Paul Scholes is an English football player who currently plays
for Manchester United. He is a one club man, having spent his
entire professional career with a single club. Scholes represented
the England national team from 1997 to 2004, participating in the
1998 and 2002 World Cup, as well as UEFA Euro 2000 and UEFA Euro
2004. He is one of only four players to make over 600 appearances
in all competitions for Manchester United. Scholes was born in
Salford and grew up as an Oldham Athletic supporter, but has
trained with Manchester United since the age of 14. He then later
joined as a trainee upon leaving the Cardinal Langley Roman
Catholic High School, Middleton, Greater Manchester in the summer
of 1991. In his final term at school, he was selected to represent
Great Britain National Schools in football.
Scholes turned professional on 23 July 1993, but did not make his
breakthrough into the senior squad until the 1994–95 season, when
he made seventeen league appearances and scored five goals. His
debut came on 21 September 1994, where he scored twice in a 2–1
victory over Port Vale F.C. in the Football League Cup. Scholes
came on as a substitute in the 1995 FA Cup final against Everton,
which United lost 1–0. In 1998–99, Scholes was a key player in
Manchester United's Premier League title, FA Cup, and UEFA
Champions League Treble success. He scored one of Manchester
United's two goals against Newcastle in the FA Cup final. He also
scored an away goal against Internazionale in the CL quarter-final,
but was ruled out of the final victory over FC Bayern Munich
through suspension.
Scholes made his international debut against South Africa in 1997
in a 2–1 friendly win at Old Trafford, and was included in the
England squad for the 1998 World Cup. England were grouped with
Colombia, Tunisia and Romania. During England's first World Cup
group match against Tunisia, Scholes sealed a 2–0 victory with a
goal late in the game. Picking up a pass from Paul Ince just
outside the Tunisian area, Scholes pushed the ball slightly to his
right and hit a shot with his right foot which curled into the top
right-hand corner of Tunisian keeper Chokri El Ouaer's net. His
international career continued after England's elimination from the
World Cup by Argentina on penalties in the first knock-out round.
On 27 March 1999, Scholes managed a hat-trick for England in a game
against Poland. In addition, Scholes scored both goals in England's
2-0 win at Hampden Park over Scotland in the Euro 2000 play-off
first leg, sealing a 2-1 aggregate win and qualification for the
finals tournament.

Full name: Paul Aaron Scholes
Date of birth: 16 November 1974 (age 34)
Place of birth: Salford, Greater Manchester, England
Height: 1.70m
Playing position: Midfielder
Current club: Manchester United
Number: 18