Man United icon Paul Scholes reveals personal reason why he stopped commentary work | OneFootball

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed that he stepped back from commentary work to care for his 20-year-old autistic son, Aiden.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Scholes also divulged that he has split from his wife and childhood sweetheart, Claire Froggatt.

He opened up on the challenges and rewards of looking after his son.

Scholes said on the podcast, “Everything I’m going to do now just works around him. I do studio work, but everything is built around his day.”

“Last season on Thursday nights I’d do the Europa League for Manchester United. That’s the night I’d usually have him, so he was getting all agitated, biting and scratching. He knows the pattern’s not there straight away.”

Scholes explained that he initially kept Aiden’s diagnosis a secret from his teammates and Sir Alex Ferguson. At one point, Ferguson dropped him from the team, prompting the player to eventually come out.

“I never got a break from it, even when playing – it was very hard in those days.”

“I don’t think they diagnosed it until he was two-and-a-half years old. But you knew early something was wrong, but then you get the diagnosis, and I’d never heard of it. I remember the first time after it, we were playing Derby away and I just didn’t want to be there.”

“I remember the manager dropped me the week after, and I hadn’t told anyone. I ended up telling them a few weeks later, as it was quite hard.”

Scholes added, “Even now, I don’t want sympathy or anything. I just thought, even if I did speak to someone about it, it’s not going to help Aiden. The big concern now is, because you’re getting a bit older, what happens when you’re not here? That’s the thing that’s now on my mind all the time.”

The United icon noted that he finds it rewarding to share moments of his life with Aiden on social media. He mentioned that he has had conversations with parents experiencing the same thing, which helps when things get difficult.

Having joined United’s academy in 1991, Scholes went on to have a distinguished career, cementing his status as one of the greatest players to ever put on the shirt.

He is regarded by many as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history. He made his first-team debut in 1994 and initially retired in 2011, only to make a sensational return to action in 2012. Scholes went on to play until 2013 before hanging up his boots for good.

The Englishman made 718 appearances for United, registering 155 goals in that period. He helped the club win 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, one FIFA Club World Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.

At the moment, Scholes’ media attention is on his podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Football – with former United teammate Nicky Butt.

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