Brain: Pons
Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisternæ (pons visible at center)
Anteroinferior view of the medulla oblongata and pons
Gray's	subject #187 785
Part of	Brain stem
Artery	pontine arteries
Vein	transverse and lateral pontine veins
NeuroNames	hier-538
MeSH	Pons
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_733

Pons and medulla oblongata

The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio (pons Varolii).^[1] It is cranial to the medulla oblongata, caudal to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it is above the medulla, below the midbrain, and anterior to the cerebellum. This white matter includes tracts that conduct signals from the cerebrum down to the cerebellum and medulla, and tracts that carry the sensory signals up into the thalamus.^[2]

The pons measures about 2.5 cm in length. Most of it appears as a broad anterior bulge rostral to the medulla. Posteriorly, it consists mainly of two pairs of thick stalks called cerebellar peduncles. They connect the cerebellum to the pons and midbrain.^[3]

The pons contains nuclei that relay signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum, along with nuclei that deal primarily with sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation, and posture.^[4]

Within the pons is the pneumotaxic center, a nucleus in the pons that regulates the change from inspiration to expiration.^[5]

The pons also contains the sleep paralysis center of the brain and also plays a role in generating dreams^{[citation needed]}.

Embryonic development[link]

During embryonic development the embryonic metencephalon develops from the rhombencephalon and gives rise to two structures: the pons and the cerebellum.^[6] The alar plate produce sensory neuroblasts, which will give rise to the solitary nucleus and its special visceral afferent (SVA) column, the cochlear and vestibular nuclei—which form the special somatic afferent (SSA) fibers of the vestibulocochlear nerve—, the spinal and principal trigeminal nerve nuclei—which form the general somatic afferent column (GSA) of the trigeminal nerve—, and the pontine nuclei which relays to the cerebellum.

Basal plate neuroblasts give rise to the abducent nucleus—which forms the general somatic efferent fibers (GSE)—, the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei—which form the special visceral efferent (SVE) column—, and the superior salivatory nucleus, which forms the general visceral efferent fibers of the facial nerve.

Cranial nerve nuclei[link]

A number of cranial nerve nuclei are present in the pons:

• mid-pons: The chief or pontine nucleus of the trigeminal nerve sensory nucleus (V)
• mid-pons: the motor nucleus for the trigeminal nerve (V)
• lower down in the pons: abducens nucleus (VI)
• lower down in the pons: facial nerve nucleus (VII)
• lower down in the pons: vestibulocochlear nuclei (vestibular nuclei and cochlear nuclei) (VIII)

The functions of these four nerves include sensory roles in hearing, equilibrium, and taste, and in facial sensations such as touch and pain; as well as motor roles in eye movement, facial expressions, chewing, swallowing, urination, and the secretion of saliva and tears.^[7]

Related diseases[link]

• Central pontine myelinosis, a demyelination disease that causes difficulty with sense of balance, walking, sense of touch, swallowing and speaking. In a clinical setting it is often associated with transplant. Undiagnosed it can lead to death or locked-in syndrome.

Evolution[link]

The pons first evolved as an offshoot of the medullary reticular formation.^[8] Since lampreys possess a pons, it has been argued that it must have evolved as a region distinct from the medulla by the time the first agnathans appeared, 505 million years ago.^[9]

Additional images[link]

• 

  Location and topography of Pons(Animation)

• 

  Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain.

• 

  Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

• 

  Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view.

• 

  Axial section of the pons, at its upper part.

• 

  Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum.

• 

  Sagittal section through right cerebellar hemisphere. The right olive has also been cut sagitally.

• 

  Scheme of roof of fourth ventricle. The arrow is in the foramen of Majendie.

• 

  Mesal aspect of a brain sectioned in the median sagittal plane.

• 

  Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons.

• 

  Hind- and mid-brains; postero-lateral view.

• 

  Median sagittal section of brain.

• 

  Dissection showing the course of the cerebrospinal fibers.

