View source for Ryan Giggs

{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1973)}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ryan Giggs<br />{{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}}
| image = Ryan Giggs 2015 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Giggs with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in 2015
| full_name = Ryan Joseph Giggs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/squad-lists-february-2012.pdf |title=Premier League clubs submit squad lists |publisher=Premier League |page=23 |date=2 February 2012 |access-date=2 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227041058/http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/squad-lists-february-2012.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| birth_name = Ryan Joseph Wilson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|11|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Canton, Cardiff]], Wales
| height = {{convert|1.79|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |title=11. Ryan Giggs – Quote, Unquote |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/First-Team/Ryan-Giggs.aspx?section=Quote |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501224335/http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/First-Team/Ryan-Giggs.aspx?section=Quote |archive-date=1 May 2013 }}</ref>
| position = [[Left midfielder]], [[left winger]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = Deans FC
| youthyears2 = 1985–1987
| youthclubs2 = [[Manchester City F.C. EDS and Academy|Manchester City]]
| youthyears3 = 1987–1990
| youthclubs3 = [[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy|Manchester United]]
| years1 = 1990–2014
| clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps1 = 672
| goals1 = 114<!-- LEAGUE ONLY -->
| nationalyears1 = 1989
| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-16 football team|England U16]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1989
| nationalteam2 = [[Wales national under-19 football team|Wales U18]]
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1991
| nationalteam3 = [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales U21]]
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 1991–2007
| nationalteam4 = [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| nationalcaps4 = 64
| nationalgoals4 = 12
| nationalyears5 = 2012
| nationalteam5 = [[Great Britain men's Olympic football team|Great Britain]]
| nationalcaps5 = 4
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2014
| managerclubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (interim)
| manageryears2 = 2014–2016
| managerclubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2018–2022
| managerclubs3 = [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
}}
'''Ryan Joseph Giggs''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} ([[né]] '''Wilson'''; born 29 November 1973<ref name=CW>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Whyatt |title=Ryan Giggs profile |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13507115 |website=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=1 June 2011 }}</ref>) is a Welsh [[association football|football]] coach, co-owner of [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]], and former player who played as a [[left midfielder]] or [[Winger (association football)|winger]]. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Darwin |first1=Stephen |title=Is Ryan Giggs the Greatest Player of His Generation? |url=https://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/is_ryan_giggs_the_greatest_player_of_his_generation |website=Football Fancast |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="fourfourtwo">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list|title=Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list|edition=253|work=[[FourFourTwo]]|date=13 February 2018|accessdate=22 December 2023}}</ref> and one of the best wingers in the history of football.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://jobsinfootball.com/blog/best-wingers-of-all-time/| title = ''The 9 Best Wingers Of All Time''| publisher = Jobs in Football| date = 28 November 2023| access-date = 6 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/best-wingers-in-football-history| title = ''Best Wingers in Football History''| publisher = Four Four Two| date = 28 November 2023| access-date = 6 June 2024 | first = Ben | last = Hayward}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://iconicfootball.weebly.com/top-100-wingers-of-all-time.html| title = ''Top 100 Wingers / Wide-Fwds of All-Time''| publisher = Iconic Football| access-date = 6 June 2024}}</ref> Giggs spent his [[List of one-club men in association football|entire professional career]] at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], where he also served as the club's interim player-manager and assistant manager. He is one of the most decorated footballers of all time, and is one of only 51 players to have made over [[List of footballers with the most official appearances|1,000 career appearances]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talksport.com/football/531265/dani-alves-most-successful-ever-43-trophies/|title=Dani Alves: Full-back wins astonishing 43rd trophy of his career after Brazil beat Peru in Copa America final |first1=Oliver |last1=Dawnay |work=talkSPORT |date=8 July 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202233615/https://talksport.com/football/531265/dani-alves-most-successful-ever-43-trophies/ |archive-date= 2 February 2023 }}</ref><ref name="Giggs1000" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Louise |date=23 March 2017 |title=Gianluigi Buffon's 1,000th career game is testament to a beacon of stability |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/23/italy-juventus-gianluigi-buffon-1000th-game |access-date=24 March 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

The son of [[rugby union]] and [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] international [[rugby league]] footballer [[Danny Wilson (rugby league)|Danny Wilson]], Giggs was born in [[Cardiff]] but moved to [[Manchester]] at the age of six when his father joined [[Swinton Lions|Swinton RLFC]]. Predominantly a [[Midfielder#Wide midfielder|left midfielder]], he began his career with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], but joined Manchester United on his 14th birthday in 1987. He made his professional debut for the club in 1991 and spent the next 23 years in the first team. He retired from playing with the end of the 2013–14 season, holding the club record for competitive appearances – [[List of Manchester United F.C. records and statistics#Appearances|963]]. Towards the end of the [[2013–14 Manchester United F.C. season|2013–14 season]], he became the club's interim player-manager following the sacking of [[David Moyes]]. He was assistant manager under Moyes' permanent replacement, [[Louis van Gaal]]. Giggs left United in July 2016, following the appointment of [[José Mourinho]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2 July 2016 |title=Ryan Giggs: Man Utd confirm Welshman's exit after 29 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36692679 |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> During his time at United he won 13 [[Premier League]] titles – [[List of Premier League winning players|more than any other player in history]], four [[FA Cup]]s, three [[Football League Cup|League Cup]]s, two [[UEFA Champions League]] titles, a [[FIFA Club World Cup]], an [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]], a [[UEFA Super Cup]] and nine [[FA Community Shield]]s. Manchester United and Liverpool are the only clubs in English football history to have won more league championships than Giggs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Champions2013/Champions2013News/2013/Apr/ryan-giggs-legend-13-times-a-title-winner.aspx|title=Video: 13 titles for glorious Giggs|website=ManUtd.com |date=25 April 2013 |first1=Laura |last1=Kane |first2=Adam |last2=Marshall |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207011952/http://www.manutd.com/en/Champions2013/Champions2013News/2013/Apr/ryan-giggs-legend-13-times-a-title-winner.aspx |archive-date= 7 February 2018 }}</ref>

