Paul Scholes began his 18th season as a professional footballer with a stunning reminder of his enduring brilliance.
'Anyone who gets to that age and retains that appetite is blessed with something special,' Sir Alex Ferguson purred.
Boy to man: the shy schoolkid was soon getting awards from Sir Bobby (below right) and later showed his skills by nutmegging our Jamie at Anfield (below left)
Now 35, Scholes used his unique talent to bewilder Newcastle on Monday in much the same way he has been outfoxing opponents for nearly two decades.
Here, Sportsmail pays tribute to one of England's greatest midfielders by gathering the memories of some of the key figures from his career...
SIR BOBBY CHARLTON
(Manchester United legend)
If I were to use two words to sum him up they would be instinct and vision. He has the instinct to know where people are going to be and the vision to deliver the unexpected pass.
I thought the third goal against Newcastle on Monday summed up Paul. He had the vision to see the pass to Ryan Giggs and even put a little spin on it to make the shot easier for his team-mate.
He is an inspiration to every young player at the club. The scope of his ability is absolutely boundless. I still look at him and think of him as a young lad. His energy and enthusiasm for playing football has never diminished. He is the model professional.
The fact that he stayed with one club is indicative of his loyalty and you know what you're going to get from him. Something special.
And if any young aspiring player wants a role model on and off the pitch then Paul will provide it. He likes nothing better after training and after games to be in the bosom of his family.
We consider ourselves lucky to have him at Manchester United.
ROY KEANE
(Former captain)
We're not big mates - I don't think I've spoken to him since I left Old Trafford - but he's a brilliant player and if you think he looks good on the television then you should train and play with him and you would see he is consistent every single day.
I've watched Paul Scholes in his last few games, but he's been putting in performances like that for the past 15 years.
People are looking at his age yet Scholesy has always played with his brain more than anything else. Ever since I've known him he has kept the same level, even though he had a couple of stop-start seasons with injury, and I'm not looking at him now thinking he's a different Paul Scholes.
Scholesy is a bit like Rooney. He's been brought up the right way and he would have the same enthusiasm if he was just playing in the street.
Money doesn't come into it, 70,000 crowds don't come into it and the car he drives doesn't come into it. You can see he loves the game and just wants to play. They say he can't tackle but he can - it's just that he mistimes a few!
Hero: Scholes is hailed at the 2002 World Cup
Unexpected: Gary Neville shows his affection at Eastlands
Mentor: Sir Alex Ferguson nurtured Scholes through the United ranks
Best for smiles: The Oldham lad in United's youth team
JAMIE REDKNAPP
(England team-mate, 1997-99)
Ryan Giggs came through at about the same time as me, with Paul Scholes a year later. I still love to watch him now - he's the best midfielder the Premier League has ever produced.
They have been so important to United - and to Sir Alex Ferguson. I believe Fergie will retire when they pack up; they mind the dressing room for him.
Scholes has gone from being a forward in the early days to being a quarter-back in the Manchester United midfield. It's like he plays with wing mirrors because he is so aware of space, he can see what's coming and how the play is developing around him.
There is no weakness to his game. People say he can't tackle - I had the marks to prove he can. He definitely has a nasty streak.
STEVE BRUCE
(Former captain)
Even when he was a youngster, it was difficult to miss Scholesy. A little lad - and he really was a dot too - with flame red hair, darting about.
Everyone remembers that great youth team, but they forget that there were doubts over whether Scholes would make it; not because of any lack of ability, but because of a problem with his knees (Scholes suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease, a knee problem that affects younger players).
Players like Scholes and Ryan Giggs don't come along very often. Paolo Maldini at AC Milan is the only other one I can think of.
Perhaps the ultimate compliment I can pay him is what happened the other day -and I hope Danny Welbeck won't mind me mentioning it - because he may get some stick from his pals at Old Trafford. We were sitting having lunch at Sunderland and I was discussing the Manchester United game against Newcastle and in particular, Scholesy's performance.
Danny, who is loan with us, was within earshot and he piped up that Paul was still the best player at Manchester United. That, for me, said it all.
Golden boys: David Beckham and Scholes helped form a magic midfield
Final joy: Scholes wins in Moscow after missing the 99 Euro final
Childhood sweethearts: Scholes and Claire were married in 1993
Teen star: the 19-year-old scores on his debut at Ipswich
MIKE COFFEY
(Teacher at Cardinal Langley High School, United scout 85-99)
Being so small never fazed him. Even at school, his football brain was so quick no one could ever kick him or intimidate him.
It put him on another level to everyone else. I never saw any of the bigger lads whack him because he had the ability to anticipate tackles and ride challenges. And he still does.