• 

  Terminal nuclei of the cochlear nerve, with their upper connections.

• 

  Terminal nuclei of the vestibular nerve, with their upper connections.

• 

  The hypophysis cerebri in position. Shown in sagittal section.

• 

  Pituitary and pineal glands

• Brainstem Abducens.png

  Axial section of the Brainstem (Pons) at the level of the Facial Colliculus

• 

  Human cerebrum lateral view

• 

  Human brain frontal (coronal) section

• 

  Human brainstem anterior view

• 

  Nuclei of the pons and brain stem.

• 

  Horizontal section through the lower part of the pons.

References[link]

Saladin Kenneth S.(2007) Anatomy & physiology the unity of form and function. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill

• Pritchard, TE and Alloway, D (1999). Medical neuroscience. Hayes Barton Press. ISBN 978-1-59377-200-0. http://books.google.com/books/about/Medical_neuroscience.html?id=m7Y80PcFHtsC. 

• Butler, AB and Hodos, W (2005). Comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy: evolution and adaptation. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-471-21005-4. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3nO6ggvV1PUC&dq=%22Comparative+vertebrate+neuroanatomy:+evolution+and+adaptation%22.&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 

External links[link]

• Diagram at UCC
• BrainMaps at UCDavis Pons

Imanol Harinordoquy

Date of birth	(1980-02-20) 20 February 1980 (age 32)
Place of birth	Bayonne, France
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
Weight	105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Number 8
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1995–1999	Nafarroa
correct as of 11 February 2011.
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1999–2004 2004–	Pau Biarritz	38 155	00(25) 0(88)
correct as of 11 February 2011.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2002–	France	77	(65)
correct as of 23 November 2011.

Imanol Harinordoquy (born 20 February 1980) is a French rugby union player who typically plays as a number 8 for Biarritz at club level in the Top 14 and for France internationally. Before signing with Biarritz ahead of the 2004–05 season, he played club rugby at Pau.

Within ten years, at the highest levels, Harinordoquy won two Top 14 titles, five Six Nations victories (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010), which included three Grand Slams (2002, 2004, 2010).

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

A native of Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Harinordoquy grew up in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Basque: Donibane Garazi). He grew up playing many sports, among them pelota, swimming, football and judo. Harinordoquy began concentrating on the sport of rugby following a knee injury at the age of 14, which limited his football development. He began his career playing for US Nafarroa and quickly advanced in the sport. While excelling at Nafarroa and later Pau, Harinordoquy represented France at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was also brought up in the family's cattle-trading business; when it came time for him to choose between the business and rugby, he opted for the latter. Harinordoquy did, however, earn a BTS in agricultural management.

Career[link]

Harinordoquy joined Pau in 1999 and was a part of the team the reached the semi-finals in his inaugural season with the club, which resulted in qualification to the European Cup in the next season. After consistently appearing with the team the next two seasons, in 2002, Harinordoquy made his international debut just before his 22nd birthday in the Six Nations match against Wales. He contributed to the team and helped France win the Grand Slam that year. In the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Harinordoquy was again in form, grounding tries in wins over Ireland, Scotland and Fiji. Harinordoquy has been a fixture in the French side ever since, helping France to a second Six Nations Grand Slam in 2004. He was joint top try scorer with four in the 2004 edition of the Six Nations competition.

Harinordoquy entered the 2005 Six Nations with 30 caps for France. However, he missed the competition's first fixture against Scotland due to a separated shoulder suffered in his last game for Biarritz before the competition. Harinordoquy, subsequently, had difficulty regaining his form immediately after the injury; he was dropped from the squad by the end of the 2005 tournament. He returned to the team ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and quickly cemented his place within the team. Harinordoquy started in France's opening match against Argentina.

