Winger Ryan Giggs can break Bobby Charlton’s record number of appearances for Manchester United in the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21 after playing against West Ham United today.
Charlton’s record has been listed as 759 appearances since he played his last match for the club in 1973.
However, a recent re-examination has shown that Charlton’s tally included an FA Cup third-round tie against Bolton Wanderers in January 1962 which he actually missed because he was taken ill on the morning of the match.
Giggs, 34, came on as a substitute in United’s 4-1 victory over West Ham for his 757th appearance.
He will beat Charlton’s record if he plays against Wigan Athletic in United’s final Premier League game of the season next Sunday and then also appears in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow on May 21.
Asked on Sky Sports TV whether Giggs could break the record this season, a smiling Ferguson replied: “There’s a chance, I think there’s a very good chance.”
Since making his League debut against Everton in March 1991, Giggs has won nine Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League in 1999.
Dave
Guest
Millister You are right, Giggs is, it seems, one of the few players who display some loyalty to the club where he was brought through in the Youth system. Remeber years ago he could have gone to Italy, Inter from memory, but chose to play on with United. His goal in the FA Cup Semi Final in 1999 was one of the great goals in English football. Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck prickle when l see it. If you watch any of Uniteds major games in the era of the EPL Giggs will be there. For me personally l would love to see him holding aloft the Champions League trophy in Moscow, thereby breaking the games record and then calling it quits. There could be no greater way to leave the game.
Millster
Guest
I am not a Man U fan by any stretch of the imagination, in fact quite the opposite. But what a total legend is Ryan Giggs. I wish he could have graced the world stage more, but his loyalty to Wales combined with the anomaly of Great Britain not playing as one united team, robbed him of the heights of international success in European and World Cup championships. I'm sure Sir Bobby doesn't mind in the slightest handing his record over to such an amazing servant of the club. Respect! For so, so much is due.