Paul Scholes Reflects on Manchester United’s Notable Signings: A Focus on Mark Bosnich

In a recent episode of *The Overlap*, Paul Scholes addressed some of Manchester United’s most controversial signings, prominently featuring Juan Sebastian Veron. Often regarded as one of the club’s least successful transfers, Veron struggled to justify his £28 million price tag—then a Premier League record—during his two seasons at United after joining from Lazio in 2001. However, Scholes defended Veron’s talent, suggesting that the Argentine was a victim of circumstance rather than a poor player, while he pointed to former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich as the club’s worst signing during his time.

Scholes stated, “Veron was a great player, a talented player. I don’t really know why it didn’t work for him, but what a footballer. When thinking about goalkeepers, it was always going to be a challenge to replace Peter Schmeichel. We had a few attempts, including [Massimo] Taibi and Mark Bosnich. I initially thought Bosnich was a good keeper at [Aston] Villa, but he arrived with a lack of professionalism that was quite astounding. During shooting practice, he would often become exhausted after just a few shots, exclaiming, ‘Oh no, get someone else in.'”

Scholes further criticized Bosnich’s basic skills, noting, “I never realized he couldn’t kick a football. I witnessed this firsthand during our first game of the season against Everton. None of us picked up on it, but he couldn’t reach the halfway line with his goal-kicks. It was a perfect day—no wind—but despite having size 14 feet, it was as if he was just kicking the ground. Honestly, it was disappointing.”

Bosnich had been regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League upon his arrival from Aston Villa in 1999, tasked with succeeding the legendary Peter Schmeichel. However, just a week into his time at United, his lack of readiness became evident when he arrived an hour late to his own wedding after a night in police custody due to an altercation with a photographer while celebrating his stag do with friends, including United striker Dwight Yorke.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who had initially signed Bosnich as a teenager in 1988, was less than impressed with the goalkeeper upon his return. He described him as a “terrible professional” and noted that he appeared “overweight.” Despite these concerns, Bosnich started as Ferguson’s number one for most of the 1999-2000 season, making 23 Premier League appearances and winning the title in his first year. However, his contract was terminated just 18 months after his arrival, leading him to Chelsea.

Bosnich’s time at Chelsea proved to be even more tumultuous. In September 2002, he failed a drugs test, resulting in his expulsion from the club and a nine-month ban from football. Although he claimed his drink had been spiked with cocaine, he later admitted to developing an addiction. He reflected, “I wasn’t taking any drugs when I was found guilty by the FA. In 15 years of football, I never touched them. But everyone believed I was into drugs… So one day I thought, ‘F*** it, I’m going to do it.’ I went to a club, bought a £50 wrap of coke, and brought it home to try. Basically, I cracked. I was angry and bitter and succumbed to what everyone said I was, a coke fiend.”

At one point, Bosnich revealed he was consuming six grams of cocaine a day, and in a notorious incident, he mistook his father for an intruder, attempting to shoot him with an air rifle.