13 Paul Scholes

Sir Alex Ferguson sat back in his chair, staring out into the dimming summer evening. The warmth of the day still lingered, but there was something in his expression—something deeper, a quiet contemplation of the past and the future.

Casey, his wife, stepped closer, her voice soft. "Alex, are they gone?"

Ferguson nodded. "They just left."

She studied him carefully. "Why didn't you speak more? You've always been one to give advice."

The old manager exhaled. "People get old, Casey. They get tired. And then they leave."

Through the open window, he could still make out the distant headlights of departing cars. The Class of '92, the boys he had nurtured, had come and gone. And now, Manchester United was no longer his to guide.

Casey gave him a knowing smile. "You must feel proud, though—seeing pieces of yourself everywhere."

Ferguson's gaze didn't waver. "Yeah… these past few days, I keep thinking about '99. The Treble. How young they all were. Now, they've retired. I've retired. Time is a cruel thing."

She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You came in as Mr. Ferguson and left as Sir Ferguson. You've done more than most could ever dream of."

Ferguson hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "I should feel content, but… when I look at that boy, at Tiger… there's something that aches."

Casey raised an eyebrow. "Tiger King?"

He nodded. "The best of the Class of '92. If not for the injury… Casey, I swear, he'd have outshone Giggs, Beckham, all of them."

"But now he's taken your place. That's something, isn't it?"

Ferguson leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment. "I didn't give him any coaching advice today."

Casey frowned. "Why? I thought that was one of the reasons you gathered them."

The old manager smirked. "Casey, you know me too well. Yes, I brought them here for Tiger—but not to lecture him on coaching. People think I'm getting soft, that I just threw his name out there carelessly. But I've watched him for sixteen years. I know what he's capable of. The youth team's success wasn't an accident. He worked hard, but more than that, he had ideas—real ideas. He sees football differently. He's ambitious, and I could see it in his eyes tonight. That's why I picked him."

Casey remained quiet for a moment, letting his words settle.

Ferguson took a sip of water, then continued, "But I did have something prepared for him. A gift."

"A gift?" Casey looked around the room. "I didn't see anything."

Ferguson chuckled. "Not a thing. A person."

A flicker of realization crossed Casey's face. "Paul?"

Ferguson nodded. "I called him a few days ago. He's got no concrete plans yet. And I told him… Tiger is going to need someone by his side."

Casey let out a slow breath, shaking her head. "For Tiger, that's one hell of a gift."

Ferguson smiled, eyes gleaming. "Paul Scholes. A footballing genius. If Tiger's going to conquer the world, he'll need a general on the sidelines."

He looked back out into the night, knowing somewhere out there, his greatest student was just about to realize tomorrow that his first ally had arrived.

The next morning, at Carrington Training Ground, Paul Scholes arrived with a small package in his hands. He stepped into the manager's office where Tiger King sat, still adjusting to the feeling of being Manchester United's head coach.

Scholes placed the package on the desk with a smirk. "A little something from the Class of '92," he said.

Tiger King raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"A notebook," Scholes replied. "Open it."

Tiger King untied the string and flipped it open. Inside, messages were scribbled across the pages—handwritten notes from Beckham, Giggs, Neville, Butt, and Scholes himself. Encouraging words, bits of advice, and inside jokes from their years together.

"These messages… you just wrote them?"

Scholes nodded. "Yeah. While you were out, I had David gather everyone's thoughts. You know… in the future, chances like this will be rare."

Tiger King paused, flipping through the pages, his expression unreadable. Then, he suddenly remembered something, "I heard you're making a film about the Class of '92 this summer?"

"Yeah, next month," Scholes said with a chuckle. "We're all getting together again. Captain, you should come. The film won't be complete without our real captain."

Tiger King let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "They're making a movie about you lot—the ones who became Manchester United's biggest stars. Not about me, the guy who retired at 18. No need for me to be there."

Scholes frowned, sensing the lingering weight of the past. "Captain…"

Tiger King saw the look on his old friend's face and decided to put him at ease. He smiled. "Paul, it's fine. That part of my life ended a long time ago. What matters is today. And look at me now—I've become the club's coach. That's something I never imagined."

Scholes clenched his fist. "Captain, I believe in you. You had the strongest football mind among us. If anyone can carry on Sir Alex's legacy and bring back the glory days, it's you."

Tiger King exhaled deeply, his gaze shifting toward the window. 

He didn't know what the future held. But in that moment, with Scholes' unwavering belief in him, he felt ready for the challenge.

Scholes suddenly said: "Captain, I still have something to discuss with you."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Tiger King turned to look at Scholes.

Scholes kept his eyes on the road, his expression calm and steady. "Captain, you've just started—do you lack a coach?"

Hearing this, Tiger King almost jolted out of his seat. If not for the seat belt, he might have hit his head. "Paul, are you saying…?"

Scholes nodded slightly. "I've just retired and haven't made any plans yet. I want to come back to Manchester United and work as a coach for a while—to gain experience and see if I'm suited for it."

Tiger King was momentarily stunned, then erupted with excitement. "Paul, are you serious? You're not joking, right?"

Scholes chuckled. "You know I'm not the type to joke around, Captain."

Tiger King clenched his fists and nearly shouted, "This is incredible! Paul, you don't even know how much I need someone like you. You understand this club inside and out, and your experience as a midfielder is unmatched. If you join my coaching staff, it'll be the best signing of the summer!"

Scholes smiled faintly. "I just want to help out. If I can be of any use to you and the club, that's all that matters."

Tiger King took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew that having Scholes on his staff wouldn't just help with tactics—it would also command instant respect from the players. This was Paul Scholes, a Manchester United legend. His presence alone could inspire the squad.

He turned to Scholes, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Paul, with you by my side, I really believe we can bring back Manchester United's glory."

Scholes allowed himself a small smile but remained humble. Deep down, he knew that Sir Alex Ferguson had entrusted him with an important mission—to support Tiger King in leading Manchester United into a new era. Scholes nodded firmly. "Let's do it, Captain."