There has been nothing less than greatness expected of the prodigy Ryan Giggs since Manchester City, where he played until he was fourteen years old, gave up the chance to sign him. Alex Ferguson quickly intervened taking him across town to United and City have been cursing themselves ever since.
His League debut for Manchester United came on 2nd March 1991, against Everton at Old Trafford, as a substitute for Denis Irwin. The winger's 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. Giggs soon made the left-wing position his own despite fierce competiton from Lee Sharpe. Ryan's early career was memorable for stunning goals against Spurs in 1993 and QPR in 1994.
After winning the title in 1993, Giggs stepped up a level and helped United to the Double in 1994. By the time of the 'Double double' of 1996 and Premiership title in 1997, Giggs was a household name and one of finest players on the planet. He played superbly in Champions League games against Porto and Juventus in 1997 as United started to make an impression on the foreign stage. Ryan was the first player to win the PFA Young Player of the Year twice and is still the youngest ever player to play for Wales at the age of 17 years and 321 days, when he came on as a substitute against West Germany.
At his peak Giggs was one of the most exhilarating sites in world football and a rare talent indeed. His devastating speed on the wing with unrivalled skill made him one of the crown jewels of Old Trafford. Giggsy's lightning runs with the ball tied to his feet scared the hell out of opponents and contributed to making Manchester United one of the world's most exciting teams to watch. As well as dribbling skills his crossing from the wings improved with each passing year making him even more deadly.
No more so was Giggsy's skill highlighted than with his "Wonder-goal" against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay. A truly breathtaking moment in an epic match that is up there with the greatest goals of all time. As well as his great attacking talents what is often less mentioned, is Giggs' high work rate, tireless off-the ball runs and backtracking. Despite being rich, successful and hugely talented, Giggs rarely gets abuse from rival fans, even they can respect genius when they see it.
Even though he won a treble of medals the 1998-99 season was perhaps not one of his best, as injury forced him to miss some vital games. Still, there were highlights such as the above mentioned "Wonder goal", a lovely goal against Notts Forest, two goals against Brondby and his last minute equaliser against Juventus. Not to mention getting his hands on the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup with United's amazing end to the season.
Not that he was bad in the first part, but Ryan Giggs was absolutely superb in the second part of the 1999-2000 season. He was back to his very best, torturing opposition defenders with dazzling mazy runs and bursts of pace. It was almost a return to the early and mid 90's when Giggs' game was all about running at players with skill and pace.
He had focused on becoming a much better all-round player in past years but that season he found a greater willingness to take players on again playing more as a classic winger. This is his greatest ability of all and the one which frightens the life out of defences the world over. There was no wonder goal this time but he did score important goals and the highlights were performances away to West Ham, Middlesbrough, Wimbledon (where he did an amazing 70 yard run) and home to Fiorentina, Valencia.
One of the highlights of season 2000-2001 was an audacious 55-yard volley from Giggs at Charlton in which he ball crashed onto the bar for Solskjaer to score. It was around the Winter stage of the season that Giggs was at his spectacular best as he terrorised defences and helped create goals for others. Giggs scored a superb goal at Bradford, a great strike late at Sturm Graz and was on the top of his game.
However, reoccurrence of that cursed hamstring injury in February meant he was not at full fitness for the cruical first Quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich, although he did score with an excellent chip in the second leg. As he collected his seventh championship medal he also signed a new 5 year contract ensuring his awesome talents would be at Old Trafford until at least 2006.
Giggs was relatively free of injury the in 2001-2002 season but it can not be considered one of his best. United failed to unlock opposition defences at Old Trafford and came unstuck against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
The flying Welshman admitted his form was inconsistent - brilliant one moment, frustrated the next. He still scored nine goals though, including an excellent double at Fulham, a quality strike at Newcastle and a mazy dribble at home to Deportivo. Giggs also took over the role of team Captain in Roy Keane's absence.
The following season Ryan Giggs faced his biggest challenge yet at United. After a reasonable start his form took a severe dip and some sections of United fans started to question the Welsh winger's future at Old Trafford. It culminated in the player getting booed when he was substituted at home to Blackburn. Giggs' confidence was at an all time low, he seemed to have lost the knack of getting past players. Rumours also abounded of a dressing room bust-up between him and some of his closest friends in the United squad.
Talk began to surface of a transfer to long time admirers Inter Milan, however, into the new year Giggs was slowly but surely returning to his former glory. Not that it was a straight upward path, there was huge embarrassment for the Welshman when he somehow missed an open goal at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup. Sir Alex helped the comeback by shaking things up a bit, playing the winger as a support striker on many occasions, instead of his usual left sided position.
When he scored two goals against Juventus in the Stadio Deli Alpi in the Reds 3-0 win, things were definitely on the up. The second goal was a typically dazzling Giggsy run that cut open the Juve defence but more importantly it announced: Ryan Giggs was back.
He also got some atonement for that FA Cup howler by heading the crucial equalising goal at Highbury in United's 2-2 draw - the game that swung the championship towards Old Trafford. Giggs completed his best season for United in terms of appearances, missing just four games, and for the first time in several years his nagging hamstring problem was eradicated.
In 2003-2004 he again stayed injury free missing only 5 games and taking over free-kick duties after the departure of Beckham. A highlight was scoring both goals in United's 2-1 win at Anfield. He collected his 4th FA Cup winners medal as United beat Millwall 3-0. The following season Giggsy again missed very few matches and scored 9 goals, the new 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 formation prefered by Sir Alex allowed the Welshman freedom to both play up front and on the wing.
In May 2005 he signed a new 2 year contract that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2007. This has since been extended through to July 2008. In 2005-2006 Giggs suffered an injury to his cheekbone against Lille but went on to featured in a total of 37 matches. Towards the second half of the campaign he played a lot of matches in central midfield forming an unlikely but successful partnership with John O'Shea.
In 2006-2007 Giggs was once again a key player in a United title winning side. He featured in his traditonal wing position but found his best form as a central midfield support striker to Wayne Rooney, notably in the European games against Benfica and Roma. He had a fine season with 6 goals and nine Premiership assists. His 700th appearance came on 3rd March 2007 against Liverpool. Ryan is now less than 60 games away from breaking Bobby Charlton's appearance all time record.
He also scored a highly disputed quick free kick at Lille which led to the French team (unsuccessfully) demanding a replay. Giggsy now has that illusive ninth championship medal which puts him alone in English football history. On May 30th 2007 he announced his retirement from international football to allow him to focus his energy on club fooball in his final years.
Whilst he may have lost a bit of pace, now aged 33, Ryan is a more rounded player than ever. Still a fantastic dribbler and passer, he can score goals, has over 15 years of top flight experience, knows his team mates inside out and knows what is expected better than anyone other than only Ferguson himself. Already Manchester United's most successful ever player and rejuvanated after the title sucess, he is going for a tenth championship medal and is not finished at Old Trafford just yet!!!
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