Featured Player of the Month: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)

Affectionally known as "Giggsy" or the "Welsh Wizard", Ryan Joseph Wilson was born on 29 November 1973, in Cardiff.

Ryan Giggs's real surname is Wilson and he's part African. His dad, Danny Wilson, is a half-Welsh, half-Sierra Leonean rugby professional who used to play for Wales. Giggs took his mother's maiden name when his parents split up.

Giggs was spotted as a 14 yr-old by Manchester City. It was rumoured that he always wore a red shirt (symbolised man utd) as a symbol of resistance, he has always wanted to play for man utd. Sir Alex Ferguson happens to hear about him and he was given a week-trial. He played against a youth United side and score a hat-trick. It was until Sir Alex Ferguson personally came to his house and ask him to join them, then he knew he is going to be part of United.

Giggs made his debut as a 17-year-old for the club against Everton in March 1991. He goes on to make his first league start in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 1990/01 and scored the only goal of the match.












11 Facts about Ryan Giggs:


1. Giggs is Manchester United's only number 11 since the induction of squad numbers in 1992.

2. Ryan won BBC Goal of the Season for 1998/1999 for his goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final, where he beat four defenders (Lee Dixon twice).



3. He holds the record for scoring Manchester United's fastest goal (15 seconds), set in November 1995 against Southampton.

4. Ryan is the top all-time scorer in the FA Premier League who isn't a striker.

5. Ryan was the first person to win the Professional Football Associations Young Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons.

6. In 2006 Ryan became the first player to score in 12 consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League.

7. Only Manchester United player to have played in all 10 Premiership title winning teams; also a record of English title holders overall.

8. Manchester United's most decorated player with 18 major honours.

9. He is a Unicef Representitive and also an active campaigner against racism in football.

10. The only ever Premiership League soccer player to be mentioned in the cartoon The Simpsons.

11. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours List for his services in football.

At the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea, held on 21 May 2008, Giggs passed Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for Manchester United to become the club's all-time leader in appearances. He also scored in the resulting penalty shootout to win his 2nd Champions League trophy with United.

He gave up international football for Wales in June 2007, citing the fact that he wanted to continue at the top for his club as long as possible and also see out his playing days with United.
At the age of 34, the pace may be waning but his skills have been used in a central role far more often by Sir Alex Ferguson.


Whatever happens in the near future, he will certainly retire a United legend.

posted, compiled and edited by a liverpool fan. (since tf keep praising his idol and i have nuttin to do...)