For those of you younger than the Ginger Prince, Sir Stan holds the record as the oldest player ever to turn out in English football's first division, playing for his home town club Stoke at the age of 50, in 1965.
Reckon it up, and Manchester United's little midfield star has at least another 15 years in him. He's barely at the halfway stage.
Scholes, who is 33, announced during the club's tour of South Africa last week that he probably has two years left before he packs it all in.
When great players are contemplating the end, it is as if the fact of your own mortality is being thrust in your face. When players like Scholes stop playing, it engenders the feeling that football is on the precipice of another Dark Age.
It rarely is, but it certainly feels like it.
Football needs Paul Scholes, and it needs him to go on playing as long as possible.
Not just because he is a player who has entertained us so wonderfully for the past 14 years, with his special brand of breathtaking long passing, intelligent short passing, movement, vision, goals of dream-like quality, and even his harum-scarum version of tackling.
He is also a reminder that little, scrawny asthmatic kids who have the ability and the heart can make it in a game populated by too many lumbering athletes.
He is a reminder that footballers can still just be footballers if they so choose - no need for pop star wives, modelling contracts, in-your-face displays of wealth or super-egos.
Scholes is the only United player in living memory who can drag grudging respect and even admiration from even the bitterest of Blues, both for his ability and his no-nonsense lifestyle.
He has had his problems in recent years, a worrying eye condition casting doubts over his future and knee ligament trouble costing him a sizeable chunk of last season.
But the thought of him packing it in is saddening to anyone who loves the game.
So, with Sir Stanley in mind, let's hope Scholesy thinks again.
It is true that the Wizard of the Dribble operated in an era before 90 miles per hour football, and was a teetotal vegetarian who weighed little more than a pack of Woodbines.
Example
But Scholes can cast a glance at more modern examples, not least Paolo Maldini, who has just retired this summer, weeks before his 40th birthday.
Maldini made his debut as a 16-year-old, in 1985 - you remember it, when Liverpool were good, and Foreigner were top of the pop charts - and in all that time he has only played for AC Milan.
No unseemly end to Paolo's career - hobbling around the pitch for humdrum lower league teams.
He only ever played at the very highest level, garnering seven league titles, one Coppa Italia, five European Cups and appearing in a World Cup final.
After a knee operation last year, Maldini gave up because of the physical pain, but cited Milan's excellent medical set-up, and the ethos of the club, as the reasons why their players continue for so long.
United are the equals of Milan on that score, although Scholes may feel the demands of English football may be a little tougher.
Brazilian star Romario also retired this year, at the age of 42, while Cafu is only now, at the age of 38, leaving Milan for semi-retirement in Australian football.
And Scholes could take inspiration from his old United teammate Teddy Sheringham, who was turning out in the Premier League at 40 for West Ham - the age which Hull City's Dean Windass will be on his next birthday, during the coming season.
Gary Speed was 38 and Blackburn's Turkish midfielder Tugay is 37, and both played with some aplomb in Europe's most competitive league.
It's not as if Scholesy is ploughing through the 70s Baseball Ground mud, or that he is a human greyhound, his hamstrings twanging as he flits down the wing, like his pal Ryan Giggs.
He can afford to stroll, like Sheringham, and still ooze class.
And he must remember playing against the tall, elegant German midfielder Stefan Effenberg, who appeared to rarely leave the centre circle for the last ten years of his career at Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach, yet still dictated the ebb and flow of games.
His game has always been about fleetness of thought rather than pace over the ground. Perhaps the words of Maldini may persuade him to eke out what he has left, and keep us all hanging on for more of his genius.
On the eve of his eighth, and last, European Cup final, in 2007, he said: "Maybe in a physical sense I was a better player at the age of 25. But now I have a great deal more experience."
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As far as I'm concerned, you can never have too many "Scholesy is brilliant" threads. Ps Anyone else see that Tevez interview where he refers to Scholesy as "El Colorado", or "the ginger"? Classic.
Scholes - as fantastic as he has been is rarely now MU standard, he could play for a lower rated EPL team and I am sure Sunderland would be interested - but why should he? Reckoned to be a family man and not a big spender yet presumably made lots of money - why not retire!
