Paul Scholes: My Story

by Paul Scholes

Lavishly illustrated, this is the first autobiography of one of the most revered and popular soccer players of the modern era Paul Scholes is one of the most celebrated footballers of today, both at home and internationally. A one-club player, he has served Manchester United for more than sixteen years, making over 600 appearances in that time—the fourth highest number of appearances by any player for the club. He also represented the England national team for seven years, winning 66 caps that included two World Cup and two European Cup campaigns. Throughout this time, Scholes has always played a decisive role in his teams' fortunes. As well as the technical brilliance that makes Paul Scholes such a breathtaking player to watch, it is the determination and integrity which he demonstrates both on and off the pitch that means he is a fascination to fans of the sport. In an age of overpaid, workaday players, Scholes has become an icon of professionalism and club loyalty, admired by fans everywhere. Now, for the first time, Paul Scholes shares his story—from his beginnings at United under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson as part of the "golden" youth team, to the treble-winning season and twice capturing European Cup glory, the importance of family and friends in keeping his feet on the ground, as well as his many triumphs and tribulations with England.

Genres: Football, Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Soccer

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2011

Reviews

[Petar Kesov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хубава биография, написана с кратки истории за различните периоди и сезони на Скоулс, в леко журналистически стил. Скромен и брилянтен в изказа си, думите напомнят за самата игра на Пол, когато бе действащ играч и един истински футболен гений. Има изключително много фотографии в книгата, което донякъде придава усещането, че четеш фотоалбум с истории. Хареса ми и дано Скоулс се развие и в треньорската професия, за да можем един ден да прочетем и още една (надявам се отново пълна с велики моменти) биография като мениджър.

[Neil Arrowsmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed with this book and yet not surprised in the slightest.
In essence this is a footballer who has sat down and shown you his photo album with a running commentary of every photo.
I love Paul Scholes. I’ve followed his career and seen every goal and every red card and celebrated every title with him and the rest of the club and fans. I have lived and worked closely to where Paul grew up and worked at the school his son attends. And so I wanted to read about his upbringing, his life on the Langley estate. I wanted to read about his football life, the dressing room that contained the very best players United have had in generations. I wanted to know about who Paul didn’t like, and the stories that every football fanatic wants to hear. What happens in the dressing room? That is what an autobiography is about. The gory details!
And yet there was none of that. It was an account of pretty much every goal Paul scored and every player he mentioned in the book was always ‘a nice lad’. There was minimal content about his England days other than his goals, in an era of the golden generation that never materialised.
And yet I shouldn’t have expected anything else. Paul being the quiet, family man he is and always will be, was never really a candidate to write a memorable autobiography because by his very nature he was never going to spill the beans on life inside Old Trafford or life with England, with characters such as Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney and the Class of 92, the Liverpool and Chelsea and Arsenal players with England.
This book could have been so much more, but as always Paul Scholes has been the modest and under the radar person he always has been. I suppose I would have been disappointed if this book had been anything different than what it was. Maybe it should never have been written at all.

[Fatma Al-Qais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've to say this is the best footballer-biography I've ever read. Paul Scholes is such a fantastic lad on and off the pitch. Very inspiring, and very funny. I love how the book is packed with pictures. It's a page-turner I absolutely enjoyed every bit of information provided. I've always been a fan of his but now after reading this I think he might be my second favorite footballer of all time! I found a bit of my personality in him. Bless your soul Scholesy.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite surprised to find this hot off the press, 2011 publication on the shelf of my local library. Then again Paul Scholes is the local hero from my neck of the woods. 'Scholes-My Story' didn't really hit the back of the net for me. Sure, it covers seventeen seasons, 676 senior appearances and a cascade of silverware plus 66 full England caps, but I wasn't too impressed with 'My Story.'
Very formulised. Scholesy has been presented with a stack of photographs, given his comments on them and ghost writer Ivan Ponting has done the rest, or so it seems.
Paul's childhood and early football development is skimmed over in barely a page, so the book is a Manchester United career log and not any intimate biography.

[Samar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book 5 stars because Paul Scholes kept the book really interesting throughout and it was very fascinating for me to actually read the book. Scholes the reader know that he was a kind and humorous man and he kept on putting jokes every time Every time he showed us a picture of him in his kit of him doing a shot of him just doing anything really. The reason you should read this book is because it will tell you about how hard he worked for the team and the secret behind the whole Man United culture I found it very very captivating. The best thing about the book was how he humorously described a weird picture that he put in for example a picture where his teammate is kissing him and he had said: Gary Neville grabbed me and gave me a lingering case which was all over the newspaper is an Internet the next day I must admit I did take a lot of stick for a bit even for my own kids but honestly I didn’t mind can I buy for that happy and I think the picture just shows how passionately Gary feels about the game and what just happened. The most important thing about football that I learnt from Paul Scholes was no matter the size don’t give up.