At international level, Giggs played for the [[Wales national football team|Wales national team]] 64 times between 1991 and 2007, and captained the [[Great Britain men's Olympic football team|Great Britain]] team that competed at the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Summer Olympics]]. He became the new manager of the Wales national team in January 2018.<ref name="wales appointment">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42691334|title=Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend named Wales manager|website=BBC Sport|date=15 January 2018|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> Giggs led Wales to qualification for [[UEFA Euro 2020]].<ref name="euro qualification">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50384127|title=Wales 2–0 Hungary|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=19 November 2019|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> He did not manage the team at the tournament however, which was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], as he was arrested on suspicion of assault. His assistant manager [[Rob Page]] took charge in his absence.<ref name="page caretaker">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54796224|title=Ryan Giggs: Wales manager will not take charge of November games |website=BBC Sport|date=3 November 2020|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> Giggs resigned in June 2022, and Page was named as his successor.<ref name="giggs resigns">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61868824|title=Ryan Giggs: Ex-Manchester United winger resigns as Wales manager |website=BBC Sport|date=20 June 2022|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>

Giggs was the first player in history to win two consecutive [[PFA Young Player of the Year]] awards (1992 and 1993), though he did not win the [[PFA Players' Player of the Year|PFA Player of the Year]] award until 2009. He was the only player to play in each of the first 22 seasons of the [[Premier League]], as well as the only player to score in each of the first 21 seasons. He was elected into the [[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] Team of the Century in 2007, the [[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards#Teams of the Decade|Premier League Team of the Decade]] in 2003, and the [[FA Cup]] Team of the Century. He holds the record for the most [[Assist (football)|assists]] in Premier League history, with 162, and the most assists in [[UEFA Champions League]] history with 41.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/12/who-has-the-most-champions-league-assists/ | title=Who Has the Most Champions League Assists? | date=14 December 2023 }}</ref> He was named as [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] in 2009, and was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2007 Birthday Honours]] for his services to football.<ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |date=15 June 2007 |issue=58358 |pages=10 |supp=1}}</ref>

== Early years ==
Giggs was born at [[St David's Hospital, Cardiff|St David's Hospital]] in [[Canton, Cardiff]], to [[Danny Wilson (rugby)|Danny Wilson]], a [[rugby union]] player for [[Cardiff RFC]], and Lynne Giggs (now Lynne Johnson). Giggs is [[mixed race]] – his paternal grandfather is a [[Sierra Leone Creole]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footbalium.com/lifestyle/biography/9986-ryan-giggs-biography/ |title=Ryan Giggs Biography|website=www.footbalium.com}}</ref> – and has spoken of the racism he faced as a child.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs suffered racist abuse |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/giggs-suffered-racist-abuse-949583 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=28 October 2020 }}</ref> As a child, Giggs grew up in [[Ely, Cardiff|Ely]], a suburb of western Cardiff. His younger brother, Rhodri, is a former manager of [[EFL League Two]] club [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rhodri Giggs resigns from Salford City|url=https://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1347|access-date=7 November 2020|website=salfordstar.com}}</ref>

He spent much time with his mother's parents and playing football and rugby league on the roads outside their house in [[Pentrebane]]. In 1980, when Giggs was six years old, his father switched from rugby union to rugby league, and signed for [[Swinton Lions|Swinton RLFC]], forcing the whole family to move north to [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]], a town in [[City of Salford|Salford]], Greater Manchester. The move was a traumatic one, as Giggs was very close to his grandparents in Cardiff, but he would often return there with his family at weekends or on school holidays.

After moving to Salford, Giggs appeared for the local team, Deans FC, who were coached by [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] scout Dennis Schofield. Schofield recommended Giggs to Manchester City, and he was signed up to their School of Excellence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/10188819/ryan-giggs-25-years-at-manchester-united|title=Ryan Giggs: 25 years at Manchester United|work=Sky Sports }}</ref> Meanwhile, Giggs continued to play for Salford Boys, who went on to reach the final of the Granada Schools Cup competition at [[Anfield]] in 1987. Giggs captained the Salford team to victory over their Blackburn counterparts, was [[man of the match]], and the trophy was presented to him by [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] chief scout [[Ron Yeats]].<ref>{{cite video |title=Young Ryan Giggs (Wilson), 1988 Granada Schools Cup |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ofa78rqIuQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/5ofa78rqIuQ |archive-date=30 October 2021 |access-date=29 September 2012 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Giggs also played [[rugby league]] at schoolboy level.<ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Barker |title=Adrian Morley inspired by Reds legends |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_league/s/1590323_adrian-morley-inspired-by-reds-legends |work=Manchester Evening News |date=3 October 2012 |access-date=27 October 2013 }}</ref>

