Whilst Ryan Giggs is a player loved by many, I can’t help but think it will take his retirement to make people understand exactly what he’s achieved in his years at Manchester United.
He now has more appearances than any other player who’s pulled on our shirt, he has won ten league titles as well as two European Cups. He has turned down the opportunities to play football for more money on the continent and the good care he has taken of himself allows him still to be playing at the top level when 34-years-old.
The title ‘legend’ gets overused, but even before Giggs retires, it’s safe to use that name for him.
Giggs first played for United an incredible 18 years ago. That means he has been playing for United’s first team for over half his life.
Now in the twilight of his career, he has reflected on his career at United, going back to his time as a 7-year-old in Salford.
“I could never envisage first of all how long I’m going to play in the team, and then how successful it’s been in that time,” Giggs said. “I have been fortunate to play in an era where it’s been the most successful time in Manchester United’s history so I have been lucky. I moved into Salford from the age of seven. I grew up in the Salford area, played for Salford Boys, and then to play for Manchester United is just unbelievable. You can’t describe it. You don’t think it’s going to happen.”
To remain so grounded after so many years in the spotlight is fantastic, and it is this kind of attitude that we’re going to miss when those ‘kids’ from the 1990s retire.
Will Giggs be appreciated more after he’s gone?
Man Utd News 24/7
Been saying this for years yeah, can’t see anyone begrudging Giggsy the praise he’ll finally get when he retires, even Dipper fans don’t dislike him. It’s a shame that he’s no longer the kid of 18 years ago because he gets a lot of unfair stick these days simply because people unreasonably expect him to still be the best left winger in the world but fortunately there are enough people with long enough memories that recognise the greatness of the man.
Most clubs couldn’t even dream of getting as much silverware as this guy has in his career! Citeh can have their trillions but it’d still take them years and years to match Ryan’s achievements!
Love him, absolutely love him.
yes…a legend would be a legend when retired, people will miss him and recognize him when he call it time.
He is an amazing player, an amzing sportsman, and an amazing person!! He is th emodel of what proffessional footballers should be, he always does everything he can for the team, is happy to sit on the bench when need be, or out of position (him and o’shea;s central midfield partnership comes to mind!) but i beleive he could play anywhere on the park he is that intelligent on a football pitch.
highest games ever for the greatest club in the world
18 years in first team football there
most succesful player in english league history
2 european cups (so far!)
Captain of his country
Arise Sir Ryan……???
Giggs is always appreciated….unless it’s in the midst of a game where he fumbles and Liverpool scores. Even then one calms down and remembers all of his other magical moments in the United shirt.
This is a man of whom people like Del Piero and Laurent Blanc supposedly praised to high heavens.
I just pray he learns to adapt to the ‘current’ game a bit more before he retires.
I was thinking about this on Tuesday when I had to delay the purchase of the new 3rd kit (shirt). I have always wanted to have Brown 6 on the back, as he’s one of my favourite players and I also wanted a British and loyal players name on it, due to it being designed to commemorate Euro ’68 bla bla bla…
…but then I was thinking about Giggs and all he’s achieved and generally how he is one of the more under-rated legends in football. I suppose, after playing in the first team for as long as he has at the best club in the world, you can never sing too much praise for him.
Seeing how happy and relieved he was at winning the Champions League, his and our pride in him breaking the all-time appearance record for United and just looking back over the years he has spent here and all that he has done, his runs, his goals… his celebration against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final
Giggs is a Legend.
In case you were wondering I have opted for ‘BROWN’ & ’6′…
I think giggsy Knows only to well , that good luck is when opportunity m
meets good preperation . he certainly prepared and kept himself ready.A true United Legend .
Love him, just love the guy. My generations George Best.
He has been outstanding throughout his career and to acheive all he has in that time truly marks him out as one of the best players ever not only to wear a United shirt but in general, the man is a LEGEND
Giggsy has been a great, great, great player for a long, long, long time at the very highest level. In fact, he is still a useful squad player but even the best don’t do everything right, all the time. And, don’t forget, the guys he’s playing against aren’t donkeys – even if they play for the scousers.
Tom F. – great choice on the shirt ! Gotta love our Wesley.
legend.
Such modesty . wish some ” superstars” would take notes
I appreciate him, i truly do but i can’t help but feel his time has come and he doesn’t have much to offer United anymore, i hope I’m wrong though, but hey i remember when everyone was writing off Scholesy last season and then he scored the winning goal against Barcelona, maybe Giggsy will do the same and shut me up on Sunday.
The thing I like the most about Giggs+Scholes is that they, unlike today’s Ronaldo+Rooney, rarely gave interviews, didn’t do many adverts and focused on football so much more than their image. When I read interviews about Rooney wanting to be captain, Ronaldo’s transfer gossip-fuelled summer, Rooney’s multimillion pound wedding and Ronaldo’s new car I feel sick. Then again, Giggs was a bit more of a lad when he was younger, maybe it’s just a phase for Rooney+Ronaldo.
He says ““I have been fortunate to play in an era where it’s been the most successful time in Manchester United’s history so I have been lucky.” It seems a little coincidental our dominance has been in the time Giggsy has been with us I will really miss him when he retires he may not have the pace of before but now and again he does a little cameo, a bit of skill which reminds us of what he used to do week in week out. A TRUE UNITED LEGEND!!!!!
The man is a legend, could possibly reach 800 games which for a winger is ridiculous. Its 10 years since the Semi final goal and we had 8 years of Giggs before that. Funny he seems to get more credit on the continent than in the UK, having visited Spain and Italy he is revered and feared. If he was english he’d be up there with the greats of all time because of the international exposure he would have gotten from Major tournaments as too much stock is placed on World cups etc. Has been a major part of all of Fergie’s great sides and for all the perceived criticisms he played a key part in 06-07′s title win bringing experience to the middle. United have won 54 trophies in their history. Giggs has won 28. More than 50% of our trophies, that amongst any of his other numerous achievements merits legendary status. And to think had he not got the hamstring injury in 95 we could have won another double which would have him as the player with most fa cup wins ever as well as league wins ever.