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Manchester United player profile - Ryan Giggs

Ryan Joseph Giggs, better known as Ryan Giggs Manchester United and Wales footballer, was born on 29th November 1973 in Cardiff and brought up in Pendlebury, England. Ryan Giggs started his football career as a junior player at Deans Sports football club in Swinton where, as a teenager, he was initially spotted by Manchester City scouts. Word of his footballing ability soon got out and it is reported that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson actually went to Ryan Giggs' his house in an attempt to persuade him to sign for them. Ferguson was successfull and on 29th November 1987, at the age of fourteen, Ryan Giggs signed for Manchester United with a view to turning professional after three years. On 2nd March 1991 Ryan Giggs made his professional debut for Manchester United when he came on as a substitute in a match against Everton.

Ryan Giggs became a regular player in the Manchester United team during the 1991/92 season when they finished runners-up in the old Division One League. It was during this season that Ryan Giggs won his first trophy when Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the League Cup final and, on a personal level, he was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year. The following season, 1992/93, saw the beginning of the Premier League, a league which was to be dominated by Manchester United for the next decade. Ryan Giggs became a superstar during this time and was something of an enigma as Alex Ferguson was very protective of his youngsters and didn't allow Ryan Giggs to be interviewed until he was twenty years old. Manchester United won six of the eight Premier League titles in the nineties (incluiding the 1999/00 season) and two of the most prominent players during this period were Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs. 

During the late nineties the spotlight moved away from Ryan Giggs a little following the emergence of the new band of Manchester United youngsters which included David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. Ryan Giggs' international career began in 1991 and ended in 2007 when he decided to retire from international football. During his time with Wales Ryan Giggs won sixty four caps and scored twelve goals, however, he never experienced a major competition as Wales failed to qualify for either the World Cup or European Championships during his time playing for them. At club level Ryan Giggs has won the most trophy's with the club and became the player who has made the most appearances when he came on as a substitute for Manchester United in their winning UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea on 21st May 2008. This appearance was his 759th for Manchester United and surpassed the previous record of 758 held by Sir Bobby Charlton.