Showing posts with label Ryan Giggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Giggs. Show all posts

Monday, June 13, 2011

Man Utd concerned Giggs ready to retire

Manchester United are concerned controversial star Ryan Giggs may retire this summer due to his off-the-pitch scandals.
The Mirror says Giggs’ family say he may walk away from his football career over allegations he had affairs behind his wife's back.
A family friend said: “We fear that Ryan will go now and just call it a day once and for all.
“The feeling is another year is just one too many for him to be bothered with. A lot of supporters have lost a lot of faith in him, and Ryan doesn’t need the hassle of taking stick from away fans.”
A club source said: “Concerns are growing. Sir Alex [Ferguson] is willing to cut Ryan some slack and give him extra days off to clear his head.”

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Giggs: I have been planning retirement for past four years!

Ryan Giggs admits he's been planning to retire at Man Utd for the past four years!
Giggs, 37, will play on next season at Old Trafford.
Giggs told BBC Football Focus: "I've probably thought about it for the last three or four years because you just never know when the body's going to pack in.
"I have been preparing for it for it four years but I normally assess after Christmas how I'm feeling.
"If I feel I'm not influencing games, not scoring goals or making goals, then that's the time I'd pack it in."

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Evra wants to follow Giggs in Yoga class!

Patrice Evra hailed the performance of Ryan Giggs after victory at Schalke.
Speaking in the aftermath of United’s win, Evra told French broadcasters the reason behind the Welshman’s fine form:
"Giggs? He must stop talking about his yoga!
"He says it makes him run faster. I will have to sign up immediately!
"He is 37 years old and he runs more than almost everyone else on the pitch, and he is decisive. What can I say?!!"

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Giggs not ruling out playing beyond next season at Man Utd

Ryan Giggs says next season may not be his last.
Giggs, who will turn 38 in November, will decide at the end of the year whether to call it a day.
He said: “I’ll see how I feel after Christmas and talk with the manager.
“I felt good last year so I thought I could go another year but Edwin (van der Sar) is fantastic.
“No, I don’t think I’ll be going on as long as him, definitely not!”

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Neville urging Scholes to play on for Man Utd

Gary Neville hopes former teammates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs play on next season.
Like many other United fans, he is keen for the veteran duo to keep entertaining for as long as possible.
"I speak to Ryan and Paul all the time," Neville told the Daily Star Sunday. "I trust them and we've become incredibly close.
"And I am the one who keeps begging them to go for at least one more year. They are still two of the best players around.
"They are both key men for the team and are on a different level to anybody else in the game."

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Giggs takes first coaching steps with Wales

Ryan Giggs is ready to help Wales coach Gary Speed ahead of their clash with England.
Giggs, who is taking his coaching badges, has travelled to Wales with his wife and children for a break during a gap in the Premier League calendar.
He said: “I spoke to Gary and he asked if there was any help I could give. I want what he wants – a successful Welsh team.
“But I won’t be taking my boots with me!”

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Ryan Giggs celebrates 20 years playing for Manchester United, we remember his top goals

Ryan Giggs has established himself as one of football's true greats, and he will pass a new milestone on Wednesday, with the Welshman having now spent 20 years as a Manchester United player.

It was way back on March 2, 1991, that Giggs came on a substitute for United against Everton.

Since then there have been a succession of trophies, glorious moments... and of course fantastic goals.

Tottenham 1 Manchester United 1 September 19, 1992
This was the one that made them sit up and take notice. I remember seeing Giggs for the first time in the flesh a year earlier at White Hart Lane, and he looked a startling prospect. Twelve months down the line, a more mature Giggs scored a goal that had the Sunday newspapers hailing a new George Best. The Welsh teenager took the ball past Dean Austin, round Jason Cundy and then Spurs keeper Ian Walker before firing into an empty net.




