Sir Ryan Giggs

[Escorpiius]

Well, I've made lots of Sports thread but I never did a thread dedicated to a sole player. But, today I felt obliged to break this "trend" to make a heartfelt tribute for an outstanding player that is... Ryan Giggs.

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Already the most decorated player in the history of the English game, Giggs is set to become the first player from British shores to make 1,000 appearances at the top level – 931 for United so far, 64 for Wales and four for the GB Olympic team. Sure, all eyes will be on CR7's homecoming to Old Trafford in this beyond highly-awaited Champions League bout but arguably, the biggest ovation won't be for Ronaldo' it will be for Ryan Giggs' millennium game. Absolute legendary stuff & career - no wonder Sir Alex rightly said that he has ran out of superlatives and words to describe amazing Giggsy.

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Ryan Giggs debuted against Everton on 2 March 1991 and 23 years later, Ryan is gonna make his 1000th appearance in pro football against [probably] Real Madrid who has won the most Champions Leagues - as if to prove that he hasn't only tearing defenses apart since 1991 - even destiny had to bow down and let Giggs make history against such a prestigious opponent. Giggs is a complete phenomenon and in my eyes, if longevity matters as much as stats and achievements, then Giggs is surely among the best ever players to grace a football pitch. Giggs has scored in every season [23] he has been a professional, an extraordinary and unique record for the forever United player. Probably, the greatest ally in Fergie's reign, the biggest milestone player in Manchester United history and an individual who commands total respect in the dressing room. He's United-most decorated player obviously and he made more appearances in EPL than Manchester City and bagged more trophies than Chelsea & City. And well, I could go on and on...but his records probably are nearly endless [can read on the Wikipedia link if you wish]

On the verge of 1000...

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Here's a list of achievements of the Welshman:

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First-team Honors:

FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
Intercontinental Cup: 1999
UEFA Champions League: 1998/99, 2007/08
Premier League: 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 2010/11
FA Cup: 1993/94, 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04
League Cup: 1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09
UEFA Super Cup: 1991
Community Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010

Reserves & Youth Honors:

FA Youth Cup: 1991/92
Lancashire League Division One: 1990/91

Individual Honours:

PFA Players' Player of the Year 2009
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009
Honorary Master of Arts (Salford) 2008
OBE (Order of the British Empire) 2007
PFA Team of the Century 2007
PFA Team of the Year 2009, 2007, 2001, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993
Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): Overall Team of the Decade
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Most Player Appearances (596)
United Players' Player of the Year 2006
Wales Player of the Year 2006, 1996
English Football Hall of Fame inductee 2005
Premier League Team of the Decade 2003
Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player 1999
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year 1998
European Under-21 Footballer of the Year 1993
PFA Young Player of the Year 1992, 1993
Premier League Player of the Month (3): September 1993, August 2006, February 2007
Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year 1991, 1992
Golden Foot: 2011
GQ Sportsman of the Year (1): 2010[87]
Goal of the Season (1): 1998–99
FWA Tribute Award: 2007
Bravo Award (1): 1993

So, how much would you rate Giggs among your list of greatest ever players? Is he the most incredible player with a 20-plus long career? I'd love some insight. Giggs signed another contract for next season, so expect Giggs to stretch his remarkable appearance record for another year yet (perhaps 1000 appearances for United only?!?) and maybe even beyond that. There'll always be only one Ryan Giggs... Sir Ryan Giggs!

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[kourosh]

nice thread! i like giggs

 

[sanninuto]

well: sir Ryan Giggs and manchester united is the best,that's all there is to said
cool....eh

 

[sagemodee]

what about barcelonas messi that guy has a brain hidden in his left foot well just saying am also a manchester fan excellent team am i right.

 

[Escorpiius]

what about barcelonas messi that guy has a brain hidden in his left foot well just saying am also a manchester fan excellent team am i right.

I was asking if Giggs is probably the best player with a 20+ year long career - given his ability to still play in a top team at this age, his numerous trophies and records, his dedication to a sole club, playing in a high position as he is a winger not a defender or goalkeeper ect....

I'm not asking about who's the best player of all time - I'm asking on longevity level? Who knows where Messi will be when he'll be 36 or older? Many top players in their prime have never stayed at such a great level later on as Giggs did...Some did but is Giggs la crème de la crème among those legends - that's my question?

