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Ryan Giggs, days before his 40th birthday put on a masterful performance for Manchester United against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League
Ryan Giggs probably defines the Premier League more than anybody else. He is the only current player who has been there right from the first season of the Premier League.
He also has the distinction of scoring in every Premier League season; he’s yet to score this year, but you wouldn’t bank against it happening. He also holds the record for most number of appearances for Manchester United.
As the Welsh winger celebrates his 40th birthday today, here’s a compilation of 40 facts about the veteran United midfielder that you will enjoy reading.
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1. Offered pro contract on his 17th birthday – 23 years ago.
2. Pro debut came on March 2, 1991, before team-mate Phil Jones was even born.
3. Replaced another legend, Dennis Irwin, on his debut against Everton.
4. First goal credited was on May 4, 1991, against Manchester City.
5. Won the League Cup in April against Nottingham Forest.
6. Scored one goal and made two appearances in his first season.
7. Scores four goals in 38 games in second season – the last season of the old division.
8. Ferguson caught Giggs at Lee Sharpe’s house party in 1992 and isssued severe warnings.
9. First player to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 1992, 1993.
10. Won first of 13 titles in 1993 – the same number as Arsenal since their founding in 1886.
11. Finally allowed to speak to the press after turning 20.
12. Was voted into UEFA Champions League Dream Team for 10 consecutive seasons from 1992.
13. Starred in Ryan Giggs’ Soccer Skills television show – rare for young footballers to have their own show then.
14. Helped the Premier League to market itself globally by featuring on magazines – was the first “Premiership Poster Boy”.
15. Shortlisted for Goal of the Season award for goals against QPR in ’93, Tottenham ’94, Everton ’95, Coventry ’96 and Arsenal in ’99.
16. Had his toughest season in ’94-’95 due to injury and heavy criticism.
17. Starts yoga sessions to aide hamstring recovery, an ‘odd’ regime at the time.
18. Aided the class of ’92 – the ‘Nevilles, Butts, Beckhams and Scholes’ – gain a foothold in the team’s ’94/’95 season.
19. Helped in guiding United to a first semi-final appearance in the Champions League in 28 years in the ’95/’96 season.
20. Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero later said after that semi-final that he cried watching Giggs play.
21. Faced more criticism in 97/98 season due to United’s second trophy-less season since 1989.
22. Set up Teddy Sheringham’s goal in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final game, capped off season with a treble.
23. Won Goal of the Season award in 1999 for his brilliant solo goal against Arsenal.
24. Was Man of the Match in the 1-0 win over Palmeiras in the Intercontinental Cup in 99′.
25. Became the longest serving player when mentor Dennis Irwin left in 2002.
26. Scored the 100th goal of his career against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2002.
27. Inducted into English Football’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
28. Giggs set a new record with 9 league titles for a player in 2007 – it was previously held by two Liverpool players (of course).
29. Giggs adapted into Ferguson’s new rotation system with Nani and Anderson in the 07/08 season.
30. Scored 100th league goal against Derby County in 2007.
31. His 100th appearance in the Champions League came against Lyon in 2008.
32. Broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances when he played in the Champions League final against Chelsea – he scored United’s final penalty as they went on to win the game.
33. Giggs began taking courses to earn his coaching badges and started playing in a more central position in the 08/09 campaign – when he was 35.
34. The first time that Giggs received PFA Player of the Year award was in 2009 – a season where he started only 12 games.
35. Scored his first hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against Hangzhou Greentown.
36. Became ninth player to score 150 goals for United, when he scored against Wolfsburg in the Champions League in 2009.
37. Named Manchester United Player of the Decade in 2009.
38. Created 626 (to date) goals since 2002 – a record.
39. Record appearance holder in the Champions League with 148 games.
40. Only player to have scored in all 21 Premier League Seasons.