QPR 2 Manchester United 3 February 5, 1994
This might well be the best goal ever scored by Giggs, you know. He was part of a team that many United supporters still see as the finest created by Sir Alex Ferguson, and the Reds claimed their first league and FA Cup double this term. There really were shades of Best about this Giggs goal, as the Welshman displayed superb turn of pace and stunning balance. Two or three QPR defenders were left bamboozled before Giggs fired home with aplomb. Thinking about it, the goal reminds me of Diego Maradona's against Belgium in the 1986 World Cup semi-final.




Leeds 0 Manchester United 2 April 27, 1994
You needed nerves of steel for a trip to Elland Road back in those days - and I'm just talking about United supporters. The Reds were in the box seat in the title race, and the old ground was a seething mass of hatred aimed at their rivals across the Pennines. United were 1-0 up late on, when Giggs shimmied away from Gary Kelly and Gary McAllister, played a one-two with Mark Hughes and just reached the return ball to smash the ball into the top corner. Ferguson and United were on their way to a ninth league crown.




Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United April 6, 1996
The 1995-96 season is rightly remembered as a classic, with Kevin Keegan's Newcastle 12 points clear at the end of January but Ferguson's United clawing that advantage back as winter turned to spring. On this April afternoon, United had twice been pegged back by neighbours City before Eric Cantona fed Giggs, leaving the precocious Welshman to fire a magnificent near post effort into the top corner. There's a theme developing here - United went on to win the title.




Manchester United 3 Juventus 2 October 1,1997
This was a night. Can it really be so long ago? United had reached the semi-final of the European Cup the season before but they had never really looked convincing enough to win the great prize. And when they had played Juventus before this match in 1997, the Italian giants were very much the superior force. This was a breakthrough night then, and with Old Trafford crackling, United were leading 2-1 in the closing stages when Giggs burst into the penalty area and smashed home an unstoppable effort.




Manchester United 1 Juventus 1 April 7, 1999
They nearly always talk about the second leg against Juventus in 1999. Not without good reason, as for me it ranks as the greatest United performance of my lifetime. There was a massive moment at the end of the first match at Old Trafford however, a game that Juventus had dominated for long periods. Giggs kept his head when all around were losing theirs, and adjusted his left foot perfectly to fire the ball into the roof of the net for a precious equaliser.




Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2 April 14, 1999

The one they will all remember for the longest. The FA Cup semi-final replay of 1999 has gone down in folklore for the sheer drama it produced at Villa Park. A wonderful goal from David Beckham, a red card for Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel saving Dennis Bergkamp's penalty... it was already an unforgettable night before Giggs picked up the ball on the half-way line and waltzed past half the Arsenal team before firing into the roof of the net. United were still on course for a scarcely believable treble.



Juventus 0 Manchester United 3 February 25, 2003

Giggs had a bit of thing about Juventus, didn't he? This was probably his finest goal in European competition, and it came at a time when his star wasn't shining so brightly. Some ordinary performances that term had led to some discontent among United supporters. Giggs provided the answer in Turin, with a diagonal run and deft finish beyond Gianluigi Buffon that helped United to a splendid victory.



West Ham 0 Manchester United 1 February 8, 2009

He's still got it you know, all these years on. This goal was reminiscent of those against Tottenham and QPR many years before as Giggs picked up the ball on the left wing, took the ball past Carlton Cole and ghosted past Scott Parker before brilliantly slotting the ball home. It was the only goal of the game at Upton Park, and a crucial victory kept United on course for a record 18 league titles, drawing them level with bitter rivals Liverpool.



Tottenham 1 Manchester United 3 September 12, 2009

A fantastic free-kick from Giggs here, that reminded us all of his abilities from that range. Tottenham were in front early on in this Saturday evening game, before Giggs curled a marvellous effort into the top corner, giving home keeper Carlo Cudicini no chance. Even in the autumn of his career, Giggs had shown again his value to the United cause.


