Sir Ryan Giggs

That '99 Semi-Final replay is still the best game of football I've ever seen. Had the lot. The rivalry, the pressure of maintaining a Treble bid, the quality opener from Beckham, the jammy equalizer from Bergkamp with Martin Tyler screaming "Goal for Arsenal, never write them off!!!" , the Keane sending off, Phil Neville giving away a blatant pen and then Schmeichel saving from Bergkamp, Beckham jumping on him and the big Dane telling him to fecking get on with it, and then of course the Giggsy goal. Followed by a pitch invasion.
 
There's nothing more that can be said about the man, really. We'll be in tears when he does retire, so all we can do right now is enjoy having him around, still tearing teams apart, but in a different way. Happy Birthday Giggsy!
 
The best FA Cup game ever? I'd say so, I can't think of a better one, not off the top of my head anyway.
My 9 year old self was made to go to bed at the end of normal time. Had to put the radio on, quiet enough not to be heard, and then try and contain myself when he scored.
 
Freak.

His appearance record will never be beaten unless actual robot footballers are allowed to play in the future.

...and if they are, Giggsy will still be around to tear 'em apart.

What a phenomenon he is. Happy birthday!
 
I don't think anything annoys me more than whenever someone calls for him to retire...

Play on Giggsy, you weird bastard.
 
My 9 year old self was made to go to bed at the end of normal time. Had to put the radio on, quiet enough not to be heard, and then try and contain myself when he scored.

Ahh, the sweaty chest rug glistening in floodlit majesty, the shirt twirling around like a rotor blade and the look of pure joy echoed on the faces of a myriad of united fans. Giggsy.
 
Some quotes:


"I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and he floated across the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind" - Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

"He's an outstanding player and it's a privilege to be working with him on my staff. I've seen something different since I've come here - just how good he is, close up - and it's incredible" - Manchester United manager David Moyes

"Ryan Giggs for me is one of the best players in the world. Now maybe he is old but he is a fantastic player" - Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini

"Maybe one day people will say I was another Ryan Giggs" - Manchester United legend George Best

"Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs" - Dutch legend and three-time world player of the year Johan Cruyff

"Only two players made me cry when watching football, one was Diego Maradona and the other Ryan Giggs" - Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero

"I can't remember exactly how old I was but I remember pretending to be Ryan in the back garden" - Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley

"Every day of the week, every week of the year for the last 15 years he has been a top player" - Cardiff manager Malky Mackay.

The Del Piero one has always been a personal favourite.
 
The only player that I will cry when he retires other than Scholesy is Giggs, a true legend, my he keep playing for many years.
 
I looked at the Bayer game again in the cold light of day last night (if that's not a contradiction). Giggsy was amazing. If you say a player from another club perform like that you'd say: 'that's the guy we need in our midfield'.
 
Did Del Piero actually say that?

Yeah, its been knocking about for years that one.

Some more quotes:


Zinedine Zidane
Former Real Madrid, Juventus and France star Zinedine Zidane: "All of us at Juventus agreed Manchester United were the best side we met in the Champions League.
"Giggs is truly world class."

Pedro
Barcelona's Pedro: "He's a living legend and to play against him for someone like me, who has seen him play for so long, is a pleasure and a privilege.
"Giggs was very fast and attacking and I tried to focus on him (growing up).
"Now he plays more in the middle but he's very dangerous with the final ball."

Lauren
Former Arsenal defender Lauren: "I have come up against some tough wingers but the toughest of them all was Ryan Giggs.
"It was easy to read what other wingers would do but for Giggs, it was tough.
"He is very intelligent, takes you to the side, cuts inside, beating you - amazing player."
Marc Overmars
Ex-Arsenal and Holland winger Marc Overmars: "Ryan Giggs is fast, skillfull and sharp.
"With Luis Figo, he is the most fantastic winger I have ever seen in my life."
Ian Holloway
Ex-Crystal Palace boss and Mirror columnist Ian Holloway: "I'd like to say happy birthday to the greatest footballer this country has ever seen.
"I think anyone who loves football should raise a glass to this remarkable man."
Jean Tigana
Ex-Monaco and Fulham boss Jean Tigana: "Giggs is the detonator, the man who can make Manchester United explode."
Gary Lineker
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker: "His record is absolutely unbelievable.
"Not only longevity-wise, but the amount of things he's won, the amount of brilliant games, the amount of goals he's scored and created.
"He's just a brilliant professional and he's defying Father Time to play how he does at the very top level in club football."

 
Read this quote on F365 from early nineties:

"At 23, Ryan is already a world superstar, but he still has his whole career ahead of him. Don't bet against him terrifying defences well into the 21st Century."

I don't think even that writer would have thought that he will continue this long.
 
Happy birthday Giggsy.

Useless fact. The scout that took him to Man City was also my secondary school maths teacher.
 
It was a privilege to witness the Madrid fans applaud him on at the Bernabeu. I doubt that happens very often for opposition players. Looking at the talent they've seen over the last couple of decades, Giggs must be some player to get their attention!
 
Ryan Giggs. Legend. Nuff said.
 
He'd be 45 by then!
He is ageless though :lol:
It would be an amazing achievement to get 999 appearances for one club, I think he might pass the 1000 mark though, especially if he stays injury free.
When it looks like he might be getting ready to retire he starts playing well again, he's an odd fella.
 
I thought he was finished after the Norwich game last season where he was atrocious. But he just keeps coming back and keeps on surprising people. His performance against Leverkusen showed a glimpse of what this team is capable of doing once we get a proper creative central midfielder. It was brilliant.
 
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"When it came to the day of his 14th birthday, I got wind that Sir Alex Ferguson and United's chief scout Joe Brown were after him. I warned City to get down to his house, but they chose to sit in their office waiting for Ryan to go there, while Sir Alex went straight to his house.

Well done City.
 
Great pictures, he has had an amazing career. I expect he will become a coach here with the view to one day manage the club.