Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE[2] (born Ryan Joseph Wilson on 29 November 1973) is a Welsh footballer who has played for Manchester United for his entire club career. He established himself as a left-winger during the 1990s and continued in this position well into the 2000s, but more recently has played in a deeper playmaking role.

Giggs holds a host of football records, including that of being the most decorated player in English football history. On 16 May 2009, he became the first footballer to collect 11 top division English league title medals. Giggs was the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 and 1993) and is the only player to have played and scored in every single season of the Premier League since its inception.

Giggs has had a long-lasting domestic and continental career and is the first player in UEFA Champions League history to have scored in 12 successive seasons, on top of being elected into the PFA Team of the Century in 2007,[3] the English Premier League Team of the Decade, in 2003, as well as the FA Cup Team of the Century. Giggs is also the only United player to have played in all 11 Premier League winning teams and all three League Cup winning teams. At the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final, held on 21 May 2008, Giggs surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for Manchester United to become the club's all-time leader in appearances.

At international level, Giggs played for the Welsh national team prior to his retirement from international football on 2 June 2007, and was once the youngest player to ever represent his country. As well as the many honours Giggs has received within football such as being named in the Football League 100 Legends, he was appointed an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours List, and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005, for his services to

English Football.

Manchester United first team

Overview

Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990-91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991-92 season. He holds the club record for competitive appearances, and the club record for team trophies won by a player (23). Since 1992, he has collected 11 Premier League winner's medals, 4 FA Cup winner's medals, 3 League Cup winner's medals and 2 Champions League winner's medals. He also has runner-up medals from the Champions League, 2 FA Cup finals and 2 Football League Cup finals, as well as being part of 4 United teams to have finished second in the league. In recent years, Giggs has captained the team on numerous occasions, particularly in the 2007–08 season when regular captain Gary Neville was ruled out with various injuries. Giggs is the only Manchester United player to have scored in every season of the Premier League for the club.

Personal information

Full name Ryan Joseph Giggs
Date of birth 29 November 1973 (1973-11-29) (age 35)
Place of birth Canton, Cardiff, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 11
Youth career
1985–1987 Manchester City
1987–1990 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Club Apps† (Gls)
1991– Manchester United 569 (104)
National team
1990 Wales U21 1 (0)
1991–2007 Wales 64 (12)

Honours

Manchester United

* Premier League (11): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
* FA Cup (4): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
* Football League Cup (3): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09
* FA Community Shield (7): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008
* UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
* UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991
* Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
* FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

Individual

* PFA Player of the Year: 2009
* PFA Young Player of the Year: 1992, 1993
* Bravo Award: 1993
* BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1996

* Wales Player of the Year Award: 1996, 2006
* FA Premier League Player of the Month: September 1993, August 2006, February 2007
* PFA Team Of The Century: 2007[3]
* PFA Team of the Year: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2007, 2009
* Goal of the Season: 1999
* English Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2005

Records

* Only Manchester United player to have played in all eleven Premier League-winning teams and only player to win 11 league titles
* Only Manchester United player to have played in all three League Cup-winning teams
* Only player to have scored in eleven consecutive Champions League tournaments
* Only player to have scored in fourteen different Champions League tournaments
* Only player to have scored in every Premier League campaign since its inception
* Most appearances by a Manchester United player