When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his team to play Chelsea in last Sunday's Premier League clash, there were more than a few raised eyebrows at the inclusion of Ryan Giggs in a central midfield role.
Against a powerful midfield of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Deco, John Obi Mikel, and Frank Lampard, surely the 35-year-old Giggs would be outnumbered, outplayed, and outfought?
Not a bit of it. Instead, the veteran gave a midfield master class, helping control the game, putting in a sound shift defensively, and providing guile and craft going forward. Not bad for someone who spent a good 16 years playing on the left wing.
Giggs has been almost as central the success Manchester United have enjoyed over the last decade and a half as Sir Alex Ferguson.
His medal haul speaks for itself: 10 Premier League triumphs, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions League victories, seven Community Shields, one UEFA Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Considering he was on Manchester City's books as a youth player, he must be glad that Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in.
Giggs has, in part, been the architect of his own success, having to reinvent himself a couple of times.
He started out as a flying winger, not always sure of when to release the ball instead of taking on his full-back. If his end product, whether in the form of a goal or a telling cross, had not been so good, there is a chance he would not have received the plaudits he did.
As in Argentina, the search for "the new Maradona" is never ending (although Lionel Messi seems to fit the bill for some people). The search in Manchester has been for the "new George Best." Giggs is as close as anybody has come to filling that title.
Giggs had competition on the wings at Manchester United. Lee Sharpe was considered a contender for the title of "the new Best," also a left winger like Giggs. On the other flank was the flying Ukranian, Andrei Kanchelskis.
Rotation of these three classic wingers was essential, and it was rare that the same combination played week in, week out. The one constant always seemed to be Giggs, whether on the left or right flank.
Soon, the buzz over the young winger spread to Italy, and Inter reportedly made a big offer for Giggs. He himself had admitted he considered the move, but his longing to play at Old Trafford overcame his curiosity and he stayed.
As Giggs matured, so did his play. He began to realise that a ball infield or back to his full back (normally the ever reliable Denis Irwin) could be just as effective as a dazzling run. His understanding of keeping possession and the improvement of his delivery from wide positions helped him become a better player.
Championships began to pile up, and in 1999 came the incredible Treble. Giggs played a major part in each success. In the league he provided goals and assists. In the FA Cup semifinal replay he scored one of the great goals of all time.
Picking up on a loose pass from Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, Giggs beat five men before smashing the ball high into David Seaman's goal. His celebration—waving his shirt above his head to reveal a chest so hairy that Neanderthal man might have felt like a bit of a girl—has become almost as famous as the goal.
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