He scored goals

Yesterday the best midfielder of his generation retired. A living legend who has been at the heart of Man United's success for the best part of two decades, one of the best players I've ever seen live and one of my favourite players to ever grace the red shirt. Instead of writing an essay about his quality I'll share a handful of quotes from his contemporaries, more qualified than anyone to judge a player whose performances always spoke louder than words...

Xavi: "In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more"

Zinedine Zidane: "My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder"

Andres Iniesta: "Rooney is one of the best players in the world and I love watching him play. But if you had to pick out only one, then for their history and for all that they have achieved it would have to be Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs. They are two shining examples for any player"

Sir Alex Ferguson (Jan 2003): "Everywhere I go the coaches all tell me that Scholsey is the player they admire. But if they think they’ll get him they’re wasting their time! Paul is a Manc lad pure and simple. He loves the club and there’s no chance of him leaving here. If ever he decided to go there would be a stampede, but he won’t be going, he’s here for life"

Edgar Davids, in his prime: "I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is"

Pep Guardiola: "Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him"

Laurent Blanc: "I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player"

Sir Bobby Charlton: "I have no hesitation in putting a name to the embodiment of all that I think is best about football. It’s Paul Scholes"

Patrick Vieira: "The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes"

Cesc Fabregas: "He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League"

Thierry Henry: "I can’t understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t seek the limelight like some of the other ’stars’"

Jose Mourinho: "Why isn’t he playing for England? It is crazy. Only in England. Scholes is a great, great player. So experienced and still, for me, one of the best in the world in midfield. Manchester United are lucky to have him"

Marcello Lippi: "Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. He would have been one of the first players I’d have bought, given the chance"

George Best (after Paul retired from international football): "England have lost their best player"

Rio Ferdinand: "For me, it’s Paul Scholes. He’ll do ridiculous things in training like say, “You see that tree over there?” – it’ll be 40 yards away – “I’m going to hit it”. And he’ll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best.”"

Gordon Strachan: "Paul Scholes has been the best England midfield player for 30-odd years. You’d probably have to go back to Bobby Charlton to find someone who could do as much as Scholes"

Zinedine Zidane: "Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation"

Thank you, Paul Scholes. Forever adored in Manchester.