Top 10 greatest Manchester United midfielders of all time

#1: Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes has gone down as one of the greatest ever to grace the beautiful game

I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears.

Of all the innumerable quotes about him, Luis Figo aptly underlines Scholesy's down-to-earth and dedicated attitude to the game of football. It really seems weird that the Ginger Prince could have equally excelled as a cricketer. But thanks to the almighty, we have a beloved legend to adore at Old Trafford.

There are greats. Then there are legends. And then there is Paul Scholes. A class of his own. No wonder Zidane regretted of not being able to play with the diminutive midfielder in his career. The fact to be appreciated is that he could influence the game even after coming out of retirement at the ripe old age of 37.

Playing at the highest level for decades, the Englishman is the most beautiful ode to perfection. For years, Paul Scholes was an unparalleled creative lynchpin in the United midfield. His inch-perfect precision in long passes and ability to control the tempo of the game will remain unmatched in the years to come. Many have tried to emulate, but the grace and elegance of his deft touch has been conferred to none of them.

One regret though, is that of Scholes being manhandled in the English national team. Had they played him in his preferred central position instead of shifting him to wide left, England might as well have won a World Cup. Yet as past remains unchanged, so also is the fact that the world will never see another midfielder with the quality of Paul Scholes.

In a glorious career spanning nineteen years, the one-club legend appeared 718 times, scoring 158 goals for Manchester United. The shy genius has won 25 trophies with the club and is regarded as one of the greatest ever to grace the beautiful game.