 

[kmrasengan]

I like Giggs alot and yes i would say he's one of the best players with a long career, so congrats Sir Giggs, truly an outstanding player, and 1000 matches is just amazing.

 

[CharlieBundels]

On a longevity level, I'd say Romario. Scored 1000 goals, and retired at 40. Won a couple world cups too.

 

[JIRAIYA perv]

am a HUGE Giggs fan (best wing ever) and this is the ultimate Ryan Giggs thread, dear sir i salute you.

 

[Steaktacular]

Great tribute to an amazing player (he´s been playing for as long as I´ve lived - wth)

Btw good luck against Real, should be a great match

 

[Escorpiius]

On a longevity level, I'd say Romario. Scored 1000 goals, and retired at 40. Won a couple world cups too.

Romario is a legend - as a matter of fact, all players who'd like to take that title on longevity level is bound to be one of the greatest legends.

That being said, I'll say that Giggs was better than Romario. First of all, Romario's 1000 goals is pure fiction as he actually scored 364 goals for club & country; the rest being goals in friendlies and non-official matches.

Still, despite his FIFA Best Player Awards & World Cups & numerous achievements & trophies, I'd rate Giggs higher. That's because he's been playing at a club vying for top honors in European level each year and in a highly competitive league for all those years. Romario's best years have been with Barcelona & Flamengo. PSV was another high-rated club in his career and he was pretty prolific in his 2-year spells at Vasco Da Gama but let's face facts - playing for Brazilian clubs, Al-Sadd or Miami FC isn't really a highly great challenge.

I don't want to disrespect any Brazilian players but I doubt any Brazilian will take the title of being the best player in terms of longevity. Their constant trend to go into exile into Brazilian clubs when they are no more in their prime, shows that they lack the level then, to keep playing in a top-club. Again, I don't want to disrespect any of the legends - especially my favorite Ronaldinho and the likes of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Zico ect... but that's an undeniable truth.

Players like Maldini, Del Piero, Beckham, Raul, Seedorf, Bergkamp, Zanneti, Totti, Scholes, Schmeichel, Nesta ect... should be closer to that title than Romario in my view... And probably players like Puyol, Pirlo, Xavi, Gerrard, Carragher and lots others should be in that league soon too. So, let's change that question somehow into - are those players I've mentioned above better than Giggs or does Giggs top them?

 

[CharlieBundels]

You raise some good points; all I know is Bergkamp is definitely better than Giggs, and the others, play in different roles.

 

[Escorpiius]

You raise some good points; all I know is Bergkamp is definitely better than Giggs, and the others, play in different roles.

Well, even Bergkamp & Giggs played different role. Bergkamp was primarily a striker and Giggs, a winger.

That being said, this is a great face-off. Both are beyond legends in their respective clubs (Arsenal & United), both are surely amongst the 10 greatest Premier League players ever, lots of individual honors for both of them ect...Giggs was more of a defenders' nightmare while Bergkamp was more prolific. Giggs won more trophies and played more matches while Bergkamp featured in a World Cup.

Well, I prefer Giggs over Bergkamp personally but I respect your decision. Giggs had better pace and dribbling skills while Bergkamp had a world-class touch and finishing. In fact, many person surely prefer Giggs over Bergkamp and surely many prefer Bergkamp over Giggs. It's a close one - so I'll leave this one, open to personal choice.

 

[CharlieBundels]

Well, even Bergkamp & Giggs played different role. Bergkamp was primarily a striker and Giggs, a winger.

That being said, this is a great face-off. Both are beyond legends in their respective clubs (Arsenal & United), both are surely amongst the 10 greatest Premier League players ever, lots of individual honors for both of them ect...Giggs was more of a defenders' nightmare while Bergkamp was more prolific. Giggs won more trophies and played more matches while Bergkamp featured in a World Cup.

Well, I prefer Giggs over Bergkamp personally but I respect your decision. Giggs had better pace and dribbling skills while Bergkamp had a world-class touch and finishing. In fact, many person surely prefer Giggs over Bergkamp and surely many prefer Bergkamp over Giggs. It's a close one - so I'll leave this one, open to personal choice.