At the end of 2010, Harinordoquy made the short-list for IRB Player of the Year and was the only player from the Northern Hemisphere to do so. He ultimately lost out on the award to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.^[1]

Harinordoquy was a member of the French team that finished as the runner-up to hosts New Zealand in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Website of clothing line
• Profile at sporting-heroes.net (retrieved February 7, 2005)
• 2003 story at buzzle.com (retrieved February 7, 2005)

Axel Pons
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1991-04-09) 9 April 1991 (age 21) Barcelona (Spain)
Current team	Pons HP 40 Tuenti
Bike number	49
Motorcycle racing career statistics Moto2 World Championship Active years 2010– Manufacturers Pons Kalex-Honda, Kalex-Honda Championships 0 2011 Championship position 32nd (1 pt) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 30 0 0 0 0 8 250cc World Championship Active years 2009 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 0 2009 Championship position 26th (3 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 16 0 0 0 0 3 125cc World Championship Active years 2008 Manufacturers Honda Championships 0 2008 Championship position NC (0 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 3 0 0 0 0 0

Axel Pons Ramón (born 9 April 1991) is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer from Spain. His father Sito Pons is double World Champion in 250cc class.

Career statistics[link]

By season[link]

• * Season in progress.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Profile on motogp.com

v t e Pons HP 40 Tuenti Pol Espargaró (40) • Axel Pons (49) • Esteve Rabat (80) Grand Prix motorcycle : Pons Kalex Moto2

Lily Pons, ca. 1937

Lily Pons (April 12, 1898 – February 13, 1976) was a French-American operatic soprano and actress who had an active career from the late 1920s through the early 1970s. As an opera singer she specialized in the coloratura soprano repertoire and was particularly associated with the title roles in Lakmé and Lucia di Lammermoor. In addition to appearing as a guest artist with many opera houses internationally, Pons enjoyed a long association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she performed nearly 300 times between 1931 and 1960.

She also had a successful and lucrative career as a concert singer which continued until her retirement from performance in 1973. From 1935-37 she made three musical films for RKO Pictures. She also made numerous appearances on radio and on television, performing on variety programs like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and The Dave Garroway Show among others. She made dozens of records; recording both classical and popular music. She was awarded the Croix de Lorraine and the Légion d'honneur by the Government of France.

Pons was also savvy at making herself into a marketable cultural icon. Her opinions on fashion and home decorating were frequently reported in women's magazines, and she appeared as the face for Lockheed airplanes, Knox gelatin and Libby's tomato juice advertisements. A town in Maryland named itself after her, and thereafter the singer contrived to have all her Christmas Cards posted from Lilypons, Maryland. Opera News wrote, "Pons promoted herself with a kind of marketing savvy that no singer ever had shown before, and very few have since; only Luciano Pavarotti was quite so successful at exploiting the mass media."^[1]

Early life and education[link]

Born as Alice Joséphine Pons in Draguignan near Cannes, to a French father, Léonard Louis Auguste Antoine Pons, and an Italian-born mother, Maria (née Naso), later known as Marie Pétronille Pons. She first studied piano at the Paris Conservatory, winning the First Prize at the age of 15. At the onset of World War I in 1914, she moved with her mother and younger sister Juliette (born December 22, 1902 – died 19??) to Cannes where she played piano and sang for soldiers at receptions given in support of the French troops and at the famous Hotel Carlton that had been transformed into a hospital, and where her mother worked as a volunteer nurse orderly.

On October 15, 1921, Pons married her first husband August Mesritz, a successful publisher, and spent the next several years as a housewife. The marriage would end in divorce on December 30, 1933.^[1][2] In 1925, encouraged by soprano Dyna Beumer and Mesritz who agreed to fund her singing career, she started taking singing lessons in Paris with Alberto de Gorostiaga. She later studied singing with Alice Zeppilli in New York.^[2][3]

Career[link]

Pons successfully made her operatic debut in the title role of Léo Delibes' Lakmé at Mulhouse in 1928 and went on to sing several coloratura roles in French provincial opera houses. She was discovered by the dramatic tenor/impresario Giovanni Zenatello, who took her to New York where she auditioned for Giulio Gatti-Casazza, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera. The Met needed a star coloratura after the retirement of Amelita Galli-Curci in January 1930.

