Paul Scharner, an Austrian footballer, was born on March 11, 1980 in Scheibbs. Though he started off as a midfielder, he has been playing as a central defender since 2005. He was picked for the Austria national football team in 2002 and has made a total of 16 international appearances for the national team as of August 2008.
Paul Scharner started his career in football by joining the youth ranks at SVG Purgstall in 1987, following which he moved to the youth club of VSE St. Pölten in 1993. After a three- year stint there, he joined Austria Wien in 1996, again as a youth player. In 1998, Paul Scharner progressed to the senior side of Austria Wien and was a part of the team that won the 2003 Austrian Football Bundesliga. He also helped the club lift the 2003 Austrian Cup. During his six-year stint with the club, he made 84 appearances and scored 3 goals.
In 2004, Paul Scharner transferred to SV Salzburg, an Austrian football club, and during his tenure there he netted 3 goals in 18 matches. Later that year, he joined Sportsklubben (SK) Brann, a Norwegian football club, and played a major role in the club winning the 2004 Norwegian Cup. In 2005, Brann fans picked Paul Scharner as the Player of the Year and he also went on to become one of the best players in all the major player rankings in Norwegian newspapers and television channels. In all, he played 32 matches and scored 7 goals for this club.
On December 22, 2005 Paul Scharner signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Wigan Athletic F.C. for £2,500,000, making his transfer the biggest in the history of SK Brann. He joined the team after the holidays and scored the winning goal in his first match for Wigan, against Arsenal F.C., at the Carling Cup. Paul Scharner was instrumental in helping the club secure the runner-up position at the 2006 English League Cup and went on to be voted as the 2008 Wigan Athletic Player of the Year. As of May 2008, he has played 78 matches and netted 10 goals for Wigan Athletic F.C.
Having experienced both the beautiful and ugly sides of football, Paul Scharner always has the motivation to work much and professionally. He feels that his team mates should work , together so that, the team will be a tough one that can be relied upon.