While playing for Deans, Giggs was observed regularly by local newsagent and [[Old Trafford]] steward Harold Wood. Wood spoke personally to [[Alex Ferguson]] who sent a scout, and Giggs was eventually offered a trial over the 1986 Christmas period. Giggs played in a match for Salford Boys against a United Under-15s side at [[The Cliff (training ground)|The Cliff]] and scored a [[hat-trick]], with Ferguson watching from his office window. On 29 November 1987 (his 14th birthday), Ferguson turned up at Giggs' house with United scout Joe Brown and offered him two years on associate schoolboy forms. They offered to waive [[Youth Training Scheme|YTS]] forms and persuaded Giggs to sign by offering the opportunity to turn professional in three years. Using the name Ryan Wilson, Giggs captained England at [[England national under-16 football team|schoolboy level]], playing at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] against [[Germany national youth football team|Germany]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Mike |last1=Adamson |first2=John |last2=Ashdown |title=Could Ryan Giggs have played for England? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/06/theknowledge.sport |work=The Guardian |date=6 October 2004 |access-date=23 August 2010 }}</ref> He changed his surname to that of his mother at the age of 16, when his mother remarried, two years after his parents' separation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Hughes |title=Ferguson and Giggs, side by side at ManU |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/sports/03iht-SOCCER.1.20556079.html?pagewanted=2 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=27 May 2011 }}</ref>

== Manchester United ==

=== 1990–1995: Debut and early career ===
Giggs was offered his first professional contract on 29 November 1990 (his 17th birthday). He accepted the contract and became a professional two days later (1 December 1990).

At this time, United had recently won the [[FA Cup]] – their first major trophy since the appointment of [[Alex Ferguson]] as manager in November 1986. After two seasons in the league where they had finished mid-table, they were finally starting to threaten the dominance of [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], though they only managed to finish sixth that season. Ferguson's quest for a successful left-winger had not been an easy one since the departure of [[Jesper Olsen]] two years earlier; he had initially signed [[Ralph Milne]], but the player was not a success at United and lasted just one season in the first team before Ferguson secured the [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] winger [[Danny Wallace (footballer)|Danny Wallace]] in September 1989. Wallace had failed to shine at Old Trafford, and by the time Giggs turned professional Wallace was contending with 19-year-old [[Lee Sharpe]] for the role of first-choice left winger.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

Giggs made his League debut against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[Old Trafford]] on 2 March 1991, as a substitute for the injured full-back [[Denis Irwin]] in a 2–0 defeat.<ref name="Giggs1000"/> In his first full start, Giggs was credited with his first-ever goal in a 1–0 win in the [[Manchester derby]] on 4 May 1991, though it appeared to be a [[Colin Hendry]] own goal. However, he was not included in the squad of 16 that defeated [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] final 11 days later. Lee Sharpe, who had won the race to displace Danny Wallace, took to the field as United's left winger, while Wallace was selected as a substitute. Giggs became a first-team regular early in the [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92 season]], yet remained active with the youth system and captained the team, made up of many of "[[Fergie's Fledglings]]", to an [[FA Youth Cup]] triumph in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Sam |date=15 May 2022 |title=FA Youth Cup 1992: Where are they now? |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/thirty-years-since-1992-fa-youth-cup-final-where-are-they-now |website=manutd.com}}</ref>

Giggs paved the way as the first of many Manchester United youth players to rise into the first team under Ferguson but as the youngest member of the United first-team squad, Giggs looked to the older players such as [[Bryan Robson]] for advice. Robson recommended that Giggs sign up with Harry Swales, the agent that he himself had inherited from [[Kevin Keegan]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Fordyce |title=The teenage tornado |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3257103.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2003 |access-date=17 May 2009 }}</ref>

That season, Giggs played in the team that finished as runners-up to [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in the final year of the old [[Football League First Division|First Division]] before the advent of the [[Premier League]]. United had led the table for much of the season before a run of dismal results in April saw them overtaken by the [[West Yorkshire]] side. Giggs collected his first piece of silverware on 12 April 1992 as United defeated [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] in the [[1992 Football League Cup Final|League Cup Final]] after Giggs had set up [[Brian McClair]] to score the only goal of the game. In the semi-final he had scored the winning goal against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-boro-draw-brings-10125449|title=Manchester United - Boro: Draw brings back memories of a rain-lashed League Cup tie|publisher=gazettelive.co.uk|date=24 September 2015 |access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> At the end of the season, he was voted [[PFA Young Player of the Year]] – the award which had been credited to his colleague Lee Sharpe a year earlier.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

By the start of the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] season, the first season of the newly formed [[Premier League]], Giggs had ousted Sharpe to become United's first-choice left-winger. He was recognised as one of English football's two best emerging young wingers, alongside [[Steve McManaman]],<ref name="wing">{{cite web |title=Steve McManaman Profile |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/player-profiles/steve-mcmanaman |publisher=Give Me Football |access-date=19 December 2010 |archive-date=11 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711100043/http://www.givemefootball.com/player-profiles/steve-mcmanaman |url-status=dead }}</ref> who were notable for being a throwback to the [[Stanley Matthews]] era of the 1950s winger.<ref>{{cite news |title=Might of the midfielders |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1433721.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=11 July 2001 |access-date=19 December 2010 }}</ref> Giggs helped United to their first top-division title win for 26 years.