On January 3, 1931, Pons, unknown in the U.S., made an unheralded Met debut as Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor and on that occasion the spelling of her first name was changed to "Lily". Her performance received tremendous acclaim. She became a star and inherited most of Galli-Curci's important coloratura roles. Her career after this point was primarily in the United States. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1940. From 1938 to 1958, she was married to conductor André Kostelanetz.

Pons was a principal soprano at the Met for thirty years, appearing 300 times in ten roles from 1931 until 1960. Her most frequent performances were as Lucia (93 performances), Lakmé (50 performances), Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto (49 performances), and Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville (33 performances). She drew a record crowd of over 300,000 to Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival in 1939 for a free concert.^[4]

In 1944, during World War II, Pons canceled her fall and winter season in New York and instead toured with the USO, entertaining troops with her singing. Her husband Andre Kostelanetz directed a band composed of American soldiers as accompaniment to her voice. The pair performed at military bases in North Africa, Italy, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, India and Burma in 1944.^[5] In places, the heat of the sun at the outdoor performances was so overbearing that Pons, always wearing a strapless evening gown, held wet towels to her head between numbers.^[6]

In 1945, the tour continued through China, Belgium, France and Germany—a performance near the front lines.^[7] Returning home, she toured the U.S., breaking attendance records in cities such as Milwaukee at which 30,000 attended her performance on July 20, 1945. That same month she also played Mexico City, directed by Gaetano Merola.^[8]

Other roles in her repertoire included Olympia in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman, Philine in Ambroise Thomas's Mignon, Amina in Bellini's La Sonnambula, Marie in Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment, the title role in Delibes' Lakmé, the Queen in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Golden Cockerel, and the title role in Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix, (a role she sang in the opera's Met premiere on March 1, 1934). The last major new role Pons performed (she learned the role during her first season at The Met) was Violetta in Traviata, which she sang at the San Francisco Opera. Another role Pons learned, but decided not to sing was Melisande in Debussy's opera "Pelleas et Melisande"; the reason, as she confided in a later interview, was twofold: first, because she felt soprano Bidu Sayao owned the role; and, secondly, because the tessitura lay mainly in the middle register of the soprano voice rather than in the higher register. In her last performance at the Met, on December 14, 1960, she sang "Caro nome" from Rigoletto as part of a gala performance.^{[citation needed]}

She also made guest appearances at the Opéra Garnier in Paris, Covent Garden in London, La Monnaie in Brussels, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Chicago Opera and the San Francisco Opera. Her final opera appearance was as Lucia to the Edgardo of twenty-one-year-old Plácido Domingo in 1962 at the Fort Worth Opera.^[1] She continued to sing concerts until 1973. On February 11, 1960, Pons appeared on NBC's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.^[9]

Radio, television, and film[link]

She starred in three RKO films: I Dream Too Much (1935) with Henry Fonda, That Girl From Paris (1936) and Hitting a New High (1937).

Death[link]

She died of pancreatic cancer in Dallas, Texas, aged 77. Her remains were brought back to her birthplace to be interred in the Cimetière du Grand Jas in Cannes. Her nephew, John de Bry (son of her sister Juliette), an archaeologist living in Florida, was her sole surviving relative in the United States.

Legacies[link]

A village in Frederick County, Maryland, 10 miles south of Frederick, Maryland is called Lilypons in her honor.^[10]

George Gershwin was in the process of writing a piece of music dedicated to her when he died in 1937. The incomplete sketch was found among Gershwin's papers after his death and was eventually revived and completed by Michael Tilson Thomas and given the simple title, For Lily Pons. Boston and Maine Railroad was buying a new class of locomotives in the 1930s. The railroad had a contest for school kids to name the new engines. The winning suggestion for engine 4108 was "Lily Pons".^{[citation needed]}

Recordings[link]

In the late 1930s she made three movies for RKO; there is a large legacy of recordings, mostly on the RCA Victor and Columbia labels, many of which are available on CD.

