The decision of a former international great whose disabled child scratches and bites instead of talking
Former England international Paul Scholes, 50, decided to retire from his role as a sports commentator earlier this year to devote 100% to his son Aiden, who suffers from a severe form of autism. The footballer who spent his entire career in Manchester United's big team has now agreed to talk about life with his 20-year-old son.
The former footballer and his son, Aiden. Instagram photo by paulscholesaaa
Paul Scholes was totally devoted to his boy, as he recounted on the 'Stick to Football' podcast: “I made a decision this year because of Aiden, because of his special needs as you may know. All the work I do now revolves around his daily schedule, which is very strict. So I just decided that everything I do will revolve around Aiden.”
The former great footballer revealed that his son only communicates with a few sounds: “He bites your hand or scratches you out of frustration, because he doesn't understand things, he can't tell you how he feels. I never had a break from that, not even when I was playing. The doctors didn't diagnose him until he was two and a half years old. But I knew from the beginning that something was wrong. Then the diagnosis came, I had never heard of anything like it.
Paul Scholes is 100% dedicated to his son. Instagram photo by paulscholesaaa
Suddenly you start to see everything, I don't know if it just happens consciously. I remember the first time after an away game at Derby, I just didn't want to be there. I remember the coach left me out of the team the following week and I hadn't told anyone about my son's disorder. I ended up telling them a few weeks later because it was very difficult for me,” added the former England midfielder.
Paul Scholes, 25 trophies with Manchester United
In 2020, Paul Scholes went through another difficult time, separating from his wife Claire after a relationship of 21 years. The two have two more children together, Aaron and Alicia. “Claire and I are no longer together, so Aiden stays three nights each and his mum has him on Friday nights. We always do the same things with him because he doesn't know what day of the week it is or what time it is. He only knows what day it is by schedule.”said Scholes, who detailed the schedule he has with his son: “I pick him up every Tuesday from daycare and we go swimming.
Then we get pizza on the way home. Thursday we go to eat and then home. On Sunday I pick him up from Claire and we go to Tesco where he buys a trolley full of chocolates. That's how he knows the days, by the activities we do together”said Paul Scholes, a footballer who has won 25 trophies with Manchester United, including the Champions League in 2008.