His emergence and the arrival of [[Eric Cantona]] heralded the dominance of United in the Premier League. Ferguson was protective of him, refusing to allow Giggs to be interviewed until he turned 20, eventually granting the first interview to the [[BBC]]'s [[Des Lynam]] for ''[[Match of the Day]]'' in the [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]] season.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} United won the double that season, and Giggs was one of their key players alongside the likes of Cantona, [[Paul Ince]] and [[Mark Hughes]]. Giggs also played for United in the [[Football League Cup]] final, where they lost 3–1 to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].

Off the pitch, newspapers claimed Giggs had "single-handedly revolutionised football's image" when he appeared as a teenager "with pace to burn, a bramble patch of black hair bouncing around his puppy popstar face, and a dazzling, gluey relationship between his impossibly fleet left foot and a football."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Giggs is still smiling after surviving the bitter battles with Arsenal |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/interviews/article-23906401-ryan-giggs-is-still-smiling-after-surviving-the-bitter-battles-with-arsenal.do |work=Evening Standard |location=London |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216172605/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/interviews/article-23906401-ryan-giggs-is-still-smiling-after-surviving-the-bitter-battles-with-arsenal.do |archive-date=16 December 2010 }}</ref> As a result of this, he was afforded many opportunities not normally offered to footballers at his young age, such as hosting his television show, ''Ryan Giggs' Soccer Skills'', which aired in 1994, and also had a book based on the series. Giggs was part of the Premier League's attempt to market itself globally, and he featured on countless football and [[lad mag]] covers, becoming a household name and fuelling the era where footballers started to become celebrity idols on a par with [[pop stars]],<ref>{{cite web|title=How football became the new rock'n'roll – Rock'n'Goal Week |url=http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/rockngoal/archive/2009/04/22/how-football-became-the-new-rock-n-roll.aspx |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=22 April 2009 |access-date=19 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711021611/http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/rockngoal/archive/2009/04/22/how-football-became-the-new-rock-n-roll.aspx |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}</ref> in and around the mid to late 1990s. Despite his aversion to attention, Giggs also became a teenage pin-up and was once described as the "Premiership's First Poster Boy",<ref name="football1">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Benson |title=Ryan Giggs in a league of his own |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6376845.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=10 March 2009 }}</ref> and the "boy wonder".<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Wallace |title=Milestone looming for Giggs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408537/Milestone-looming-for-Giggs.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408537/Milestone-looming-for-Giggs.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=28 July 2003 |access-date=10 March 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was hailed as the first football star to capture the public imagination in a way unseen since the days of [[George Best]];<ref name="nationalfootballmuseum1">{{cite web|title=Football Hall of Fame – Ryan Giggs |url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/ryangiggs.htm |website=nationalfootballmuseum.com |access-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804134521/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/ryangiggs.htm |archive-date=4 August 2008 }}</ref> the irony was that Best and [[Bobby Charlton]] used to describe Giggs as their favourite young player, turning up at [[The Cliff (training ground)|The Cliff]] training ground just to watch him. Best once quipped, "One day they might even say that I was another Ryan Giggs."<ref name="nationalfootballmuseum1"/>

At the end of the 1993–94 season, Giggs won a second title in a row, and became the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards, a feat equalled by [[Robbie Fowler]], [[Wayne Rooney]] and [[Dele Alli]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Tongue |title=Giggs: 'This can be the best United ever' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/giggs-this-can-be-the-best-united-ever-448588.html |work=The Independent |location=London |date=13 May 2007 |access-date=13 September 2008 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Giggs proved to be a scorer of great goals, with many of them being shortlisted for various [[BBC Goal of the Season|Goal of the Season]] awards. Widely regarded as among his best were those against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in 1994, [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] in 1994, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in 1995, [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry]] in 1996, and his solo effort against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the replay of the 1999 [[FA Cup]] semi-final.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} During extra time, Giggs picked up possession after [[Patrick Vieira]] gave the ball away, then ran from his own half, dribbled past the whole Arsenal back line, including [[Tony Adams (footballer)|Tony Adams]], [[Lee Dixon]] and [[Martin Keown]] before launching his left-footed strike just under [[David Seaman]]'s bar and beyond his reach. He famously whipped off his shirt during his [[goal celebration]] as he ran over to his teammates. It also has the distinction of being the last ever goal scored in an [[FA Cup]] semi-final replay as, from the following season, the [[FA Cup]] semi-finals are decided in a single game, with [[extra time]] and a [[Penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]] if required.<ref>{{cite news |title=No more second chances |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/319935.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=15 April 1999 |access-date=8 April 2014 }}</ref>

=== 1995–2000 ===
[[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]] saw Giggs restricted through injury to 29 Premier League games and only 1 goal. Later in the season, he recovered his form and fitness, though it was too late to help United to any major trophies. A failure to beat [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on the final day of the season saw them lose the Premier League title to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]. A week later, Giggs came on as a substitute in the FA Cup final against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], but United lost 1–0.

