SCHOLES NAMES BOSNICH WORST SIGNING

Paul Scholes has named his former Manchester United teammate Mark Bosnich as the club's worst-ever signing. The ex-United midfielder reflected on Bosnich’s brief stint at Old Trafford, claiming the goalkeeper failed to live up to expectations after being brought in to replace Peter Schmeichel.

Following Manchester United’s historic treble-winning season in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson was tasked with finding a reliable successor for the legendary Schmeichel.

Ferguson turned to Bosnich, who had previously been at United in 1991 before returning to Australia due to visa issues. After establishing himself as a top Premier League goalkeeper during a successful spell at Aston Villa, Bosnich returned to United in 1999.

Despite winning a league title in his debut season, Bosnich’s 18-month stint was a disappointment. Scholes, speaking on *The Overlap*, singled him out as the worst transfer of Ferguson’s era. "I go back to the goalkeepers when you had to replace Peter Schmeichel, which was always going to be difficult. We had a few. I was thinking [Massimo] Taibi, Mark Bosnich," Scholes said.

Scholes admitted that while Bosnich had impressed at Villa, his time at United was marred by unprofessionalism. "He came to us, he was so unprofessional. Honestly, it was ridiculous. In shooting practice, after three shots, he was knackered. ‘Oh no, get someone else in,’” Scholes recalled.

One of the biggest surprises for Scholes was Bosnich’s inability to kick a football properly, something they discovered in their first game of the season. "We played Everton away, first game, and none of us picked up on it. He couldn’t reach the halfway line. There was no wind, it was a perfect day, but he kept kicking the floor all the time. Disappointing."

Bosnich’s return to Manchester United was also marked by personal issues, including an arrest for an incident involving a photographer on his stag night. Despite the turbulence, Bosnich played for United until Fabien Barthez’s arrival, which relegated him to the bench.

In 2001, Bosnich moved to Chelsea but his career took another downturn after he was banned from football in 2002 following a positive test for cocaine. The Australian goalkeeper struggled with addiction, which led to a six-year absence from the sport before attempting a brief comeback with Central Coast Mariners in his homeland.

Ferguson was critical of Bosnich in his 2013 autobiography, describing him as "a terrible professional." In response, Bosnich remarked: "The fact remains that I was the only player he signed twice at Manchester United. I’m honoured to be mentioned. He’s entitled to his view, and I’m entitled to mine."

Today, Bosnich has transitioned into a punditry career and regularly appears on Sky Sports News from Australia, offering his views on the Premier League and all things Manchester United.