RYAN GIGGS

11. RYAN GIGGS

Nicknamed the Welsh Wizard, Ryan Giggs was born on 29 November, 1973 in Cardiff, Wales. He holds the distinction of being the top all time scorer in the FA Premier League not to play in a striker position.

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.

Giggs is the most decorated footballer in the history of Manchester United, having won eight Premier League championship (a record he shares with Liverpool's Alan Hansen, Phil Neal and Kenny Dalglish), one Champions League and four FA Cup titles. He has also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice.

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. On Friday 23 August 2002 scored the one hundredth goal of his United career in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge.

During the first half of the 2004-05 season, Giggs was linked in transfer speculation with Newcastle United. However, no move was made before the transfer window closed on 31 January 2005, meaning that Giggs will be staying at Man Utd for the time being.