On a more positive side in the 1994–95 season, Giggs did get on the scoresheet twice in the opening Champions League game against [[IFK Göteborg]] (a 4–2 win, although United ultimately failed to progress to the quarter-finals) and also managed a goal in the [[FA Cup]] fourth-round victory over [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]], meaning that he had managed four goals in all competitions that season.

In [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]], Giggs returned to full form and played a vital part in United's unique second [[Double (association football)|double]], with his goal against Everton at [[Goodison Park]] on 9 September 1995 being shortlisted for the "goal of the season" award, though it was eventually beaten by a goal by [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s [[Georgi Kinkladze]]. In November that season, Giggs scored two goals in a Premier League match against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], where United won 4–1 to keep up the pressure on a [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] side who actually went ten points clear on 23 December but were finally overhauled by United in mid-March. Giggs was also in the side for United's FA Cup final win over Liverpool on 11 May 1996, though [[Eric Cantona]] scored the only goal of the game. By now, Giggs had several new key colleagues in youngsters [[Gary Neville]], [[Phil Neville]], [[Nicky Butt]], [[David Beckham]] and [[Paul Scholes]]. Beckham took over from Andrei Kanchelskis on the right-wing and Butt succeeded Paul Ince in central midfield to complete a new look United midfield along with Giggs and Roy Keane.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

[[1996–97 in English football|The following season]], Giggs had his first real chance to shine in Europe. Having played a key role in United winning their third league title in four seasons, he helped them reach the [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] semi-finals, the first United side in 28 years to achieve this. However, their hopes of European glory were ended by [[Borussia Dortmund]], who edged them out by winning each leg of the semi-final 1–0. At the end of this season, [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]' [[Alessandro Del Piero]] told Italian media that Giggs was one of his two favourite players.<ref name="MostImportant"/>

In [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]], United were pipped to the Premier League title by Arsenal, following a dismal run of form in March and early April, leaving them without a trophy for only the second time since 1989. The following season, Giggs missed a lot of games through injury, but when he was fit his form was excellent and he played in both of United's cup finals that season. Memorable moments were his extra-time goal in the FA Cup semi-final against arch-rivals [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] giving United a 2–1 win,<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs magic sinks Gunners |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/319696.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=14 April 1999 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> and his 90th-minute equaliser in the home leg of the [[1997–98 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] semi-final against Juventus.

The highpoint in the [[1998–99 Manchester United F.C. season|1998–99 season]] was when Giggs set up the equalising goal scored by [[Teddy Sheringham]] in the [[1999 UEFA Champions League Final]] that set United on their way to [[Treble (association football)|the Treble]].

Giggs was also the Man of the Match as United beat [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]] 1–0 to claim the [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] later that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd crowned world champions |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/543368.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 November 1999 |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref>

=== 2000–2005 ===
Giggs became [[Manchester United F.C.|United]]'s longest-serving player when [[Denis Irwin]] left in May 2002, and he became a pivotal part of the club, despite still being in his 20s. Giggs continued to excel in the four years that followed the [[The Treble|Treble]] triumph of 1999. United were [[Premier League]] champions in three of the four seasons following the treble, as well as reaching the [[UEFA Champions League]] quarter-finals three times and the semi-finals once. In April 2001, he signed a new five-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs agrees new five-year deal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3002517/Giggs-agrees-new-five-year-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3002517/Giggs-agrees-new-five-year-deal.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |date=4 April 2001 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Giggs celebrated his 10-year anniversary at [[Old Trafford]] with a testimonial match against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] at the start of the [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]] campaign, losing 4–3 in a game featuring a cameo by [[Eric Cantona]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic too strong for Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1467634.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2001 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Walker |title=Feisty Celtic give Giggs a night to remember |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/02/newsstory.sport3 |work=The Guardian |date=2 August 2001 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> However, this was one of the most disappointing seasons United had endured since Giggs made his debut, as a dismal run of form in early winter ultimately cost them the league title and they were surprisingly knocked out of the Champions League on away goals in the semi-finals by German underdogs [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]. A year later, on 23 August 2002, he bagged his 100th career goal in a draw with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs earns Man Utd point |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2208797.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2002 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>

