In 2008, his ferocious 25-yard dipping strike against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final sent Manchester United to Moscow, where they captured European glory against Chelsea. Representing England in 66 international matches and two FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002), Scholes retired from international football in 2004 to focus on club duty. After briefly hanging up his boots in May 2011, Scholes answered Sir Alex Ferguson's mid-season injury crisis in January 2012, returning to play another eighteen months and helping United capture his eleventh Premier League title in 2013 before retiring permanently. Reaching 718 appearances and 155 goals for Manchester United, Scholes was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame and the Premier League Hall of Fame.