Ryan Giggs' gloriously successful career has been underpinned by an unyielding desire to keep on winning trophies - and he's got more than any other player in the club's history, 20 major honours to be exact.
Not only that, he is also United's record appearance-maker having surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's previous record (of 758) on the night he helped the Reds secure a third European Cup triumph and the second of his career.
He may be United's most decorated player, but he might never have graced Old Trafford had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s intervention. Cardiff-born Giggs wasattending Manchester City's School of Excellence in his early teens, but Sir Alex made a personal visit to his house on his 14th birthday and Ryan jumped at the chance to sign for his boyhood club.
He turned professional at United in November 1990. He made his League debut in the old Division One against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 as a substitute for Denis Irwin. The following season his first League start proved a memorable occasion, scoring his first ever United goal (albeit via a huge deflection off Colin Hendry) in a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Injury to Lee Sharpe enabledGiggs to pin down a regular place at the start of the 1991/92 campaign, thanks to his mesmerising dribbling skills and blistering pace. His first trophy arrived in November 1991 as United beat Red Star Belgrade in the European Super Cup final - Giggs was a 71st minute substitute for Lee Martin. The Welshman picked up his second winners' medal of the campaign five months later as the Reds claimed League Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest. The following season saw Giggs claim the first of his record ten Premier League winners’ medals.
His impressive trophy haul also contains an Inter-Continental Cup and seven CommunityShield winners’ medals, while he has played a part in four of Sir Alex Ferguson's five FA Cup triumphs. The prestigious cup competition will forever be synonymous with the Reds winger after his superb solo effort in the semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park in April 1999.
Ryan celebrated 10 years at Old Trafford with a testimonial match against Celtic in 2001/02. A year later he bagged his 100th career goal in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and became only the second ever player to play 700 games for United when he helped the Reds to a dramatic 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in March 2007.
The Welshman played an integral role in United's 2006/07 and 2007/08 title-winning seasons and was lauded by players and pundits alike.
Having retired from international football in June 2007 with 64 caps and 12 goals, Giggs was promptly honoured again - this time with an OBE as he was included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to football. The United winger signed a contract extension in October 2007 which will keep him at the club until at least June 2009.
Giggs, who netted his 100th league career goal in the 4-0 win over Derby in December 2007, crownedhis 18th season with the Reds by scoring United's second goal in the final day win at Wigan to confirm their tenth Premier League title - their 17th overall - before slotting home the decisive penalty in the dramatic shoot-out victory over Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow.
You need to be a member of 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network to add comments!
Replies