The [[2002–03 Manchester United F.C. season|2002–03]] season was one to forget for Giggs. He was forced to defend his poor form, insisting that he was not finished.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs: I'm not finished yet |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2680491.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |author-link=Phil McNulty |title=Giggs must rise again |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2772599.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=19 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> This dip in form included being booed off the pitch in the 74th minute of a [[2002–03 Football League Cup#Semi-finals|1–1 semi-final first leg]] draw at home to Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup on 7 January<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/08/newsstory.sport6|title=United draw breath of relief|work=The Guardian|first=Kevin|last=McCarra|date=8 January 2003|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref><ref name=couldhave>{{cite news|url=http://www.givemesport.com/406321-ryan-giggs-how-his-united-career-could-have-ended-10-years-ago|title=Ryan Giggs: How his United career could have ended 10 years ago|publisher=Give Me Sport|first=Ricardo|last=Lewis|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> and an open-goal miss during a 2–0 defeat against Arsenal in the [[FA Cup]] on 16 February that was described as the worst of his career, and prompted chants by the Arsenal fans of "Give it to Giggsy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsenal cruise past Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2740035.stm |website=BBC Sport|date=16 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Wilson |title=Arsenal triumph as Giggs goes missing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/feb/16/match.sport1 |work=The Observer |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> A week later, on 24 February, Manchester United chief executive [[Peter Kenyon]] refused to rule out the possibility of Giggs leaving Old Trafford, saying: "It's too soon to say whether we would even consider a bid, and all we want to do at the moment is concentrate on this season." It was further claimed that a rift in the dressing room was contributing towards Giggs' possible departure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2791375.stm|title=Man Utd shrug off Giggs talk|website=BBC Sport|date=24 February 2003|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> However, the following day, Giggs played one of his most memorable games, in a 3–0 victory against Juventus. After coming on as a substitute for [[Diego Forlán]] in the eighth minute, Giggs scored twice,<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs inspires Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2793767.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |title=Giggs opens up Juve's gifts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/feb/26/championsleague.sport |website=The Guardian |date=26 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> including a goal that would later be heralded as one of his greatest goals and one of his finest Champions League moments.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jacob |last=Steinberg |title=Ryan Giggs: his 10 greatest goals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/mar/01/ryan-giggs-ten-best-goals |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs's top five Champions League moments |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10710447/Ryan-Giggss-top-five-Champions-League-moments.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10710447/Ryan-Giggss-top-five-Champions-League-moments.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph |date=20 March 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After speculation throughout the season that Giggs was close to joining Italian club [[Inter Milan]], possibly with Brazilian striker [[Adriano (footballer, born February 1982)|Adriano]] as a makeweight,<ref name=couldhave/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2615977.stm|title=Giggs dismisses Inter rumours|website=BBC Sport|date=30 December 2002|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs 'set for Adriano swap' |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2800087.stm |website=BBC Sport|date=26 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> Giggs quashed the rumours by saying he was happy at United.<ref name=couldhave/><ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Wallace |title=Giggs keen to stay at United after Inter link |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2396986/Giggs-keen-to-stay-at-United-after-Inter-link.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2396986/Giggs-keen-to-stay-at-United-after-Inter-link.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph |date=27 February 2003 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

He played in his fourth [[FA Cup]] triumph on 22 May 2004, making him one of only two players (the other being [[Roy Keane]]) to have won the trophy four times while playing for Manchester United. He has also finished with a runners-up medal three times (1995, 2005 and 2007). His participation in the victory over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in September 2004 made him the third player to play 600 games for United, alongside [[Bobby Charlton|Sir Bobby Charlton]] and [[Bill Foulkes]]. He was inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the English game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wright joins Hall of Fame |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/score_on_bbci/4345966.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=15 October 2005 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>

In 2005, Giggs' form had improved and was no longer suffering with the hamstring injuries which had plagued his career,<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs frustrated by injuries |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2230564/giggs-frustrated-by-injuries |publisher=Sky Sports |date=7 February 2002 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> which he attributed to taking up yoga.<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Corrigan |title=How yoga has stretched the career of very private Ryan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ryan-giggs-how-yoga-has-stretched-the-career-of-very-private-ryan-483229.html |website=The Independent |date=13 February 2005 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>

=== 2005–2010 ===
[[File:Giggs cropped.jpg|thumb|left|As his career progressed, Giggs abandoned his position on the left wing for a more central role.]]

Giggs signed a two-year contract extension with United when chief executive [[David Gill (executive)|David Gill]] relented on his normal policy of not signing players over 30 to contracts longer than one year. Giggs benefited from being largely injury-free aside from a series of [[hamstring]] problems.

Giggs scored his first goal of the [[2006–07 Manchester United F.C. season|2006–07]] season in a 2–1 victory over Watford on 26 August 2006, with his goal proving to be the winner.<ref>{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |title=Watford 1–2 Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/5266280.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2006 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> Giggs scored the winner in United's next game, a 1–0 home victory over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] on 9 September, scoring a header in the eighth minute.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |title=Giggs and sloppy Spurs get United believing again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/11/match.sport3 |work=The Guardian |date=11 September 2006 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> Giggs provided a goal and an assist in the final Champions League group game against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] on 6 December, with his free-kick being converted by [[Nemanja Vidić]] before Giggs headed in a [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] cross.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |title=United hold their nerve as Vidic turns the tide |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/07/match.championsleague200607 |work=The Guardian |date=7 December 2006 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

In February 2007, Giggs scored the final three goals of his season. He scored the final goal in a 4–0 away win against Tottenham on 4 February which put United six points clear of Chelsea.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Bevan |title=Tottenham 0–4 Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6305421.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=4 February 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> On 20 February, Giggs scored the winning goal against [[Lille OSC|Lille]] in the [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] with a quickly taken free-kick that caused the Lille players to walk off the pitch in protest.<ref>{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=Clever Giggs rises above the chaos |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308071/Clever-Giggs-rises-above-the-chaos.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308071/Clever-Giggs-rises-above-the-chaos.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |work=The Telegraph |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Giggs later said he was amazed by the situation, as no rule had been broken.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs bemused by free-kick fuss |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/412714 |work=ESPN |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> On 24 February, Giggs scored the equalising goal against Fulham in a game which United went on to win via a late Cristiano Ronaldo winner to go nine points clear of [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Jackson |title=Ronaldo picks Fulham's pocket |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/25/match.sport |work=The Observer |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