They did, but I choose to compare them due to their attacking talents. Bergkamp's flair, touch and shooting ability was just flawless, and among all else, he was one of the most selfless strikers I've ever seen. I can't remember exactly, but I think he has 120 goals, and 115 assists for Arsenal, which is quite rare. However, we must take in the account that he was playing with Thierry Henry, one of the best strikers of all time. Giggs is more decorated surely, but I feel as if Bergkamp was just better individually. He came 2nd and 3rd in a Ballon D'or a few times, which just highlights his respective skills. Having more assists than goals is one thing, but when the guy wins 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in a goal of the month, you just know the guy scores nothing but beautiful goals.

As you say though, they're both legends not only in their clubs, but in the premier league as a whole. Every time I think of Bergkamp, this goal just comes to head every time. There's no definite better player, surely.

[video=youtube;n275iW54o68]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n275iW54o68[/video]

 

[Escorpiius]

They did, but I choose to compare them due to their attacking talents. Bergkamp's flair, touch and shooting ability was just flawless, and among all else, he was one of the most selfless strikers I've ever seen. I can't remember exactly, but I think he has 120 goals, and 115 assists for Arsenal, which is quite rare. However, we must take in the account that he was playing with Thierry Henry, one of the best strikers of all time. Giggs is more decorated surely, but I feel as if Bergkamp was just better individually. He came 2nd and 3rd in a Ballon D'or a few times, which just highlights his respective skills. Having more assists than goals is one thing, but when the guy wins 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in a goal of the month, you just know the guy scores nothing but beautiful goals.

As you say though, they're both legends not only in their clubs, but in the premier league as a whole. Every time I think of Bergkamp, this goal just comes to head every time. There's no definite better player, surely.

[video=youtube;n275iW54o68]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n275iW54o68[/video]

Still, as I said, Bergkamp's talent and Giggs' talent are different. Bergkamp's finishing skills is beyond awesome but similarly, he never had the awesome explosive percussion style.

To add to that, Giggs was never a great goalscorer. He always used to average 10-15 goals per season & his only hattrick has been in a friendly match. Still, Giggs is 18th on the list of record goalscorers in the Premier League, and one of only 22 players to have passed a century of goals in 20 years. As I said, he is joint-7th top goalscorer of Manchester with 168 strikers - which remains a highly impressive number for a winger-midfielder. He's the only midfielder to reach 100+ goals besides Matt LeTissier.

Besides, he tops the Premier League Charts of most Assists ever and I don't have the exact number but his all-time career number should be around 250-275 assists in my opinion. Ryan Giggs has the most assists in Premier League history with 279. 75 per cent of these have come from open play. In the years when United & Arsenal dominated EPL, Giggs/Beckham/Scholes & Bergkamp/Henry/Pires had outstanding assist rates.

As for Ballon D'Or, apart from skills - the International level counted a lot and as we know, this will always be one of the darkest points in Giggs's illustrious career. Bergkamp had the chance to be from Holland atleast.

I just love Bergkamp's goal. Definitely one of the best Premier League goal ever - sad, it wasn't crowned as Best EPL Ever in 20 Seasons Award but oh well, Rooney had an overhead kick as trump card.

As for beautiful goals, Giggs does possess the Best FA Cup goal ever nonetheless.



And just some more number on Giggs:

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[Grim]

well done thread... it will be 1000th game for Giggs against RM. just amazing how much motivation this man has to continue to fight for his place on the pitch, watch and learn ''ROTW''

It's pitty that Saf sold David because no player is bigger than a club....he could be heart of the ManU


I love ManU, those boys served me good this season, haven't lost a bet from they'r side this season and with MC winning Aston Villa i'm +760$ with my TAB multibet

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[Totsuka No Tsurugi]

you forget about King Totti dude

 

[Escorpiius]

Players like Maldini, Del Piero, Beckham, Raul, Seedorf, Bergkamp, Zanneti, Totti, Scholes, Schmeichel, Nesta ect... should be closer to that title than Romario in my view... And probably players like Puyol, Pirlo, Xavi, Gerrard, Carragher and lots others should be in that league soon too. So, let's change that question somehow into - are those players I've mentioned above better than Giggs or does Giggs top them?

you forget about King Totti dude

No, I didn't! :devil:

 

[Totsuka No Tsurugi]

No, I didn't! :devil:

you make 1 grave mistake.... you put him behind Del Piero :sy:

 

[Escorpiius]

you make 1 grave mistake.... you put him behind Del Piero :sy:

Behind....what??? That list didn't have any order... :sy:
I just named legends, that went through my head. U_U

 

[Totsuka No Tsurugi]

then you have been forgiven