Ryan Giggs

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Lore & Background

The son of rugby union and Wales international rugby league footballer Danny Wilson, Giggs was born in Cardiff but moved to Manchester at the age of six when his father joined Swinton RLFC. Predominantly a left midfielder, he began his career with Manchester City, but joined Manchester United on his 14th birthday in 1987. He made his professional debut for the club in 1991 and spent the next 23 years in the first team. He retired from playing with the end of the 2013–14 season, holding the club record for competitive appearances – 963. Towards the end of the 2013–14 season, he became the club's interim player-manager following the sacking of David Moyes. He was assistant manager under Moyes' permanent replacement, Louis van Gaal. Giggs left United in July 2016, following the appointment of José Mourinho. During his time at United he won 13 Premier League titles – more than any other player in history, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, a FIFA Club World Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and nine FA Community Shields. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are the only clubs in English football history to have won more league championships than Giggs. At international level, Giggs played for the Wales national team 64 times between 1991 and 2007, and captained the Great Britain team that competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He also represented his country in an uncapped international versus the Basque Country in May 2006 in Bilbao. He became the new manager of the Wales national team in January 2018. Giggs led Wales to qualification for UEFA Euro 2020. He did not manage the team at the tournament however, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as he was arrested on suspicion of assault. His assistant manager Rob Page took charge in his absence. Giggs resigned in June 2022, and Page was named as his successor.

In Their Own Story

By the start of the 1992–93 season, Giggs had secured the left-winger spot, helping United win their first top-division title in 26 years. He became the first player to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 1992 and 1993. His longevity was unmatched; he is the only player to play in each of the first 22 Premier League seasons and score in the first 21. During his time at United, he secured 13 Premier League titles, more than any other player in history, alongside four FA Cups, three League Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles. He also holds records for the most assists in both Premier League (162) and UEFA Champions League (41) history. Towards the end of the 2013–14 season, he served as interim player-manager after David Moyes' sacking before becoming assistant manager under Louis van Gaal. He left the club in July 2016 following José Mourinho's appointment.

Reader's Guide

Giggs was the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 and 1993), though he did not win the PFA Player of the Year award until 2009. He was the only player to play in each of the first 22 seasons of the Premier League, as well as the only player to score in each of the first 21 seasons. He was elected into the PFA Team of the Century in 2007, the Premier League Team of the Decade in 2003, and the FA Cup Team of the Century. He holds the record for the most assists in Premier League history, with 162, and the most assists in UEFA Champions League history with 41. He was named as BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2009, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2007 Birthday Honours for his services to football.

Did You Know?

• Giggs made his League debut against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991, as a substitute for the injured full-back Denis Irwin in a 2–0 defeat.
• He is one of only 63 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances.
• Giggs was the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 and 1993).

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