On 6 May 2007, with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] only able to manage a 1–1 draw with London rivals [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], Manchester United became the champions of England. In doing so, Giggs set a new record of nine league titles, beating the previous record of eight he shared with [[Alan Hansen]] and [[Phil Neal]] (who won all of their titles with [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]).<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Wilson |title=Giggs: leader of men |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/13/newsstory.sport |work=The Observer |date=13 May 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> In the [[2007 FA Cup Final]], Giggs had a goal ruled out in the 14th minute of extra time after referee [[Steve Bennett (referee)|Steve Bennett]] deemed him to have fouled goalkeeper [[Petr Čech]] in forcing the ball across the line.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Jackson |title=Giggs goes over the line and over the top |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/20/newsstory.sport2 |work=The Observer |date=20 May 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

Giggs played a starring role in United's [[2007 FA Community Shield]] victory after netting in the first half to bring the game to a 1–1 draw, which led to penalty triumph for the Red Devils after 'keeper [[Edwin van der Sar]] saved all of Chelsea's first three penalties; the goal was Giggs' first professional goal at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |title=Chelsea 1–1 Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6929113.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Van der Sar shields United goal for Wembley win |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/05/newsstory.sport1 |website=The Guardian |date=5 August 2007 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Ryan Giggs vs Man City 2008.jpg|thumb|Seen here after the [[Munich air disaster]] 50th anniversary match against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in February 2008, Giggs has made more appearances in the [[Manchester derby]] than any other player.]]
In the 2007–08 season, [[Alex Ferguson]] adopted a rotation system between Giggs and newcomers [[Nani (footballer)|Nani]] and [[Anderson (footballer, born 1988)|Anderson]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Smyth |title=Is it time for Fergie to ditch Giggs and Scholes? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/23/manchesterunited.championsleague |website=The Guardian |date=23 April 2008 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> Giggs scored his 100th league goal for United against [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] on 8 December 2007, which United won 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs is underrated – Ferdinand |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7134842.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 December 2007 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> More landmarks have been achieved: on 20 February 2008 he made his 100th appearance in the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] in a game against [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Giggs signs up for 100 club in Lyon |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0254-0d7ba18055cd-bbf5211a6862-1000--giggs-signs-up-for-100-club-in-lyon/ |website=[[UEFA]] |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> and on 11 May 2008, he came on as a substitute for [[Park Ji-sung]] to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for United.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Rich |title=Ryan Giggs reaches Bobby Charlton mark |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2300209/Ryan-Giggs-reaches-Bobby-Charlton-mark.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2300209/Ryan-Giggs-reaches-Bobby-Charlton-mark.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Giggs scored the second goal in that match, sealing his, and United's, 10th [[Premier League]] title. Ten days later, on 21 May 2008, Giggs broke [[Bobby Charlton]]'s appearance record for United when coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for [[Paul Scholes]] in the [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|UEFA Champions League Final]] against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Shuttleworth |title=Spot-on Giggs overtakes Charlton |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7411587.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> United won the final, defeating Chelsea 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after extra time, with Giggs converting the winning penalty in sudden death.

At the start of Manchester United's 2008–09 campaign, [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] began placing Giggs at central midfield, behind the forwards, instead of his favoured wing position. Sir Alex Ferguson said in an interview, "(Giggs) is a very valuable player, he will be 35 this November but at 35, he can be United's key player. At 25, Ryan would shatter defenders with his run down the flank, but at 35, he will play deeper."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gemma |last=Thompson |title=Report: MU 1 (6) Chelsea 1 (5) |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2008/May/Report-MU-1-6-Chelsea-1-5.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> Giggs has begun taking his coaching badges and Ferguson has hinted that he would like Giggs to serve as his coaching staff after retirement like [[Ole Gunnar Solskjær]] did.<ref name="life_after">{{cite news|first=Paul |last=Abbandonato |title=Ryan Giggs faces up to life after Old Trafford |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-in-wales/2009/01/07/ryan-giggs-faces-up-to-life-after-old-trafford-91466-22622877/2 |publisher=Western Mail |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=29 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211070315/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-in-wales/2009/01/07/ryan-giggs-faces-up-to-life-after-old-trafford-91466-22622877/2/ |archive-date=11 February 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Ryan Giggs United.jpg|thumb|left|Giggs has played in the UEFA Champions League over 100 times.]]

Following speculation earlier in the year,<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs to be offered new contract |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7850068.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2009 |access-date=12 February 2009 }}</ref> in February 2009, Giggs signed a one-year extension to his current contract – which was due to expire in June 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs signs new Man Utd contract |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7885531.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 February 2009 |access-date=12 February 2009 }}</ref> After a successful season, Giggs was short-listed along with four other [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] teammates for the [[PFA Players' Player of the Year|PFA Player of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd dominate PFA awards list |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7998204.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=14 April 2009 |access-date=14 April 2009 }}</ref> On 26 April 2009, Giggs received the award, despite having started just 12 games throughout the 2008–09 season (at the time of receiving the trophy). This was the first time in his career that Giggs had received the award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs earns prestigious PFA award |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8019726.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009 }}</ref> Prior to the awards ceremony, Alex Ferguson had given his backing for Giggs to win the award and stated that it would be fitting, given Giggs' long term contribution to the game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson backs Giggs to win award |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8017632.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2009 |access-date=24 April 2009 }}</ref> Giggs made his 800th appearance for Manchester United on 29 April 2009, in the 1–0 semi-final win over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |author-link=Phil McNulty |title=Man Utd 1–0 Arsenal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8010847.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=29 April 2009 }}</ref> On 16 May 2009, Manchester United won the Premier League after a 0–0 draw against Arsenal, both United's and Giggs' 11th Premier League titles.