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• James A. Drake and Kristin Beall Ludecke, ed. (1999). Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait. Amadeus Press. ISBN 1-57467-047-6. , pp. 195–96

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lily Pons

• Lily Pons at the Internet Movie Database
• Lily Pons at AllRovi
• Lily Pons at Allmusic
• Pons bio from BassoCantante.com
• Lily Pons at Find a Grave
• Lily Pons at Virtual History

Paul Scholes

Personal information
Full name	Paul Scholes[1]
Date of birth	(1974-11-16) 16 November 1974 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth	Salford, Greater Manchester, England
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Manchester United
Number	22
Youth career
1991–1993	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1993–2011	Manchester United	466	(102)
2012–	Manchester United	16	(4)
National team
1993	England U18	3	(0)
1997–2004	England	66	(14)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:30, 6 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Paul Scholes ( /ˈpɔːl ˈskoʊlz/; born 16 November 1974) is an English footballer, a one-club man who has played his entire professional career for Manchester United.

Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football whilst at school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being spotted by a scout visiting his school, signing for them as an apprentice on leaving school in 1991, and turning professional in 1993. He made his full debut for United in the 1994–95 season. He went on to play a key part in the club's Treble-winning success in the 1998-99 season, and has won ten Premier League, three FA Cup and two UEFA Champions League winners medals.

Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments.

Cited by some of his footballing peers as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Scholes has also been criticised for his discliplinary record, amassing over 120 bookings in all competitions during his career and being sent off ten times.^[3][4][5][6]

Scholes has made 689 appearances for United, the third highest number of appearances by any player for the club. Scholes officially announced his retirement from playing duties on 31 May 2011 and began his coaching career at the club from the 2011–12 season onward. Scholes reversed this decision on 8 January 2012, to play for the club until the end of the 2011–12 season.

Early years[link]

Scholes was born at Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester, to parents Stewart and Marina Scholes. The family moved to Langley area of Middleton, Greater Manchester when he was 18 months old where he lived on Bowness Road, and later Talkin Drive.^[7] He attended the St Mary's RC Primary School in Langley. The first team he played for was Langley Furrows. Scholes also excelled at cricket. At age 14, he began training with Manchester United.^[8] He then later joined as a trainee upon leaving the Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton during the summer of 1991.^[7] In his final term at school, he was selected to represent Great Britain National Schools in football.

Club career[link]

1994–1999[link]

Scholes was not a member of Manchester United's 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning squad that included future senior teammates David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, but he was part of the youth team that reached the final in the following season, alongside Phil Neville.^[9] Scholes turned professional on 23 July 1993 and was issued with the number 24 shirt, 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 both goals in a 2–1 victory over Port Vale in the Football League Cup. His league debut came three days later against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, a game which United lost 3–2 and Scholes scored a consolation goal. He scored two league goals came on 10 December when United beat QPR 3–2 at Loftus Road. On 3 January 1995, he got onto the scoresheet at Old Trafford for the first time with the opener in a 2–0 league win over Coventry City. He scored once more that season, in a 3–2 away win over Coventry City on 1 May.^[10]

Scholes came on as a substitute in the 1995 FA Cup final against Everton, which United lost 1–0. He came close to scoring twice late in the game, only to be foiled by Neville Southall both times.

In 1995–96, after Mark Hughes moved to Chelsea, Scholes had more first-team opportunities, standing in for the suspended Eric Cantona as Andrew Cole's strike partner for the first two months of the campaign. Scholes (now wearing the number 22 shirt) scored fourteen goals in all competitions as United became the first English team to win the double twice.^[11] He picked up another Premier League winners medal in 1996–97 - in this season he changed his shirt number to 18, which he held for the next 15 years.