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ferguson: I would be proud to call Giggs my son

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would be proud to call Ryan Giggs his son!
Giggs penned a new deal with United last week.
Ferguson said: “Ryan always had the potential to be a special player and was richly endowed with speed, balance, touch and a courage that, whether he was dribbling with the ball or sprinting past opponents to receive it in areas of maximum threat, he could leave the best defenders with twisted blood.
“He’s had a brilliant career, he’s still making an outstanding contribution and still has an influence on the young players in the dressing room.
“He’s a fine man who has been a credit to his family and this club and is someone you’d be proud to call your own son.”

Monday, February 21, 2011

Giggs still not immune to Fergie ‘hairdryer treatment’

Ryan Giggs may be an established part of the Manchester United scene after more than 20 years at Old Trafford but that does not mean the 'hairdryer treatment' from Sir Alex Ferguson does not still come his way on occasions.
The 37-year-old knows that he can never afford to drop his standards or he will feel the full force of his manager's wrath.
"The relationship between myself and the manager has got closer, but there are still clear boundaries," Giggs explained in the News of the World.
"Players are more fragile now so the manager has had to adapt. The hairdryer doesn't come out as much but I have still seen him go crazy loads of times over last few years.
"He still loses it with me. The last time was at Fulham in August because I didn't take the penalty.
"Nani did, and he missed it, so we ended up drawing. Oh, he can still give it."
Not surprisingly Giggs is not looking forward to the day when he will eventually have to hang up his boots.
He said: "I will miss this life so much. Against Rangers in the Champions League at Ibrox this season I had 40,000 Glaswegians screaming at me, but I love it all.
"I walk over to take a corner and people are abusing me from all angles. I will miss that feeling, because it makes you feel alive."

First right-back given twisted blood by Man Utd legend Giggs


Neil McDonald was the first right-back to face Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs in his senior career.
On that Saturday afternoon in 1991, Everton’s Neil McDonald was the first defender in the League to suffer ‘twisted blood syndrome’ after coming up against Giggs. And he wasn’t the last.
Even now McDonald, coach alongside Sam Allardyce at Blackburn before Rovers’ new Indian owners rang the changes, still remembers how his game-plan to handle the young Welshman quickly ran into trouble.
“We’d heard about this young lad called Giggs who was making his debut but when I saw him before the game in the warm-up I just saw this frail looking wiry kid,” McDonald told the People.
“My first thought was ‘well, if he comes my way I’ll just smash him and put him in his place’. The reality, though, was a lot different! For such a skinny lad he was quite strong but his real strength was that he was a free spirit.
“He had tremendous poise and balance, and he could weave in either direction. I remember trying to force him down the line because he wasn’t the finished article at that point and his crossing wasn’t great.
“His final ball into the box to pick out a man was a bit erratic but he had genuinely terrifying pace and because you didn’t want him going past you, it seemed you were giving free-kicks away all the time because he panicked defenders with his speed.”

Friday, February 18, 2011

Giggs signs new one-year deal to stay at Old Trafford

Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

The veteran Welshman had already indicated his wish to continue his career into a remarkable 21st season at Old Trafford and United have confirmed the deal has been signed.

'All I've ever wanted to do is play for United and I've been lucky enough to do that for 20 years,' said Giggs.


'It is great to know I'm still contributing to the team's success and I feel I've got a lot to offer on and off the pitch.

'This is an exciting time to be involved with so many good young players coming through.'

Giggs has already scorched past 800 appearances for the club and recently played his 600th Premier League game.

'You run out of words to describe Ryan Giggs,' said united boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

'He is a marvellous player and a wonderful man.

'To have the desire and the ability to play at the top level in such a physically demanding position at his age requires a special person.

'He is still turning in man-of-the-match performances and his experience is so vital for the younger players in the squad."'

