Ryan Giggs
D.O.B. 29/11/73
Nationality Great Britain (UK)
City of Birth Cardiff
Weight 68kg / 10st 10lb
Height 180cm / 5ft 11in
Team Manchester United
Position Midfield
Appearances with Club 482
Goals Scored with Club 99
International Caps 36 (Wales)
International Goals 7
Ryan Giggs moved to England, from Wales, at the age of seven. He
joined Dean's Youth FC where he learned how to play football. His
coach at Dean's Youth was Denis Schofield, who referred him to
Manchester City, where he played for their school of excellence
until he was 14 years old.
On his 14th birthday Alex Ferguson went to Ryan's home in Swinton,
Manchester, to ask him to sign schoolboy forms. Ken Barnes, City's
chief scout, had already confirmed they would not be signing him.
Their loss was Manchester United's gain, and the rest as they say
is history!
At 16, Ryan signed amateur forms (YTS) and turned professional in
November 1990, just after his 17th birthday.
His League debut for Manchester United came on 2 March 1991, against
Everton at Old Trafford, as a substitute for Denis Irwin. His first
League start was in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford at the
end of the same season, when he scored the only goal of the match.
Following an injury to Lee Sharpe at the start of the 1991/92 season,
Giggs was able to gain a regular first team place, making the left-wing
position his own.
Whilst at Manchester United, Giggs has won every domestic trophy, as
follows: the League Cup in 1992, League Championships in 1993, 1994,
1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and three FA Cup winners medals
in 1994, 1996 and 1999. Add to that the European Cup in 1999, and
you've got quite a club career!
Internationally, Ryan became the youngest man to play for Wales,
when he came on as a substitute against West Germany at the age
of 17 years and 321 days.
Ryan has scored many memorable and important goals for Manchester
United, including the remarkable solo effort in the last-ever FA
Cup semi-final replay, against Arsenal at Villa Park in April 1999.
In the final minutes of extra-time, with the game heading for a
penalty shoot-out, Giggs did what he does best and ran directly
at the Arsenal defence. He burst past four players before unleashing
a fierce shot into the roof of the net, giving David Seaman no chance.
Many critics rated it as the greatest goal of all time, by anyone!
That 2-1 semi-final victory kept up the impetus for United's relentless
march to the Treble, to which Giggs contributed immeasurably.
In the 1999/2000 season, Giggs treated United fans to the best form
of his life. Stunning displays of running at defenders, great crossing
and quality finishing led to the terrace song of "Giggs will tear you
apart again" making a very welcome comeback.
Seven goals in 41 appearances barely tells the story of Ryan's contribution
to yet another title-winning season. The Welsh wonder was instrumental
in countless United goals as Fergie's men again swept aside all domestic
competitors.
Sir Alex Ferguson said of Ryan, prior to the start of the 2000/01 season:
"I knew we had an outstanding talent when we gave him his debut and he's
been a special player for the last ten years. When he plays at the
level he is capable of there are few who can touch him in the world.
"Few have his pace and penetration when he has the ball at his feet
and he is also vital to us when we haven’t got the ball.
"He's a constant worry to defences and despite being a fantastic
individual talent, he also works hard for the team."
At the same time, Sir Alex revealed that the club's medical staff
had found a solution to Ryan's recurring hamstring problems, by
encouraging him to perform special stretching exercises before
and after training.
Ryan was briefly linked with a move to Lazio at the outset of
2000/01, following comments made by their coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
The future England boss reportedly said at the time, "I am interested
in signing a wide player and we all know which club the best two
wingers play for."
Any serious move by Eriksson would, of course, have been a
non-starter. As if to prove the point, Ryan agreed to sign a new
five-year contract with Manchester United, commencing 1 July 2001.
"Hopefully my best years are to come. I'm 27 and the next three or
four years should be my peak years," said Ryan, when the new deal
was announced on 4 April 2001.
Ten days later, he scored the goal which effectively clinched his
seventh Premiership title. His header gave United the lead against
Coventry City at Old Trafford, prior to Arsenal's decisive home
defeat by Middlesbrough.
Ryan Giggs celebrated his testimonial season during 2001/02, marking
his ten years in the United first team. Included in the itinerary
was a friendly match against Celtic played at Old Trafford on 1
August 2001.
Ryan signed a five-year contract at United on 4 April 2001 that
will see the Welshman at Old Trafford until July 2006.
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