The midfielder won 66 caps and scored 14 goals during his seven years with the national side and will not be forgotten quickly.

Scholes, 29, made his debut for England against South Africa at Old Trafford in May 1997 under Glenn Hoddle, and after scoring against Italy in his first start he went on to score three goals in his first five England appearances.

The Manchester United midfielder's inclusion spelt the end for his team-mate Teddy Sheringham and then went on to feature in the next two World Cups and European Championships for the national side.

Goalscoring became a feature of Scholes' play and he scored his only hat-trick for England in Kevin Keegan's first game in charge in March 1999 against Poland at Wembley.

Scholes became a national hero when he scored both goals for England during the first leg of their crucial 2-1 European play-off win over Scotland at Hampden Park in November 1999.

However the Manchester United man suffered a three-year barren spell going in to Euro 2004, and there were some calls for Sven Goran Eriksson to drop him.

His midfield role was also under pressure from Steve Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but Eriksson stayed loyal to his midfielder and as a result his goalless run came to an end this summer when he scored England's 4-2 demolition of Croatia in Euro 2004.

After England were knocked out against Portugal however, Scholes decided he had played his last game for the Three Lions and announced his retirement yesterday.