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Ferguson ready to break bank to land Tottenham wing ace Bale

Sir Alex Ferguson is making Tottenham star Gareth Bale a priority summer target.
The Sunday Mirror says Ferguson is willing to go to £40 million to land the midfielder.
Ferguson sees Bale as the long-term replacement for fellow-Welshman Ryan Giggs who is nearing the end of his illustrious career at Old Trafford.
There will be fierce ­competition for Bale who has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League over the last two years.
Ferguson has in recent years signed both Michael ­Carrick and Dimitar ­Berbatov from Spurs ­despite initial resistance.
Indeed, Carrick, who was brought through at West Ham by Tottenham­manager Harry Redknapp, could be used as a bartering tool by Ferguson.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Giggs brands Rooney stupid over transfer demand

Ryan Giggs has branded Wayne Rooney "stupid" over his transfer request earlier this season.
Rooney made public his desire to quit Manchester United the day they hosted Bursaspor on October 20.
He later changed his mind and signed a new deal.
But Giggs told The Sun: "It was before a Champions League game, so the timing was stupid. What really got our backs up was as soon as Man City were mentioned.
"It's weird, when you're at a club, people outside see it far differently. But inside, players are selfish.
"I was more bothered about getting fit. I thought 'I hope Wayne does get it sorted but if he doesn't... ' You just concentrate on yourself."

Giggs beats out Cantona, Best to be named Man Utd greatest ever

Manchester United fans have voted Ryan Giggs the club's greatest EVER.
The poll was voted on by readers of the club's official magazine,Inside United and website,ManUtd.com.
Despite all his achievements, Giggs admits he was surprised to top the poll.
He said: "Obviously it’s all down to opinion and everyone is going to have a different view, but when I got told I genuinely couldn’t believe it to be honest, especially because there have been so many great players here. I’m not finished yet though – I feel great and I hope I can carry on for a while longer.
"'I honestly don’t know where the time has gone – and I’ve already had quite a bit of stick about it.
"There was an article in the paper about it being 20 years since my debut and they had some stats in there which the lads were killing me about – Rafa (da Silva) and Fabio were only about eight months old at the time, and (Arsenal’s) Jack Wilshere wasn’t even born!
"The time has gone very quickly – my twenties in particular seemed to fly by. Since turning 30, though, I’ve been able to enjoy and savour things a lot more. You’re more mature when you get to 30 and I think you experience things better."
Manchester United Top Ten
1) Ryan Giggs
2) Eric Cantona
3) George Best
4) Sir Bobby Charlton
5) Cristiano Ronaldo
6) Paul Scholes
7) David Beckham
8) Roy Keane
9) Peter Schmeichel
10) Wayne Rooney

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

David Gill confirms plans for Giggs contract talks

Manchester United are ready to offer a new deal to Ryan Giggs.
United chief David Gill says they hope to settle on an agreement next month.
He told the Daily Telegraph: "I wouldn't be surprised if he extends his contract for another season.
"That will be addressed in the next month or so. He has been playing well, keeps himself in great shape and is a wonderful advert for the modern footballer."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called Giggs an "incredible human being" on Sunday after he made his 600th league appearance for the club against Tottenham.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Ferguson wants his scouts to find him 3 future legends!

Sir Alex Ferguson has sent his scouts out to find him three future stars.
The Manchester Evening News says Ferguson intends to buy his replacements for the club's three legends Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
The surviving trio from the Class of ‘92 remain on one-year deals at Old Trafford and are being considered for new contracts.
A question mark hangs over the future of injury-stricken right back Neville, who’ll be 36 in February, and his retirement is expected this summer.
Giggs, 37, and 36-year-old Scholes are set to stay on and accept new 12-month deals before the end of the season.
But finding successors for the trio, who have amassed over 2000 appearances between them, is paramount as United scour the globe for new recruits.
For Giggs, Tottenham ace Gareth Bale is the obvious choice for Ferguson, while in Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder he sees a successor for Scholes.
United are also watching Olympiakos right-back Vassilis Torosidis with a view to finding Neville’s replacement.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Ryan, Nev and Scholes to be offered £200,000 a week contract...NOT by Man Utd

Ryan Giggs is to be offered £200,000 a week to finish his career in the Middle East.


