Ryan Giggs is set to make his 900th appearance for the club on Thursday in Amsterdam but has today revealed that he almost copied Paul Scholes in hanging up his boots at the end of last season.
Giggs played in 38 games in total last season on the way to collecting his record 12th league title and as the season progressed, realised he wasn’t ready to stop playing yet.
“When to retire is difficult. Do you quit too early or go that one too many games and let people see you on the slide? It’s hard for me, even with my experience, not to play or be involved and last season was difficult before Christmas,” Giggs told The Telegraph. “I didn’t play many games, I had a hamstring injury and had a chat with the gaffer, saying I was frustrated, but he said I would get my games. I was thinking maybe it could be my last season, but towards the end, I didn’t want the season to stop.”
Scholes backtracked on his decision to retire and has been instrumental in some of United’s victories since. Giggs has acknowledged it’s important to make sure he gets the decision on retirement right, although reckons he will last longer if he plays centrally rather than on the wing.
“Retirement is just a decision that I have to take my time with because I feel different after each game,” he continued. “After the 3-3 game at Chelsea recently, it was a really hard game, but I felt brilliant afterwards. Yet there have been other games when I haven’t felt so good. After the game at Arsenal, I didn’t feel so great, so it’s swings and roundabouts. You can’t decide after one game. It’s just something I really need to think about and take my time over. Moving into central midfield has definitely helped me. I had a taste of what it was like on the wing against Liverpool on Saturday and it’s just completely different – it’s a different game because you are up and down all the time. When I played on the wing, I would feel absolutely knackered after games. I obviously come off tired after games now, but not as tired as I used to be when I was a winger. Not many players get to 900 games, so to play at United for that amount of time and games is something to be proud of.”
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Giggsy = Ledgend
United’s greatest ever player
Sometimes, I wish he would.
Would be better with some speed in the team!
Too many passes that does not go to the right player now from Giggsy.
Abit sad though, since he has great crosses from the flank, but not the speed to play there anymore.
I wonder what it’s going to take to stop him I really do.
Thing is, physically, he’s not going to decline much more until he’s forty or so. If he can handle the game now, he’ll be able to handle it for a while longer. The big game changer for most players is the early thirties loss of pace and stamina, but he’s coped with that. If he does two more seasons he’ll be on close to a thousand games for us.
Must confess I love that Giggs and Scholes are still this great years after people said they were past it. They are an inspiration on so many levels it’s ridiculous. The term legend gets tossed around like confetti at a wedding, and rightly at United, but I think Scholes and Giggs are more than that, they are icons. Paragons. Saints.
Welcome to United Mr. Giggs
Oh wait wrong line –
LEGEND!
If Giggsy = Ledgend, who’s going to take up the mantle-piece when he stops coping?
1000 competitive matches for Club and Country may start Ryan Giggs Knighthood.
Only 31 to go.
Unless Her Majesty would prefer Sir Ryan to lead at the Olympics.
Sir Alex has said he would love to write “Sir Ryan Giggs” on his team-sheet.
Would be great if Ryan became the first footballer to be knighted whilst still playing,
Arise Sir Ryan
I’d love nothing more but for Giggsy to get a knighthood. However with what went down in his personal life last year I think we can all kiss that dream good bye.
We can obsess about it but unfortunately the British media will be more against it than people realise. Had this happened early on in his career things may be different. Regardless United legend and nobody can take that away from him. For me he doesn’t need it to cement his legacy in football.
But havent other guys with private shenannigans been on the Honors list? I mean Jagger and McCartney for fucks sake. Or are there different standards for rock stars?
My friend is Hrvoje Biscan, brother of Igor Biscan ex liverpool player. He told me that the worst position is winger. You are runing like hell, no rest at all. HE said that you have to be special to play that position, so only best on Giggs.
Sir Ryan Giggs.
Sadly, I agree with NotoriousRed Devil. In the famous words of George Best as he sat in a police cell somewhat the worse for drink, ‘That’s the knighthood fucked, I suppose…’ However, I certainly agree with Jeet, there have certainly been loads of serial shaggers who’ve had honours.
I wish Giggsy hadn’t been so honest in this interview as it reveals that he’s human after all. Every time he drifts out wide now defenders will remember, this guy’s knackered and can’t run up and down any more.
I hope he wins his ‘Unlucky 13th’ Title and gets a Europa Cup winner’s medal too, just to complete his set.
I think that Giggs and Scholes should both be phased out now.
They are still top class players, but give the kids a chance!
Sir Giggsy!
Giggs a true legend!!!!!!
The way he’s playing, I see a couple of years yet, that will allow Sir Alex to integrate the younger players into the squad.
Pogba looks like he is going to be something special and along with Cleverley (if he stays healthy) will be a great pairing for years to come. Smalling and Jones in center defense, the DaSilva brothers on the outside and all our wingers (Nani, Valencia, Young) still have plenty of good years ahead. The same can be said for our strikers, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez up front. Our keepers are all still young and improving. With so many good young players to list, there is no other team in the premier league that has a future as bright as ours.
Sir Alex is true footballing genius!!
Dont retire until you reach 1000th Giggsy!!
@jonny:
fuck off will u?! Ungratefull twunt, u didnt deserve to talk about our legends like that.
Jonny and we never die. Fucking idiots. Still two of the best players in the league. These two are different class and its up to the kids to force them out. Sometimes some of the comments from united “fans“ astound me. No matter their age they are fucking top drawer still. Just ask stevie me who has seven or eight years on these two. He was chasing shadows on Saturday. Unbelievable.
MANU7
more like clev-pogba-jones midfield, raf-smalling-evans-fab/fryers at defense.
how could you miss out on jonny, have you watched him these past games? fucking beast. oh and jones at midfield is genius, don’t forget!