I remember in his first year we reached the final of the Manchester Catholic Cup, a very prestigious local competition. We were losing until Scholesy scored twice. Funnily enough, Brian Kidd, who was then with United, was at the game. Brian said to get him down but Paul took some persuading (he was at Oldham at the time).
He was very happy with the set-up at Oldham and his hero was Frankie Bunn.
I had to get him into my office to cajole him into going - I told him there would be better facilities and better coaches.
ERIC HARRISON
(United youth team boss, 1981-1998)
The first time I saw him play as a 14-year-old he took my breath away. Brian Kidd said to me, 'He's only tiny, he's got ginger hair -you'll probably have a bit of a giggle. But he can't half play'.
I could tell straight away that he didn't need to be coached individually because he had a sat-nav in his head.
It was just a case of getting him used to team formations and how important they were. It was clear from that early age that he was brave as a lion. I can still remember the look he gave me when I once dared to leave him out.
There were obviously a lot of talented players coming through at the time and occasionally I had to leave Paul out.
It was nothing to do with his ability or his talent, but there's a saying that if looks could kill ... and I'm sure Paul invented it!
Brothers in arms: Ryan Giggs and Scholes with the FA Cup in 1996
Vintage Red: Scholes on his 600th outing
BEN THORNLEY
(Former United youth teammate, now a taxi driver)
I'm still very close to Gary Neville so if I get invited to a function and Scholesy is there, then it is like no time has passed since we played together.
He is still the same down-to-earth Manchester lad who has lived here all his life, has good family values and he is entirely unaffected by it all.
As a player, the change we saw in Paul over one summer was amazing. In 1992 our youth team won the FA Cup against Crystal Palace and Scholesy did not even play and then, all of a sudden, he became our best player and although we lost in the final in 1993 to Leeds, Scholes was easily our best.
The transformation in him was so quick. He's gone on to become the perfect role model.
ALAN HARDY
(Oldham chief executive)
He's been coming to Boundary Park on a regular basis for a number of years. He knows he's always welcome and can have a cup of tea in the boardroom whenever he's here, but he tends to decline that invitation.
He likes to stay in the background; he's not one for the limelight and we respect that. He's quite happy with his boys, sitting in the stand behind the goal, in a pair of jeans and a baseball cap.
It would be wonderful if he could finally play for us one day but whether it'll happen or not, I'm not sure.
Dad's army: Aaron and Alicia flank father with the European Cup in 2008
MARK HUGHES
(Former United team-mate)
He hastened my exit from Old Trafford. I left at the same time as Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis, when Sir Alex had complete faith in the young players he was going to introduce, like Scholesy, Nicky Butt and David Beckham.
They were the future, I was the past. Sir Alex was always -and still is - good at making key decisions at the right time and he got that one right.
Manchester United know when you have a player of such quality you do everything you can to keep him fit and well, playing at the top level and happy.
JIM HUGHES
(Member of Middleton Cricket Club)
FOR THE RECORD
Born: Nov 16, 1974.
Joined United: July, 1991
(645 apps, 149 goals).
Debut: Sept, 1994 v P Vale (League Cup). Scores both goals in 2-1 win. (Team: Walsh; G Neville, Keane, May, Irwin; Gillespie, Beckham, Butt, Davies; Scholes, McClair).
Honours:
Champions Lge 2; Premier Lge 9; FA Cup 3; Lge Cup 3; Community Shield 5.
4th on United’s all-time appearance list; 10th on scoring list.
England: 66 caps, 14 goals.
He played quite a lot for us, when he was coming through the youth levels at Manchester United at about 12 and 13.
Paul was a decent cricketer; he would have called himself an all-rounder, a decent batsman and bowler. In the field, he was like lightning.
He was a very aggressive batsman in terms of his shot selection and could have probably made a decent career out of it at this level. He was very small in those days but still looked OK in the pads.
Unfortunately, United asked him to stop playing cricket one summer because they feared he would get injured. That was the last we saw of him, which was a shame because he was a good player to have around. But he was a lovely lad, very quiet and keen to learn. He was never an ounce of trouble.
RONNIE MILLWARD
(Oldham chief scout)
From the age of 10, he had all the right attributes. I remember going to a schools' cup final. I think Paul was playing for St Mary's on a school playing field on the Hollin Estate in Middleton. He scored a perfect hattrick that day and I could not take my eyes off him.
All I could do was race around the touchlines trying to find his parents and try to get him to Oldham Athletic. Fortunately, he was an Oldham fan and his dad was a season ticket holder so we got him to go there as a schoolboy.
He was a smashing kid. He just lived for whatever game we had on a Sunday morning. It was as if he had saved all his energy in the week for that 90 minutes. He'd get in the dressing room and pull that shirt on and just be transformed. Then he would get in, get changed and go home with barely a word said.
No wonder United came and took him when he was 14. If anyone in the modern day wants a role model, then Paul Scholes is the man.
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