And fellow Manchester United veterans Paul Scholes and Gary Neville can also expect mega deals from Dubai clubs.

Top oufits in the UAE League, including David O'Leary's Al Ahli, have already discussed signing the trio next summer.

A United insider said: "Ryan is a legend at United and still an important part of the team but like Scholesy and Gary Neville, he can't go on for ever.


"He has always rejected moves but this is a very attractive way for him to end his career, a last big pay day in the sun.

"The same goes for Scholesy and Nev."

Giggs, 36, Scholes, 35, and Neville, 35, are all on United contracts which expire next summer.

They are coming to the end of their Premier League careers and may fancy one last big pay day.

Neville even has a property in Dubai and Giggs recently holidayed there.


Italian 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro moved to Al Ahli last summer and was immediately put on £110,000-a-week tax free - which equates to £200,000 here.

Cannavaro said: "I always thought of moving to live in Dubai as I love it - I have achieved my dream."


Giggs, Scholes and Neville have played over 2,000 games for United.

Giggs has made a record 847 appearances for United while struggling Neville celebrated his 600th appearance at Stoke on Sunday.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Giggs and EVEN Carrick wants to retire with Man Utd

Ryan Giggs says Manchester United will be his last club.
Giggs has been linked with a move to the USA and MLS.
But he says: "I think I will probably finish my career here.
"I am at an age now where it is coming to an end pretty soon. I cannot see myself dropping down leagues and playing at a lesser level."
Michael Carrick wants to stay at Manchester United for the rest of his career too.
The England star has continually been linked with a move away from the Red Devils in recent months and Aston Villa are said to be the latest club interested in snapping up the 29-year-old.
He said: "I have seen some stories suggesting I'd be leaving last summer but I take no notice. It's part of the game.
"I have never thought I was on my way out of United, not for one minute. It has never entered my mind.
"And neither has the manager said anything to me.
"This is a great place to be and results like the one against Valencia make it all worthwhile when you play a part in something like that.
"I have the rest of this season and next season left on my contract and I would like to stay here for the rest of my career.
"Why would I want to go anywhere else?
"It's up to me this season to work hard to earn the right to do that and to make it a reality.
"So the aim is to be in the team as often as I can."

Friday, October 1, 2010

Giggs likens Javier Hernandez to Solskjaer..What about Michael Owen?

Ryan Giggs has placed summer signing Javier Hernandez in the same mould as former strike star Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson used the Norwegian as a ‘super sub’, bringing him on whenever the team was in need of a goal or a spark, and Giggs has already seen the likeness of the two who following Hernandez’s winner against Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"It's hard not to get too excited by a player like Javier," said Giggs. "We've seen it over the years. You can get excited by players and build them up. But I was genuinely excited in pre-season, seeing what he could do.
"Javier's just a natural finisher and they don't come along that often. You saw that when he scored against Valencia, it was just a great goal. His first touch was great as was his finish. It was just instinctive and when you've got that, you'll score an awful lot of goals.
"He was only on for about 15 minutes but in that time he hit the post, ran through onto a cross when their keeper saved it, and he's just a dangerous player.
"Ole had every finish - left foot, right foot, headers, the lot. And Javier's goal reminded me a little bit of Ole, just because he always used to hit the side netting low and hard, whether it was with his right foot or left foot, and so it was similar in that respect."

Monday, August 16, 2010

Giggs aimed to take over Man Utd from Sir Alex!

Ryan Giggs has won every medal going as a Manchester United player - now he wants to do the same as Old Trafford boss.

After making a start on his coaching badges alongside fellow United veterans Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, Giggs is ready to turn his attention to the world of management.


The former Wales international has admitted he wants to follow in the footsteps of other graduates of the Sir Alex Ferguson academy at Old Trafford like Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson and Paul Ince.

And he said: "My aim would be to manage either Manchester United or Wales."
Giggs, who will be 37 in November, has treated every season since he was 30 as if it was his last as a player.

Long gone are his days of flying down the wing and making some of the most accomplished right-backs in the game look distinctly average.