[Tulga G · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, Scholes is my favourite player from my favourite club, Manchester United and my childhood idol in football. I started watching his plays from early 2000s and witnessed glory days of this amazing club. The peak of Glory United was the final game of Champions league against Chelsea in 2008 for me.
Second, this player was main factor to watch United because his plays were unmatched and his skills were superb and his long-distance goals were unbelievable.
I am really lucky that I have watched games where he played great and did extraordinary.
Third, this book took me to his great moments with great photos and I really should say that I am biased with my choice of this book and this review.

[Alex Cotterill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now then, Scholes is one of my all time favourite players. I found the family section and the early parts of his career the most interesting and quotes from other players; also his friendships with Neville, Butt, Vidic and Ronaldo for example. More than as the “My Story” implies, it is more analysis of photos rather than a proper autobiography in my opinion.

It is still very interesting though as I remember watching most of the Manchester games when I was younger lol.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many books on retired footballers on our bookshelves - this one ghost written by Ivan Pontin is one of the good ones. There are some fabulous photographs , the book focuses on goals and games - short articles support the photographs - words from team mates and opponents tell us what we already know Paul Scholes - great player - good guy - loves his wife , kids and Manchester United.

[Katie Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satnav

Paul Scholes is just magic and we have been lucky to have seen him play - Bobby Charlton.
He has always been and always will be one of my favourite ever players.
I have been lucky enough to see him on many occasions and his book brings you back through the ups and downs of his career with some good insight and some great humour.

[Colin Sturgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much reading in it. Mainly great photos from Paul's career with a bit of accompanying text. Fairly enjoyable though as he comes across as a humble, decent man who had a great career as one of England's few recent world class stars.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

329 - 2017

Nah, sekarang tinggal menunggu kapan tidak sengaja kepentok dengan biografi Giggs...

[Jack Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book great player 👍 very modest good read

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting in a book but really enjoyed it due to the way it was set out.

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good biography but at some points it was more like a running commentary of pictures from Paul’s life..

[Steven Florez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the autobiography, it shows many lifestyles as a soccer player. Paul Scholes made it a great job to show the occasions that really impacted his career. From the first days that he arrived at Old Trafford, to quitting the English national team. I really liked this book because I could feel that I was able to relive these occasions or take part of them. As a soccer player I really like this because I gives me a sense of how the soccer player life is. The book also has many pictures of his moments which is cool because you as a reader could get visual understanding of what he is saying. In addition, Paul Scholes incorporated a part that I really like. He decided to put in quotes of managers, players, and other people of the soccer world that had said good things about him. I like this because you know after reading these quotes how good of a player and person he is. I really enjoyed this book.

[Hamadovich]

To the point and brilliant

Scholesy takes us through his wonderful career with Manchester United (sans 2012/13) with fantastic insight into key moments of his time at the club. The only disappointing thing about this book is that it's a little on the short side, I would've loved to get more details about certain moments that sometimes Scholes glances over however as any United fan would know it's typical of him to be straight forward and to the point. In the end I highly recommend this for Manchester United fans specifically and football fans in general.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't one of your usual autobiographies, it's clear that Scholesy has been given a load of pictures and told to write about them, while some former players write nice things about him.

Don't get me wrong, he's one of Uniteds best players in the last 20 years, but this isn't quite the book Ihoped it would be.

Still, it's a nice read and Paul is as humble now as he ever was.

United legend, thanks for the service!

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

was very disappointed with the book his growning up and schooldays dealt with in a few pages and skipped over but the format of the book was like photographs quotes and reaction to the photos not like most football bios have read this one falls way short of the mark

[Darren Keighley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different to normal autobiographies as each page has a picture connected.
Doesn't follow the normal life story, more football focused, but any football fan who enjoyed watching Scholesy should enjoy it.

[A W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the man himself, this book doesn't do much talking. Its basically a trip down memory lane where Paul talks about the pictures we see in the book, its just like looking through his scrap book with him. Probably really a 3 star but he is a legend!

[Brandon.e]

Im reading it now but I love it. This is perfect for me because I am a huge Man United fan.

[Andi Garbett]

A good insight into one of England's best midfielders to emerge in recent years

[Nikhil Bhatia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. Great pictures. Very little info about the life of Scholes.

[El Gibran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul scholes he scores goals galore!!!

[Gary Soars · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dull. Less an autobiography, more a series of pictures with descriptions attached. Told me little that I did not already know.

[Dave Wein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like Scholes himself, not too many words, just descriptions next to pictures, only really focused on his football. A good read for a United fan

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great book for all football fans and not just Manchester United fans. This was a fascinating read and I found it was always interesting.