Giggs heads straight for football immortality
Roar Guru
By David Wiseman, 29 Apr 2009 David Wiseman is a Roar Guru
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- EPL, football, Manchester United, Ryan Giggs, World Football
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Manchester United's Ryan Giggs celebrates after scoring a late equaliser against Celtic during their Champions League Group E soccer match at Celtic Park Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday Nov. 5, 2008. AP Photo/Jon Super
He is a freak. He made his debut in March 1991 and is still going strong. While his team-mates have come and gone through the revolving door which is professional sports, he is the one constant.
And while guys his age are being pensioned off, not only has he maintained his form, but somehow he has managed to get better over time.
Ryan Giggs will make his 800th appearance for Manchester United in the Champions League tie against Arsenal this week.
That is a staggering amount.
But not as staggering as the amount of silverware he has amassed – ten Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and two League Cups.
He reminds me of Robert Harvey, but if Harvey had played in a much more successful team. That is no disrespect to Harvey, who is one of the greatest Australian athletes of all-time.
But Harvey was continually striving for the premiership which never came, whereas Giggs has won more times than he could remember.
In this day and age, you would have said that it would be impossible for someone like Giggs to exist. For someone to play at one club, and a club like Manchester United at that, for all this time.
But that is testament to his talent.
He isn’t being picked for sentimental reason, and as we have seen with David Beckham, Roy Keane and Paul Ince. Sir Alex Ferguson clearly does not allow sentimentality to interfere with his decision-making process.
For all of his glittering career, his international resume isn’t as shiny.
Like other illustrious Manchester United greats, such as Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona and George Best, Giggs never played at a World Cup. I don’t think Giggs cares too much about this.
It’s our loss, though, because it would have been fantastic to see him strut his stuff on the world’s highest stage.
Will there be anyone capable of repeating Giggs’ efforts?
Maybe.
Perhaps someone like Theo Walcott, who although he didn’t start his career at Arsenal, joined them at a sufficiently young age. He would then have to stay there until about 2024.
That puts Giggs’ achievements into some perspective.
When he finally does hang up the boots, it will be the end of an era. If Manchester United don’t retire his number 11, then it will be hard to see someone else running around with it.
Not as hard, though, on the guy wearing it.
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cosmos forever said | April 29th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
my understanding is that Giggs should have actually played for England in Internationals but was convinced he wasn’t good enough as a junior and called on ancestry provisions to nominate Wales. I’m pretty sure if he had’ve played for England they may well have had more success at major tournaments.
I might be wrong on this – it’s ages since I heard that anecdote.
Luke W said | April 29th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Giggs has adapted himself brilliantly as a footballer over the years. He burst onto the scene with his blinding pace and fantastic touch, but in recent years has kept himself a vital part of Fergie’s plans with intelligent positional play, and perfect passes and flicks.
Colin N said | April 29th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
I can’t remember specifically regarding Giggs playing for Wales, but believe it or not my driving instructor told me. I think he said that Giggs was actully born in Wales, but moved to England at the age of 1. Because his parents and grandparents were Welsh (I think), it meant there was no way he could play for England.
Brian said | April 29th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
I think Giggs could have played for England but chose Wales cause he is more Welsh rather than because he was not good enough. I also could be wrong on this. All credit to himself for reinventing himself. The only comparative player I can think of is Maldini who played longer but is a defender
Millster said | April 29th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment
On the nationality thing anyway its ridiculous that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland play as separate nations anyway… after all we don’t allow each separate part of the Russian Federation to enter the World Cup now do we?? So on that count alone he should have played for the United Kingdom.
But that broader issue aside (although it is one that drives me insane) I thoroughly applaud this article for highlighting one of the most remarkable players of the modern era.
Art Sapphire said | April 29th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
In regards to why Giggs did not play for England.
According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Giggs
Giggs was born at St David’s Hospital in Canton, Cardiff, Wales
FYI – Giggs is mixed race (his paternal grandfather is from Sierra Leone) and has spoken of the racism he faced as a child
He represented England at Schoolboy level (using the name Ryan Wilson) playing at Wembley Stadium against Germany in 1989. Lawrie McMenemy, then-coach of the England under-21 team, checked to see whether Giggs was eligible to play for England. However, he was rebuffed after finding that Giggs had no English grandparents, and was only available to play for Wales.
Ditto: What a great career. What a great player.
Millster – pretty brave of you to suggest Scots to play for team GB.
I have quite a few scottish friends and they enjoy nothing more than to see the Poms lose in football.
.
whiskeymac said | April 29th 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
i heard a rumour long ago that his dad purposely drove him over the border to be born a welshman…
hmpf. to think that the populations and cultures are the same whitewashes centuries of history and tradition and is less relevant as the countries are all devolving anyway… but it is a different story altogether and not the purpose of the blog.
millster maybe post an article for comment . I would be interested to hear your views (honestly)
Millster said | April 29th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
Art, Whiskey – I have raised this a number of times over the last 18mths. And I agree with Art on the view the Scots hold of the Poms etc. But it bears again pointing out that EXACTLY the same split happens in so many other countries with semi-autonomous federated structures and yet they have to field a unified national team in all sports. So I don’t know why the UK is so different.
Brian said | April 29th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
The Brits invented the game and so it would be harsh to force them to give up Scotland, Wales & N.Ireland. Yes the rule is unfair but it also seems just reward for the game’s invention and development. Its kind of like all AFL Grand Finals being played at the MCG or Australia & the UK still getting to hold a tennis gran slam every year. It is a small acknowledgement of where the sport came from.
In this case the move also generally only hurts England as they miss out on players like Giggs and Olympic representation whilst the other nations are not good enough to make a dent at World Cups etc.
Also if you argue that the UK should play at one team, would you also expect the same of the EU since they are slowly moving towards effectively forming one nation? They would have one hell of a team.
Mick of Newie said | April 29th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
My favourite joke about the Scottish/English thing is that when England are playing Scots support the other team, when Scotland is playing the English support Scotland because one country really, same queen and because it really winds up the Scots.
As for Giggs, just about my favourite EPL player notwithstanding that he plays for ManU. His capacity to maintain his quality in an environment that has turned over many good players often before they have felt it was time to go.
Loved to see him take off down the left wing last weekend to set up Rooney’s goal (even if it was another dagger in Liverpool’s heart).