Player of Manchester United

11.Ryan Giggs

Player Profile
Birthplace:Cardiff
Birthday:29/11/1973
Height:180cm-5ft 11in
Weight:68.03kg-10st 10lb
Full International:Wales(25caps,6goal)
Position:Forward
Squad Nombor:11
Debut:26/2/1991
Appearances(1991-2000):390(31 as subs)
Goals:80


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STRIKE/FORWORD
Andy Cole
Dwight Yorke
Teddy Sheringham
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
MIDFIELD
Nicky Butt
Roy Keane
Ryan Giggs
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
DEFENDER
Jaap Stam
Denis Irwin
Gary Neville
Philip Neville
Ronny Johnsen
GOALKEEPER
Mark Bosnich
Massimo Taibi
HISTORY
Newton Heath--Busby
McGuinness--Ferguson
1998/99: The Treble
Records
Competitions Winner
History
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 fourteen years old.

On his fourteenth birthday Alex Ferguson went to Ryan Giggs' 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 2nd 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 1991-2 season, Giggs was able to gain a regular first team place, making the left-wing position his own.

Whilst at Manchester United, Giggs has won every domestic trophy, as follows: the League Cup in 1992, League Championships in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997, two FA Cup winners' medals in 1994 and 1996 and an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1995.

In addition to this Giggs has represented Wales at full international level, being 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.

He has also recently captained Wales. As a schoolboy Ryan captained the England Schoolboys team, but this was only because he attended school in England and not because he is English!

Ryan is one of the most talented players currently in the game, a fast winger with an immense amount of skill and a free kick expert. He has scored many memorable as well as important goals for Manchester United.

During the last-ever FA Cup semi-final replay, Ryan produced an unforgettable moment. Roy Keane had been sent off for a second rash challenge. In injury time Peter Schmeichel saved superbly from a Dennis Bergkamp penalty and the game went into extra-time.

In the final minutes, with the game heading for a penalty shoot-out, Giggs ran directly at the defence hailed as the best in the game. He burst past four players before unleashing a fierce shot into the roof of the net, giving David Seaman no chance. Many critics proclaimed it the greatest goal of all time.

This semi-final victory kept up the impetus for United's relentless march to the Treble, to which Giggs contributed immeasurably.

Did You Know?
His childhood heroes were Mark Hughes and Ian Rush.

His father, Danny Wilson was a Rugby League player for Cardiff and Swinton. Giggs still takes an interest in Rugby League and goes to watch Wigan RL, as often as possible.

Although Ryan is a Welsh international, he was once the captain of the England Schools football team.

He is the only player ever to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice - in 1992 and 1993.

© Copyright 2000 Michael Chong - [email protected]

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