In the 1996 close season, when United unsuccessfully tried to sign Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers, the Ewood Park club reportedly demanded that United should offer Scholes in exchange if any bid for Shearer from United was to be considered. By this stage, Scholes was rated at £5million, and Blackburn had already rejected a part-exchange deal involving £7million-rated Andy Cole.^[12] However, Shearer never came to Old Trafford, instead joining Newcastle United for £15million.^[13]

After Roy Keane suffered a knee injury in late September 1997 and was ruled out for the season, Scholes moved to central midfield in the 1997–98 season. However, United finished the season without a major trophy, only the second time in the 1990s that this happened.^[14]

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 Champions League quarter-final. He came on as a substitute in the second leg of the semi final against Italian club Juventus^[15] as Sir Alex Ferguson opted for Nicky Butt in the starting line up. He picked up a yellow card which ruled him out of the final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension.^[16]

2000–2011[link]

In 2001–02, Manchester United completed the signing of Argentine international Juan Sebastián Verón.^[17] In order to accommodate Scholes and Veron, Ferguson persisted with the 4–4–1–1 formation, which saw Scholes playing at the withdrawn striker role behind Ruud van Nistelrooy as Roy Keane and Veron played in central midfield.^[18] In European away fixtures, Scholes was often played in central midfield alongside Veron as Keane anchored.^[19] However, Scholes failed to adapt to the system and his form suffered.

Scholes netted a career-high twenty goals in all competitions in the 2002–03 season, a number that dipped to fourteen the next year. This was despite a career-best four FA Cup goals, in comparison to his total of five FA Cup goals scored in his first nine seasons. He helped Manchester United reach the 2005 FA Cup Final but saw his penalty saved by Jens Lehmann as they lost to Arsenal in a penalty shootout. He was ruled out for the second half of the 2005–06 campaign with blurred vision. The cause of this was initially uncertain, sparking fears that it could end his career. He overcame this problem through the beginning of the year and he appeared in Manchester United's final game of the season against Charlton Athletic. Reportedly, Scholes' vision has not completely recovered.^[20]

Paul Scholes

On 22 October 2006, in the 2–0 Premier League victory over Liverpool, Scholes became the ninth United player to play in five hundred matches, joining Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, and current teammate Ryan Giggs.^[21]

Scholes was dismissed during Manchester United's 1–0 away victory over Liverpool on 3 March 2007, for swinging an arm at Xabi Alonso. It marked his first league expulsion since April 2005.^[22] A month later, he was sent off in the first leg of Manchester United's Champions League quarter final at A.S. Roma.

On 23 August 2007, he was shortlisted for a place in the English Football Hall of Fame, which ultimately went to Dennis Bergkamp as voted for by Football Focus viewers.^[23]

Scholes with Owen Hargreaves after Manchester United's defeat to Manchester City on 10 February 2008

Scholes suffered knee ligament damage during a training session the night before Manchester United's Champions League Group F matchup with Dynamo Kiev on 23 October 2007, and was out of action until the end of January 2008. He returned as a substitute in Manchester United's 3–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup. On 23 April 2008, Scholes made his hundredth Champions League appearance in a semi-final 0–0 draw at FC Barcelona, and scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory in the second leg that sent United into the final.^[24] During the final against Chelsea, he suffered an injury and received a yellow card after a clash with Claude Makélélé; he was substituted in the 87th minute and did not take part in the penalty shoot-out that was won 6–5 by United after a 1–1 extra-time draw.^[25]

Scholes was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in September 2008^[26][27] In a December 2008 interview with The Daily Mirror, he said he planned to retire from football completely in two years. "I think I've got two years left at the most [...] I'm looking forward to finishing and everything that goes with it."^[28]

On 22 April 2009, he made his 600th appearance for Manchester United in a 2–0 win over Portsmouth.^[29]

