Paul Scholes
© Getty Images
Few players seem to be more respected by their fellow pros than Paul Scholes, who stayed at Manchester United for his entire career and enjoyed immense success during the club's glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The most decorated English footballer in history, Scholes made his full debut for the club in 1994 and began his career as an attacking midfielder who had an uncanny knack for arriving into the box at the perfect time to apply the finishing touch to a move.
It wasn't until later in his career that Scholes dropped into a deeper role and became the midfield maestro he is perhaps best remembered as now, with his passing ability and omniscience to the situation around him allowing him to control games and pull the strings.
The England international initially hung up his boots in 2011, but he reversed that decision less than a year later and went on to play for another season-and-a-half, helping the club to their 13th Premier League crown in his final campaign.
That took Scholes's individual tally up to 11 Premier League titles, adding to three FA Cups, two League Cups and two Champions League crowns. Scholes missed the 1999 Champions League final through suspension as United wrapped up the treble, but made up for it by being part of the winning side in 2008.
Only Ryan Giggs and Sir Bobby Charlton have played more matches for United than Scholes's 718, while his goal tally of 155 leaves him 10th on the all-time list of United scorers - above the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andy Cole and Cristiano Ronaldo.