Paolo Maldini has not retired. He signed a one-year contract extension on June 6 and will be playing the next season for AC Milan as well.
He was outstanding against Portsmouth. I still wish he played less deep but was marauding at the end. Cheers.
Mr Paul Scholes. Respect.
As a diehard blue, I can only admire Scholes. Class on the pitch and by all accounts a diamond bloke off the pitch as well. Nice comment about the bitterness though Stuart, well done on that one, you're a visionary and leader in the world of journalism, good for you.
terry, good to see you posting again. Cheers.
It is a great article and well research. I agree with you that it would be great to see Scholsy go ona nd on but he is no Peter Pan to evolve into another football being. His time is approaching and he wants to go on a high and not be remembered as a finished product - remember Mike Tyson? Even the number 1 female tennis player retired on the high this year - that way the immortality if higher - 2Pac, Elvis Presley etc unlike Michale Jackson who lives on and on with nothing new to show for it.
And we owe it to him for bewing such a good servant for Man Utd to allow him to enjoy time with his family and maybe be a successful businessman etc.
Asking him to continue will be a big selfish thing and it will not show respect to the ginger genius and it won't show appreciation for his not only long, but excellent service.
Sorry to disagree with Keithmat but Paul Scholes has always been a class act and still is. There are many experts in the game who have stated that England would be a better team with him back in the squad with the present England manager among his admirers. Even now the ginger genius always manages to find that yard of space that is the hallmark of all great players. Long may he reign although he did state not so long ago that he might end his career at Oldham Athletic the team he supported as a youngster. It isn't so long ago that Edgar Davids called him the best midfield player in the world which is an opinion shared by many many professional players. He may be at an age where he cannot play in every game and certainly wouldn't expect to but he certainly still has a lot to offer Man United.
No chance! Sentiment aside Scholes is nearer the mark than Stuart Brennan.
If he wants to play for Accrington Stanley he might get past 40 but in the top flight he's near the end.Certainly the last thing he would want would be for the fans to think he played like an old dog.The league was different in Mathews day.Sir Stan was ahead of his time with his diet. Footballers THEN had a phag at halftime and got plastered after the match he didn't.Scholes like Keane has had hard years in the engine room.Right now he's a 60minute man in the top matches.This season could and probably should be his last.Sorry to be as direct as Tommy Docherty but I hope Scholes knows when the time is right.
Indeed a very good article.
Football, with its modern day diets, training etc, means it is harder to stay in top flight football as a player reaches a certain age. I also believe that there will be some players that can go on and on, maybe Paul and also Ryan to name but a few.
On the other hand, couldn't have Roy Keane gone on?
I'm sorry Stuart Brennan, but Paul Scholes has not been anything near his world class best in the past 2 seasons. He is a shadow of his former self and the only reason why he is being overrated by people like you yet again is because he scored a long long long overdue goal against Barcelona in the CL Semi final. His decline is obvious, as with Ryan Giggs and both of them should play a much smaller part this coming season. Both Giggs and Scholes could probably carry on for a few years yet, my only wish is that this will be at a lower level club and not at United. It would spoil their legacies if they overstayed their time at OT.
Write Scholes off at your peril. If United keep playing him and he still enjoys the game, then long may he continue in the the Red of United.
I agree he can play into his late 30's at the top level, if he wants to. As he said he will miss football when he retires but not the intrusion that goes with modern footballer.
Scholesy doesn't seem the type of guy who'd go back on his word, so if he says two years it'll be two years. One thing's for sure, there'll never be another like him. The T-shirt they sell outside OT says it all: GET UP. GO TO WORK. PLAY THE GAME. GET SHOWERED. GO HOME. Brilliant stuff.
