Paul Scholes reveals he's split from wife after 26 years of marriage as Man Utd icon quits TV work

Scholes, 50, explained that he and Froggatt now share parenting duties equally, with each spending three nights a week caring for their son, who was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two-and-a-half.

“Aiden has quite a strict routine every single day, so everything I do now is built around him,” Scholes said.

“We always do the same things because he doesn’t know what day of the week it is or what time it is, but he knows from what we’re doing what day it is.”

The former midfielder detailed how he has established simple but meaningful rituals with his son.

“I pick him up every Tuesday from his daycare and we go swimming,” he continued.

“He loves swimming, then we get his pizza on the way home.

“On Thursdays, I pick him up, we go for something to eat, then home.

“On Sundays, I pick him up from Claire’s house and we go to Tesco where he fills the trolley with chocolate. He’ll be 21 in December.”

Scholes admitted that Aiden’s diagnosis was initially overwhelming.

“When I say he can’t speak, I think he understands a lot more than we think,” he said. “He has sounds, but only people close to him will know what he’s saying.”

The former England international said that the early years were the toughest, with the challenges of communication sometimes leading to distress for both father and son.

“I never got a break from it, even when I was playing,” the former United midfielder said.

“There were times I’d turn up for training with bite or scratch marks. It was very hard in those days.

“You knew early something was wrong, and then when you get the diagnosis, it hits you. I remember once playing Derby away and I just didn’t want to be there. The manager dropped me the week after, and I hadn’t told anyone yet.”

Despite the difficulties, Scholes was quick to stress that his story is not one of seeking sympathy.

“Don’t get me wrong, he can be so happy it’s untrue, and it gives you great pleasure and joy. It’s not all bad,” he added.

However, he admitted to one lasting fear — what will happen to Aiden when he and his former wife are no longer around.

Scholes also described the heartache of moments when Aiden has been in pain but unable to explain what is wrong, recalling an incident involving a toothache that left him feeling helpless.

“It’s those times that really get to you,” he said quietly.

The decision to reduce his television work was not only about family but also about maintaining stability for his son.

“Last season, I used to do the Europa League on Thursday nights for United — that was the night I’d usually have Aiden. He would get agitated, biting and scratching, because he knew the pattern had changed,” Scholes explained.

“I’d done that for years, always thinking I had to stop at some point. So when the podcast opportunity came up, I thought that would suit me better — well, not me, Aiden.”

Since retiring in 2013, Scholes has remained a sought-after voice in football, featuring on television panels and writing columns.

But his focus has shifted entirely. His new podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Football, co-hosted with fellow United icon Nicky Butt, allows him to work flexibly around Aiden’s schedule.

For Scholes, life now revolves around his son’s happiness and stability.

“All the work I do is just around his routines,” he said. “I just decided that everything I’m going to do, it’s around Aiden.”