Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has delivered a scathing assessment of a former teammate, labelling goalkeeper Mark Bosnich as one of the club's worst-ever signings.
Scholes' damning verdict on a failed successor
Speaking on the popular football show The Overlap, Scholes was asked about the club's transfer missteps. When the name of Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron was suggested, Scholes defended his former colleague's talent before turning his attention to the goalkeeping department.
Mark Bosnich joined United on a free transfer from Aston Villa in June 1999, tasked with the monumental job of replacing the legendary Peter Schmeichel. His stay at Old Trafford was brief, lasting just 19 months before he left for Chelsea, also on a free transfer, in January 2001 following the arrival of Fabian Barthez.
Scholes, an 11-time Premier League champion with United, did not hold back in his criticism. He claimed Bosnich was "so unprofessional" and revealed astonishing details about the Australian's training habits and technical flaws.
'He couldn't kick a football'
"I thought he was a good keeper at Villa," Scholes admitted. "He came to us, he was so unprofessional. Honestly, it was ridiculous." The former midfielder painted a vivid picture of Bosnich's struggles during routine sessions.
"In shooting practice, you normally have like 15, 20 shots. After three shots, he's knackered, 'oh no, get someone else in'," Scholes recalled. He then highlighted a fundamental technical deficiency that shocked the United squad.
"I never realised, he couldn't kick a football. I've never seen anything like it," Scholes stated. He cited a specific match away at Everton in the first game of the season where the issue became glaringly apparent. "None of us picked up on it, he couldn't reach the halfway line. There was no wind, it was a perfect day."
Scholes attributed the problem to Bosnich's footwear, remarking, "But when you look at his feet, size 14s, honestly he was just kicking the floor all the time, big flippers. Honestly, it was disappointing."
Ferguson's long-standing criticism and Bosnich's rebuttal
Scholes' comments echo those made years earlier by the man who signed Bosnich, Sir Alex Ferguson. In his 2013 autobiography, the legendary manager was equally critical, writing, "Mark Bosnich was, in my opinion, a terrible professional, which we should have known."
Ferguson revealed the club had rushed into the deal after Schmeichel's surprise retirement announcement and had reservations after receiving reports about Bosnich's off-pitch conduct. He even sent a scout to watch him train and was unconvinced, preferring to sign Edwin van der Sar instead. However, then-chairman Martin Edwards had already shaken hands on the deal with Bosnich.
Bosnich has consistently denied Ferguson's characterisation. In an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, the former goalkeeper responded: "It wasn't unfair – it was just a lie."
He suggested Ferguson's view was coloured by later events, including Bosnich's well-documented issues with drugs after his playing career. "He's got good evidence to back himself up. At that time, though, it was a lie," Bosnich argued. He also noted that Ferguson had signed him twice and expressed gratitude for the initial opportunity.
The stark disagreement between a club legend, its most successful manager, and the player at the centre of the storm ensures that Mark Bosnich's ill-fated 19 months at Manchester United remain a contentious chapter in the club's storied history.