Happy Valley Barry San Francisco. Thanks for your post re Paul Scholes. I will tell you a couple of stories about the Ginger Prince. His dad was a decent footballer and on Sunday mornings Paul would turn up with a pair of boots to watch his dad play football the team ( grown men )would warm up place the ball on the half way line and attempt to put the ball in the net 13 year old Paul would score more goals than the forwards put together ( you try it ). My friends son and Paul started playing for Cardinal Langley and United at the same time ( my friends son did'nt make the grade at O.T. but is now a reporter at the M.E.N. )so I started watching them play I have seen 14 and 15 year old 6ft tall players line up and brag what they would do when this 5ft nothing pale ginger haired boy got the ball. Picture Paula Radcliffe when she pulled up exhausted in the boiling heat that was the boys who TRIED to chase and get the ball off Paul Scholes during the match . Teachers from all the schools used to drool over him , how can one so small do that ( a pin point pass from one end of the field to the other ) they would say. I know he can't play in every match but I hope to see him for a few more years at O.T.
mick the red fireman, middleton.
What a great story, I can just imagine that lickle lad
showing the men how to do it,
just as he does today against
the best in the world. Reading these posts today it's sure many of those writing know about football.
Many fans are simply that,
some of us are players,
former players or coaches.
(I'm acutally a former player that still thinks he
can play at 56), I got my
coaching badges in 1978,
study the game from every angle, and like many of you are totally possessed by
football, United, playing.
For those of us that know
the game better than just
fans, we appreciate this artcle because it absolutely describes Scholey correctly. He is that good! He might not be the same type of player he was
when younger, but he's every bit the same quality, in fact the brand of footy he
brings to United today is
of greater value to the team than when he was young. As a budgy little guy like Paul
I model my game after his,
he has been an inspriation.
He is today (arguably) still
one of the best players in the world period. And long may he play on. Thanks again Mick.
Up the Reds,
mick the red fireman, middleton.
What a great story, I can just imagine that lickle lad
showing the men how to do it,
just as he does today against
the best in the world. Reading these posts today it's sure many of those writing know about football.
Many fans are simply that,
some of us are players,
former players or coaches.
(I'm acutally a former player that still thinks he
can play at 56), I got my
coaching badges in 1978,
study the game from every angle, and like many of you are totally possessed by
football, United, playing.
For those of us that know
the game better than just
fans, we appreciate this artcle because it absolutely describes Scholey correctly. He is that good! He might not be the same type of player he was
when younger, but he's every bit the same quality, in fact the brand of footy he
brings to United today is
of greater value to the team than when he was young. As a budgy little guy like Paul
I model my game after his,
he has been an inspriation.
He is today (arguably) still
one of the best players in the world period. And long may he play on. Thanks again Mick, I would have been in heaven to have watched Cardinal Langley back in the day!
Up the Reds,
Still good enough for the team IMO and still our best and most composed midfielder on the ball. If he continues to play at the level of last season he is still plenty good enough to play this season.
Scholes is a real legend at United,but as a supporter since the 50s I have been very fortunate to see so many players earning the title of "LEGEND".I am no glory hunter ,just have been fortunate as a devoted Red to see the likes of Edwards ,Taylor,Byrne,and the legendary Babes,Charlton,
Law ,Best,Giggs, Keane ,Beckham,Cantona ,so many ,and the bonus of seeing United win so much.Scholes is a worthy
recipient of the title"LEGEND"
bobbyc, manchester
Tell us about Duncan Edwards. (I would love to see
film clips but there's almost
nothing out there).
Up the Reds,
Duncan Edwards was probably the epitome of the title Legend.He would have easily adapted even into todays football.The word colossus comes to mindLegs like the proverbial tree trunks ,hitting the then heavier ball as if it was plastic .Could have played any position,but was the old wing half.Tackling ,shooting ,heading, every attribute Duncan had.I consider myself very fortunate to have seen him ,albeit for only a couple of seasons before his untimely death.He would have played for many ,many years as his fitness ,and physique were superb .What a player ,what a loss.The finest player I have ever seen.
Happy Valley Barry, Sir Bobby raves about him in his autobiography. It's a good read.
Thanks Alias. Been busy writing elsewhere...Keep well. Cheers.
Sentiment aside, this will be Scholes last meaningful season I would have thought, and if he plays as well as last year then that will be a bonus.
He has no pace these days and there are times when our midfield looks quite stretched when he's playing.
Of course he's our playmaker but these days the team have to fit around him and the other midfielders have to assist in the defensive side of the game and in getting further forward.
The old Scholes would have given the side more but Fergie has found an ideal role for him as he naturally slows down. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts.