Paul Scholes named Nicky Butt as his funniest ever team-mate at Manchester United as he recalled an amusing tale of their time together in the reserves.
The two Englishmen came through United's fabled Class of '92 academy side to go on and win major honours for the senior team and represent their country. Both Scholes and Butt were key players in Sir Alex Ferguson's glory years, making almost 1000 appearances between them for their boyhood club.
Butt left United long before Scholes retired for the second time in 2013, but his former colleague still counts him as the biggest joker in the dressing room. ""He's funny isn't he? You just sort of look at him and he'll make you laugh," Scholes said to Gary Neville on The Overlap.
"He does some stupid stuff though," Scholes began to recall. "Was you in the dressing room at Old Trafford when we was playing for the reserves?
"You have the whiteboard where Jim Ryan comes and announces the team. So we're all sat in there about half 12 before a two o'clock kick-off - he writes Butt, Butt, Butt in a 4-4-2 formation. Don't you remember? He did it in permanent marker, he couldn't get it off!
"Jim Ryan walks in looks to half the team he's got Nicky Butt in a 4-4-2. Brilliant."
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Scholes also had some kind words to say about ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who he formed a solid partnership with together at Old Trafford. "I loved playing with Ruud," Scholes admitted. "Because I knew what he wanted without speaking to him."
Neville replied: "Do you remember when the boss [Ferguson] used to say, 'it's only Scholes who can see his runs, the rest of you get your f***ing heads up!"
He added: "You were the only one who could spot his runs because they were that f***ing subtle. He made little darting [runs]."
Scholes responded: "No I don't think that's true. I just knew what he wanted. At that time I was playing No.10 I wasn't playing in midfield. Football's all about having relationships with people. I don't think you see a lot of that these days."
"I wanted someone who would run in the channel," Neville joked.
"Yeah I know, to pull you out the s***," Scholes quipped back. "Make you look a better football than you are."
Scholes finished his career having won 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and two Champions Leagues, while also earning 66 caps for his country despite announcing his international retirement in 2004, nine years before he hung up his boots.
Many credit Scholes as being one of the best players and midfielders of his generation, including the likes of Thierry Henry and Barcelona icon Xavi. Ferguson also referred to Scholes as being "one of the greatest players this club has ever had and will ever have" in his final speech when announcing his own retirement after their final campaign working together.
Scholes has since embarked on brief stints in management, twice as caretaker of Salford City - the club he co-owns with Neville, Butt and other members of the Class of '92, which came either side of a 31-day stint at Oldham Athletic.