On 16 February 2010, Scholes scored his third Champions League goal of the season against Milan in a 3–2 win; it was also United's first ever away goal against Milan. This gave United their first ever away win over Milan and also made Scholes the first ever player to score against both Internazionale and Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League.^[30] On 6 March 2010, Scholes became the 19th player in Premier League history to score 100 goals and also the third United player after Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to do so in the 2009–10 season, netting the only goal in a 1–0 win over Wolves at Molineux.^[31] On 16 April 2010, Scholes signed a new one-year contract with United, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010–11 season.^[32]

Scholes began the 2010–11 season strongly, displaying Man of the Match performances against Chelsea in the 2010 Community Shield on 8 August^[33] and eight days later in the opening fixture of the new league campaign against Newcastle United as he assisted two goals in a 3–0 home victory.^[34] Scholes scored his 150th goal for Manchester United in a 2–2 away draw against Fulham on 22 August;^[35] he was also awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for August 2010.^[36] In April 2011, Scholes was sent off for a high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City; Manchester United went on to lose the fixture 1–0.^[37]

He announced his retirement on 31 May 2011, with immediate effect, and joined the coaching staff at Manchester United.^[38]

On 5 August 2011, United held a testimonial match to honour his 17 years of service to United. The match was played at Old Trafford against New York Cosmos.^[39][40] United won the match 6–0, with Scholes opening the scoring with a trademark strike from 25 yards out.

2012–[link]

On 8 January 2012, Scholes reversed his decision to retire because of the injury crisis in the Manchester United squad and made his return as a substitute during a 3–2 win, against neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup.^[41] His customary number 18 shirt occupied by Ashley Young, Scholes wore the number 22 which he had last worn during the 1995–96 season as he replaced Nani in the 59th minute.^[42] He made his first start in the next game against Bolton Wanderers, where he scored his first goal since returning in a 3–0 victory at Old Trafford, converting a Wayne Rooney pass; this meant he had scored at least one goal in every season in the Premier League since 1994–95.^[43] He scored his second goal since coming back in a 2-1 away win against Norwich City on 26 February, heading home a cross from Nani.^[44] On 8 April he scored in a 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford, helping Manchester United to go eight points clear of rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.^[45]

On 30 May, Scholes signed a one-year extension with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until 2013.^[7]

International career[link]

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.

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. In a qualifier against Sweden that June, Scholes became the first and last England player to be sent off in an international match at the old Wembley Stadium.^[8]

With the turn of the century, Scholes became a prominent player in England's midfield, becoming a first-choice selection for the 2002 World Cup. However, after the tournament, Scholes saw his opportunities in the national team decline due to Sven-Göran Eriksson playing him out of position on the left midfield to accommodate the pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in central midfield.^[46] Scholes announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, citing his family life and his club career with Manchester United as being more important.^[47]

In July 2006, following Eriksson's departure, there was talk of Scholes making himself available for international duty again under new manager Steve McClaren, but nothing ever came of it.^[48] In May 2010, McClaren's successor Fabio Capello approached Scholes about a return to international football in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, but the player rejected the offer saying he'd prefer to spend time with his family.^[49] On 7 June 2010, Scholes revealed had Capello given him more time and had asked earlier then he would have probably taken the opportunity.^[50] On 27 July 2010, Scholes then revealed his disappointment in not taking the opportunity to play at another World Cup, saying he may have made a mistake.^[51]

Discipline[link]

Over his career, Scholes received 90 yellow and 4 red cards in the Premier League, making him the third most booked player in Premier League history^[3][5] He was also been booked 32 times in the Champions League, more than any other player in the competition.^[4][5] Scholes' tackling has drawn criticism from figures in the game such as Arsène Wenger who stated "for me he was not a fair player. There’s a little bit of a darker side in him, sometimes, that I did not like. I respect him highly as a quality player but I did not like some things he did on the football pitch".^[52]

Style of play[link]