Now, it seems, it is time to plan for a possible future in coaching.

"I don't think I'll know whether I'll cope with the aggravation until I've finished playing and say 'what do I do now'?" he added.


"Football is such a massive part of my life and to just stop in your late 30s and do nothing is tough.

"Even though there is so much stress involved, I think a lot of players become managers and really enjoy it.

"I think Roy Keane really enjoys it."

Keane was one player United boss Sir Alex axed ruthlessly from his squad when seemingly still a force to be reckoned with, and Giggs knows no player is safe at a fiercely competitive club like United.


And even after 20 years at Old Trafford, Giggs still has the feeling, just like any other player, that he could be cast aside at any moment. It is what has driven him to succeed, even before making his debut against Everton back in 1991.

"My medals are something I'll look back on in years to come," he said.

"What motivates me from year to year is something as simple as seeing a young player produce a bit of skill, or in my case, seeing Rafael bombing past you in training.


"Seeing a young player develop really gets me going, as does the enthusiasm of the manager and the look on his face when we report to pre-season training.

"I can see his hunger and how much it hurt that we lost out to Chelsea last year and how we got knocked out of the Champions League.

"He has told us what he expects of us this year and Manchester United is basically all about winning - anything else is just not worth thinking about.


"Whether it be in training or in games, you can't let your standards slip.

"Of course, you can just not play well for three or four games, but the manager is not stupid, he has seen things happen over the years and he knows you can come back if you apply yourself.

"If you try everything and it doesn't come back then there is something wrong.

"In that case you go to a new club or you're finished.

"I've spent 20 years at United and it has never changed.


"You're never sure how far you are from being shown the door. It's as simple as that."
One man unlikely to be shown the door any time soon, is their superstar striker Wayne Rooney.

But Giggs insists the England man isn't the finished article yet and must reproduce last season's brilliant form year after year to be ranked alongside Old Trafford greats like Eric Cantona, Keane and Robson.

Giggs has played alongside all the United legends of the modern era and believes Rooney is fast on his way to becoming one of the club's greatest-ever players. And this comes from a man who watched the likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, not to mention Keane and Cantona, walk through the gates of Old Trafford before earning iconic status at the biggest club in the land.


Nobody knows better than Giggs, a veteran of more than 800 games, what it takes to be mentioned in the same breath as the superstar names he has lined up with during a career that has yielded 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs.

And he rates Rooney as highly in terms of natural talent as any player he has seen.

In fact Giggs is that that, once his team-mate regains full sharpness, he will cement his place in United folklore by producing the kind of form he showed last season, long into the future.

"Wayne is on that level with the United greats," he said.


"He scored 30-odd goals last season and there aren't many players who have done that in this club's history.

"To put him up there with them permanently he has to do it consistently year after year, season after season and I'm sure he will.

"In terms of talent, he is one of the best I've ever seen. The likes of Wayne and Ronaldo are the best I've come across."

Giggs, though, has his own pecking order when it comes to the Old Trafford greats. "Paul Scholes is like no other player I have known," he said. "He controls the tempo of a game and he is up there with the very best.


"Roy Keane was an immense driving force and such a winner.

"Peter Schmeichel was probably the best goalkeeper in the world for five years.

"It's hard to cut it down to three players but if I had to, they would be the three.

"Wayne is already close to that group and will get there in time."

Giggs agrees with the England manager Fabio Capello's view that Rooney needs more games to get back to his best.


"I think Fabio is right because you do need five or six games to hit your peak and regain your match fitness," he said.

"He has only had three and a half matches but has looked fit and sharp in training.

"He didn't have a great World Cup but it's possible to tune back into how he was playing last season simply because he is playing for a different team.

"For England, you probably don't get as many chances as you do playing for United.
"At Old Trafford, you're playing in a squad with 20-25 quality players.

"You're going to get more chances, especially if you're playing at Old Trafford, and Wayne will be there to put them away."