Paul Scholes Prioritizes Son's Needs Over Commentary Work
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has revealed that he discontinued his commentary work to better accommodate the routine of his autistic son, Aiden.
Scholes, who co-parents the 20-year-old with his ex-wife, shared his experiences on the Stick to Football podcast.
After hanging up his boots in 2013, the 50-year-old transitioned into management before becoming a pundit and commentator.
"Everything I do now revolves around him," Scholes stated. "I engage in studio work, but all my commitments are planned around his schedule. Last season, I would typically cover the Europa League for Manchester United on Thursday nights, which is when I usually have him. He would become agitated, biting and scratching, as he sensed the disruption in his routine."
During his playing career, Scholes kept his son's diagnosis private and later revealed that he was dropped by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson while trying to manage the situation on his own.
"I never got a break from it, even while playing—it was incredibly challenging back then," Scholes, a pivotal player during United's 1999 Treble-winning season, reflected. "I don’t think they diagnosed it until he was two-and-a-half years old. However, I sensed something was off early on, and when we finally got the diagnosis, I had never heard of it before."
He recalls a particular match against Derby where he felt overwhelmed: "I just didn’t want to be there. The manager dropped me the following week, and I hadn’t confided in anyone at that point. I eventually opened up about it a few weeks later, as it was quite difficult to handle alone."
Even now, Scholes emphasizes that he does not seek sympathy. "I thought that even if I spoke to someone about it, it wouldn’t change Aiden’s situation. My primary concern now is what will happen when I am no longer here, which is a constant worry for me."
Autism spectrum disorder, the medical term for the condition, encompasses a range of developmental disorders that affect communication, social interaction, interests, and behavior. It is not classified as a disease but rather a condition one is born with; it is estimated that one in every 100 individuals in the UK is autistic.