Player Profile: Ryan Giggs

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Only one player has scored in every single Premier League campaign.

Only one player has scored in thirteen different Champions League competitions.

Only one player has played in every Manchester United Premier League winning season.

And who knows how many more records Ryan Giggs, OBE, M.A., might go on to create; because he certainly shows no sign of declining yet. A difficult September afternoon away at Stoke—an intimidating prospect—and with the team struggling to break down a determined home side, who does Sir Alex turn to?

Ryan Giggs, of course.

One of Nani or Valencia might or might not prove to be "the next Ronaldo" but they were certainly making no impression on Stokes' rearguard. On comes Giggs and, within minutes, he puts in a cunning cross that creates the first goal for Berbatov and then, just for good measure, he places a free kick exactly on the head of John O'Shea for the second.

For the past season or two, Giggs has been providing cameos like that for us to enjoy. He might not be the dashing "Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, running down the wing" that the Stretford End used to sing about, but his cunning football brain, his nimble feet and his total dedication to his profession have meant that even at the age of 36, there will still be England supporters who wish that he could have played for them instead of for Wales. As a schoolboy, of course, Ryan Wilson—later to take his mother's surname—did represent England but that was as close as it got.

There are few modern players who have the almost total admiration of British football followers in the way that Giggs does. Always modest and articulate in his interviews and generous in his praise of team-mates and opponents alike, even the most fervent 'Man U haters' find it difficult to say anything bad about him.

Whenever discussions take place about the irresponsible behaviour of some players, Giggs is held up as being the role model they should all be following.

We'll all have our favourite Ryan Giggs moment. For me, it's the FA Cup goal against Arsenal when probably the best defence in English football for the past 20 years just evaporated as he ran through them. I'm sure that readers will all have particular moments in his long career that stand out for them.

After all, he is the player to have broken Bobby Charlton's appearance record for Manchester United; he was part of that wonderful young side that burst onto the scene and played such joyous football; and he kept on performing to such a high level that, in 2009, sixteen years after being voted Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, his fellow professionals voted him PFA Player of the Year.

It's hard to tell when the strain of playing at the very highest club level will finally take its toll on Ryan Giggs. He's fortunate that he is able to enjoy his summers off without having to take part in international competitions so he can have proper breaks from playing. He's also lucky to have a manger who knows how to utilise his talents to the maximum.

I think it's safe to say, though, that we have a good few more magic moments to come from Ryan Giggs yet.

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