“Every season you can look at Ryan Giggs moments, and to be playing so well at his age is terrific as well – a great example to young players about how you should dedicate yourself throughout your career.” – David Moyes
Ryan Giggs was my first footballing hero. At first sight, that hairy chested Welsh wizard blitzed into my life and he has continued to amaze me.
He brings me the same spine tingling sensations I had when I first began watching the great man in 1999.
My first football jersey was Ryan Giggs, my first fan girl moment happened because of Ryan Giggs, and my favourite ever goal in football belongs to Giggsy, when he ripped through Arsene Wenger’s side in that fabulous 1999 FA Cup semi-final.
But the one thing I will never forgive Giggsy for is an incident that occurred this July.
I was watching United train at Jubilee Oval in the pouring rain, and Giggsy was meeting the United fans. He totally dogged our section and went straight back into the sheds while he was literally centimetres away from us.
But anyways, his performance midweek and against Cardiff were just sensational, their aren’t many words that can do it justice.
In Wales he made Marouane Fellaini and Tom Cleverley look like amateur imbeciles.
In the Champions League, against a German side, he was breathtaking, he ran over 1000 miles and was involved in absolutely everything. We barely felt the absence of Nemanja Vidic, Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick.
Just look at what his longevity has brought him – a collection of 34 major honors, he has scored in 21 consecutive seasons and he has lifted every trophy physically possibly in club football.
His footballing story is a romantic one. Manchester City didn’t think he was good enough, United gave him a chance, a home, a stable base, and he flourished into being something no one’s wildest imagination could have predicted.
Arsene Wenger pretty much nailed it in his tribute to the wizard this week – “Maybe he is like a good Bordeaux [wine]. He gets better as he gets older.”
You can always rely on him to do a job, and when he does eventually hang up those overrun boots, he will still be continuing the tradition in Manchester, and raising the fledglings of today.
Ryan Giggs is the best player to have ever graced the league, he may not be the most talented baller to have ever graced the English pitches but I dare you to find me someone who looks after them self so holistically, and still has the same drive, hunger, determination, skill and desire to keep putting himself through the training at the age of 40.
Let’s cherish these last few moments with Giggsy – it may come to an end this season or the next, but one thing’s for sure, it’s been an absolute honor to have watched this Welsh hairy chested wizard progress from a cheeky, scrawny 14 year old, to a footballing god of 40 years old.
There will never be another of his sort, he is simply the best.
Zee
Roar Guru
Well if she was Ryan Giggs I'd laud her too ;)
leon
Guest
This so much. If this universe had any scruple of justice, Giggs would be hounded out of football, and jeered wherever he went.
fadida
Guest
It does Zee, but Giggsy's sis-in-law isn't the one being lauded here :)
Zee
Roar Guru
Talented yes. But Longevity, Loyal, consistent and professional ... not many
Zee
Roar Guru
It takes two to tango
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Not even sure I agree with that Midfielder but it would be a decent debate. But that fact that he's only considered in the top 5 left sided in his era means he's a long way from 'simply the best'. Unless you ask his brother's wife.
Wanderer
Guest
Yawn, next Baresi and Maldini, 'nuff said.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I'm really not sure where I stand on Ryan Giggs but I tend to agree with AZ above. In terms of longevity he's remarkable and deserves huge respect. Just exactly how good he was I'm not so sure. There have been flashes of brilliance and he undoubtedly possessed great talent but I can also remember a huge amount of shocking finishing and crossing and a complete inability to get a corner over the first man. I know a couple of life long ManYoo fans who think he's entirely useless and always has been. I think whilst he's been consistent within the Premiership, I'd say that Overmars, Robben and Bale were all better than him if taken over their 'best' season in the competition. I also think he benefits gratefully from a relationship with the press that I simply can't comprehend and have to think that Ferguson's influence is in there somewhere. Everytime I've watched Giggs play in the past 2-3 seasons he's been like a pin ball bumper with the ball zipping around him whilst he watches yet everytime I read a match report when I didn't watch 'he was the best player on the pitch'. Ferguson slated many players (Beckham and Rooney for instance) for their marital issues and woes yet made ZERO mention of Giggs and his brothers' wife. Sorry, but if I was the manager and I found that out, you'd be gone whether it was a non footballing issue or not, no place for people like that. Maybe it was having to admit that hypocrisy that made Ferguson skip that section. There was another press bandwagon charge when he was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year a few years back. The bloke seems to walk on water. It probably seems like an anti Giggs rant which it isn't meant to be. He's been a superb player with a trophy haul that beggars belief but whilst he should go down as a ManYoo great, he's not remotely in the same class as many players of his generation. Certainly a long way from 'simply the best'. One last point. Javier Zanetti just passed 40, has made over 700 appearances (mainly for Internazionale and basically a one club guy after coming to Europe) and has turned out for his country 145 times and has just fought back from a serious achilles tendon rupture. Maybe not as aesthetically pleasing as Giggs but easily as good and as consistent.
fadida
Guest
correct. City were desperate to keep him
fadida
Guest
Agree that Giggs is totally tainted due to off field activities
Andy
Guest
Good point Franko, his dad is rather well known and disliked if I remember correctly.
Mals
Guest
"Manchester City didn’t think he was good enough" Not sure about this statement. From what I have read on his early childhood, Gigg's football team manager at the time Dennis Schofield was a Man City supporter & had tipped off Man City about his talents. Man City were waiting, expecting him to be driven up to their HQ. Man United & Alex Ferguson got under City's guard by going straight to his house to sign him.
Franko
Guest
Dean Windass? Stuart Pearce?
Franko
Guest
Terry is from a more chavy family as well I think. Pretty sure he has had members of his family wrangle with the law for maybe some theiving and coke dealing?
Andy
Guest
Agreed AZ, not worth typing out the list because it is far too long. Longevity has to count for something as so few eople can go on anywhere near that long. Great player, $#it person.
Andy
Guest
It's because no one ever glorifies John Terry, everyone hates him and everyone hates Chelsea (fair enough too). The same people that demoinsed Terry skip over their own favourite players like Giggs or Suarez. Wat Giggs did is as low an act as anyone could ever do.
Midfielder
Guest
At his peak he had to be among the top five left sided players of that time....
AZ_RBB
Guest
There is a very long list of players more talented than Giggs. But purely on longevity he is remarkable.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Not in the same class as Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic.
Eliot Bingham
Roar Pro
I remember growing up watching Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Peter Schmichael and Giggsy. Great memories. Agree tho that his of field indiscretions will taint his image