---
title: "Paul Scholes Career, Stats, Trophies & Manchester United Highlights"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/paul-scholes-manchester-united-profile/"
type: "page"
language: "en-GB"
published: "2026-04-04T10:00:38Z"
modified: "2026-04-04T10:01:33Z"
---

# Paul Scholes Career, Stats, Trophies & Manchester United Highlights

| **Paul Scholes** | **Personal Information** |
| --- | --- |
| **Full Name** | Paul Scholes |
| **Date of Birth** | November 16, 1974 |
| **Place of Birth** | Salford, England |
| **Height** | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| **Position** | Midfielder |
| **Professional Debut** | September 21, 1994 |
| **Manchester United Apps/Goals** | 718 / 155 |

**A midfield metronome who was a cornerstone of [Manchester United](https://readmanutd.com/manchester-united-club-history-trophies-moments)‘s era under the great Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes dictated tempo with an authority few could match. The midfielders’ range of passing gave rise to the nickname SatNav.**

A one-club man, Scholes spent his entire 20-year playing career at Old Trafford, basking in the glory of success as he amassed a haul of silverware few in the modern game can rival.

Some of the greatest to ever step out onto the pitch have considered United’s ‘Ginger Prince’ one of the best players they have ever faced.

Zinedine Zidane dubbed him his “toughest opponent,” whilst Pele said that if he had played with Scholes, he would have “scored a lot more.”

### Manchester United’s Midfield Maestro

![Paul Scholes, Manchester United](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2026/04/Design-1-2026-04-04T105531.299-1024x512.png)

Born in Salford—a mere 2.5 miles away from Old Trafford—Scholes was always destined to play for Manchester United. He joined the youth academy in 1991 and first rose to prominence en route to the 1992/93 FA Youth Cup final.

Scholes was a member of the Class of 92′, also featuring David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. They embodied the spirit of the club which is rooted in trusting in youth.

Across 19 glittering seasons at United, Scholes would make 718 appearances—the third-highest in the club’s history—while scoring 155 goals, placing him ninth on the all-time list.

### Paul Scholes – Trophies and Team Success

Just like anyone else who played under Ferguson, success followed Scholes like a dog follows its owner.

The honours list reads like excess: 11 Premier League titles, eclipsed only by Giggs, three FA Cups, two League Cups, an Intercontinental Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and, of course, two Champions League triumphs, the first forming part of the immortal 1999 treble.

Most footballer would give their left leg to have even a fraction of Scholes’ success. He played a crucial role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant era in English football.

### Paul Scholes Manchester United Career Statistics

| **Paul Scholes Manchester United Career** | **Statistics** |
| --- | --- |
| **Appearances** | 718 |
| **Total Goals** | 155 |
| **Total Assists** | 82 |
| **Premier League Goals** | 107 |
| **Champions League Goals** | 24 |
| **Manchester Derby Goals** | 7 |

### Major Honours at Old Trafford

| **Trophy** | **Times Won** | **Seasons** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Premier League** | 11 | 1995/96, 96/97, 98/99, 99/00, 00/01, 02/03, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 10/11, 12/13 |
| **UEFA Champions League** | 2 | 1998/99, 2007/08 |
| **FA Cup** | 3 | 1995/96, 98/99, 03/04 |
| **League Cup** | 2 | 2008/09, 09/10 |
| **Intercontinental Cup** | 1 | 1999 |
| **FIFA Club World Cup** | 1 | 2008 |

### 10 Significant Career Moments

| **Year** | **Milestone / Moment** | **Description** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **1994** | **The Dream Debut** | Scored twice on his debut against Port Vale in the League Cup, marking the arrival of a special talent. |
| **1999** | **The Treble Triumph** | Scored in the FA Cup Final vs Newcastle to help secure the second leg of United’s historic Treble. |
| **2000** | **The Bradford Volley** | Executed one of the Premier League’s most famous goals: a perfect first-time volley from a David Beckham corner. |
| **2003** | **Career-High Season** | Netted a personal best of 20 goals in a single season, proving his elite goal-scoring threat from midfield. |
| **2006** | **The 500th Appearance** | Celebrated his 500th game for the club with a trademark opening goal in a 2-0 win over rivals Liverpool. |
| **2008** | **The Barcelona Rocket** | Scored a legendary 25-yard screamer to beat Barcelona and send United to the Champions League final in Moscow. |
| **2008** | **European Redemption** | Started and won the Champions League final against Chelsea, exorcising the “ghost” of his 1999 suspension. |
| **2010** | **100 Premier League Goals** | Joined the exclusive “100 Club” by scoring the winner against Wolves at Molineux. |
| **2012** | **The Shock Return** | Stunned the football world by coming out of retirement to play in a 3-2 FA Cup victory over Manchester City. |
| **2013** | **Farewell at the Top** | Retired for the final time after winning his 11th Premier League title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season. |

### Special Moments: Watch the Magic

These are the career-defining moments that showcase why Paul Scholes was the ultimate “Midfield Maestro.”

[Paul Scholes' stunner vs Barcelona 2008 CL - commentator 'Messi Standing watching' #scholes #mufc (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/c7GxStFvSPA?feature=oembed)

**1. The Rocket vs Barcelona (2008) — Champions League Semi-Final** — Perhaps his most famous goal, a 25-yard thunderbolt that swerved into the top corner to send United to the final in Moscow.

[Paul Scholes' superb volley for Manchester United against Aston Villa (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/g82pflrCjpw?feature=oembed)

**2. The Villa Screamer (2006)** — Voted by many fans as his greatest-ever strike, Scholes watched a cleared ball drop from high in the sky and smashed it in off the underside of the crossbar from 30 yards.

[Player Cam: Scholes v Man City | 2009/10 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/FDyCOf-uxdc?feature=oembed)

**3. The Return at the Etihad (2012)** — After six months in retirement, Scholes shocked the world by appearing on the bench for a Manchester Derby, coming on to stabilise the midfield and lead United to a 3-2 win.

[Arsenal v Manchester Utd | FA CUP Semi-Final | 2003/2004 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Jn1QZVXdATw?feature=oembed)

**4. The Semi-Final Decider (2004) –** A moment of trademark timing. Scholes ghosted into the box to meet a cut-back, rifling a low drive past Jens Lehmann to secure a 1-0 win and end Arsenal’s quest for a historic double.

### Why Paul Scholes is a Legend

Coming through the academy and achieving that level of success is enough to cement legendary status at any club. But Scholes went one step further.

Retiring three days after losing the Champions League final to Barcelona, many were dismayed at the thought of never seeing Scholes feature for the club again.

Yet retirement never quite fit. By January the following year, the pull of the game and of Old Trafford proved too strong.

Scholes approached Ferguson about a return, and just like that, the metronome was back, as if he had never left. Instead opting to retire alongside the legendary Scot in 2013.