Thierry Henry said, "Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Scholes... He knows how to do everything."^[53] When asked about Scholes, Bobby Charlton stated, "Paul is always so in control and pin-point accurate with his passing — a beautiful player to watch",^[54] whilst Marcello Lippi remarked that Scholes is "an all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance."^[55] BBC football pundit and former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen has described Scholes as "one of the top three to five players to have ever played in the Premier League" and commented "his passing, movement and technique set examples to everyone."^[56] Manchester United team mate Nani commented "he’s the best midfielder I’ve ever seen. He can pass, score goals with his left, right, his head – he can do anything."^[57]

The one aspect of his game frequently criticised was his tackling, which was recognised as inept by pundits, fans and Scholes himself.^[58][59][60] In addition, the potential for malicious intent in some of his tackles has been raised;^[61] it has been suggested that he has escaped greater censure due to the admiration that pundits have for him.^[62] However, Scholes said in an interview after his retirement that the tackles were to get back at players who had fouled him earlier in the game and the infamy surrounding his tackles led to him often being unnecessarily booked.^[63]

In February 2011, Barcelona midfielder Xavi rated Scholes as the best player in his position in the past two decades, stating "A role model. For me, and I really mean this, he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all, the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him."^[64] This sentiment was echoed by FC Barcelona manager, Josep Guardiola, who considered Scholes to be the best midfielder of his generation.^[65] And also former France star Zinedine Zidane said “One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.”^[66]

Personal life[link]

Scholes is asthmatic^[67] and suffered from Osgood–Schlatter disease,^[68] a knee condition that affects young athletes. He married his childhood sweetheart,^[69] Claire (née Froggatt),^[69] in Wrexham in February 1999,^[70] and they live in Saddleworth^[71] with their three children, Arron, Alicia and Aiden,^[72] who is autistic.^[73] As of August 2011, Arron Scholes plays for the Stalybridge Celtic under-12s football team.^[74]

Scholes' personality off the field has been described as "shy"^[75] and his lifestyle is seen to be in stark contrast to the lifestyles of the stereotypical professional footballer.^[76] In a rare interview before Euro 2004, Scholes described his ideal day as "train in the morning, pick up my children from school, play with them, have tea, put them to bed and then watch a bit of TV."^[71]

Career statistics[link]

Club[link]

Statistics accurate as of match played 6 May 2012.^[77]

International statistics[link]

National team statistics[link]

^[78][79]

International goals[link]

Scores and results list England's goal tally first.^[78][80]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	4 June 1997	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France	Italy	2–0	2–0	Tournoi de France 1997
2	10 September 1997	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Moldova	1–0	4–0	1998 FIFA World Cup Qual.
3	15 November 1997	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Cameroon	2–0	2–0	Friendly
4	15 June 1998	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	Tunisia	2–0	2–0	1998 FIFA World Cup
5	27 March 1999	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Poland	1–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2000 Qual.
6				2–0
7				3–1
8	13 November 1999	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2000 Qual.
9				2–0
10	12 June 2000	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Portugal	1–0	2–3	UEFA Euro 2000
11	28 March 2001	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	Albania	2–0	3–1	2002 FIFA World Cup Qual.
12	25 May 2001	Pride Park, Derby, England	Mexico	1–0	4–0	Friendly
13	6 June 2001	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	Greece	1–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup Qual.
14	21 June 2004	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Croatia	1–1	4–2	UEFA Euro 2004

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Manchester United

• Premier League (10): 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
• FA Cup (3): 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
• Football League Cup (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
• FA Community Shield (5): 1996, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2010
• UEFA Champions League (2):1998–99, 2007–08
• Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

International[link]

England

• 1997 Tournoi de France
• UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship: 1993

Individual[link]

• Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (1): 1992–93
• Premier League Player of the Month (4): January 2003, December 2003, October 2006, August 2010
• PFA Team of the Year (2): 2002–03, 2006–07
• Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): Domestic & Overall Team of the Decade
• English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2008

Notes[link]

1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

References[link]