Giggs scored his first Manchester United hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against [[Zhejiang Professional F.C.|Hangzhou Greentown]] after coming on as a second-half substitute.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Bostock |title=Giggs' glee at first hat-trick |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2009/Jul/Giggs-glee-at-first-hattrick.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=26 July 2009 |access-date=26 July 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Ryan Giggs vs Everton-5.jpg|thumb|right|Giggs before a corner kick against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[Old Trafford]] in 2009]]

On 12 September 2009, Giggs made his 700th start for United.<ref>{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |title=Tottenham 1–3 Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8250984.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2009 |access-date=12 September 2009 }}</ref> Giggs scored his 150th goal for United, only the ninth player to do so for the club, against [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] in his first [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] game of the season. On 28 November 2009, the eve of his 36th birthday, Giggs scored his 100th Premier League goal – all for Manchester United – scoring the final goal in a 4–1 victory over [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] at [[Fratton Park]], and becoming only the 17th player to reach the milestone in the [[Premier League]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera |title=Portsmouth 1–4 Man Utd |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8377193.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=28 November 2009 |access-date=28 November 2009 }}</ref>

On 30 November 2009, the day after his 36th birthday, it was reported that Giggs would be offered an additional one-year contract which would run until the end of the 2010–11 season and see him past the 20th anniversary of his first game and first goal for United. On the same day, Giggs was nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009, which he subsequently won.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs wins 2009 BBC Sports Personality award |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/8410840.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=13 December 2009 |access-date=13 December 2009 }}</ref> On 12 December 2009, Giggs' surpassed countryman [[Gary Speed]]'s outfield record of 535 [[Premier League]] games. On 18 December 2009, Giggs signed a one-year contract extension with United, keeping him at the club until June 2011, taking him past the 20th anniversary of his first professional contract and that of his first-team debut – a rare occurrence of a player reaching the 20-year mark with the same club and with unbroken service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs signs new deal at Manchester United |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8420524.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2009 |access-date=18 December 2009 }}</ref> On 31 December 2009, Giggs was named the Manchester United Player of the Decade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Players of the Decade: #1 |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2009/Dec/Players-of-the-Decade-1.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=31 December 2009 }}</ref>

=== 2010–2014 ===
[[File:Ryan Giggs vs MLS All Stars 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Giggs playing for [[Manchester United]] in 2010]]

On 24 April 2010, Giggs scored the first ever league penalties of his career, netting two penalties in a 3–1 home win over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |author-link=Phil McNulty |title=Man Utd 3–1 Tottenham |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8632533.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2010 |access-date=24 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=At 36, Giggs Finally Scores His First Penalties |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/sports/soccer/26iht-CUP.html |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=24 April 2010 |access-date=29 February 2012 }}</ref>

On 16 August 2010, Giggs kept up his record of scoring in every [[Premier League]] season since its inception as he netted United's third in their 3–0 home victory over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in their opening fixture of the [[2010–11 Premier League|new campaign]]. As he found the net in the final two seasons of the old [[Football League First Division]], he had now scored in 21 successive top division campaigns.<ref>{{cite news |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |title=Man Utd 3–0 Newcastle |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8906329.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2010 |access-date=16 August 2010 }}</ref> On 17 January 2011, Giggs reached 600 league appearances (all for Manchester United), as he played in their goalless draw against Tottenham at [[White Hart Lane]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Milestone man marches on |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/Jan/Milestone-man-marches-on.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=16 January 2011 |access-date=16 January 2011 }}</ref> Giggs signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United on 18 February, keeping him at the club until June 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs signs new Manchester United contract |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9401933.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=18 February 2011 |access-date=18 February 2011 }}</ref> On 6 March 2011, Giggs surpassed the Manchester United league appearance record of [[Bobby Charlton]] by playing his 607th game against Liverpool. On 26 April, against [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]] in the Champions League semi-final first leg, Giggs scored the first goal from a [[Wayne Rooney]] pass, also making himself the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history to date.<ref name="unitedschalke">{{cite news |title=United end Schalke's perfect home record in European semifinal |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/04/26/football.manchester.united.schalke.rooney/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708155250/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/04/26/football.manchester.united.schalke.rooney/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |work=CNN|date=26 April 2011 |access-date=27 April 2011 }}</ref> Giggs also played in the [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final]], where Manchester United were defeated 3–1 by Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barcelona 3–1 Man Utd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13576522 |website=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=13 June 2011 }}</ref>

Giggs made his first start of the 2011–12 season in the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] away at Benfica. He scored United's equalising goal in a 1–1 draw at the [[Estádio da Luz]], in the process breaking his own record for the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history. He also became the first man ever to score in 16 different Champions League campaigns, moving clear of [[Raúl (footballer)|Raúl]] who was tied with Giggs on 15 seasons. Raúl though holds the record for scoring in 14 consecutive Champions League seasons. On 19 November, Giggs played in a league game in his home country of Wales for the first time in his distinguished career against [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] at the [[Liberty Stadium]] in a United 1–0 win. Giggs maintained his record of scoring in each of the past 22 top-flight seasons by scoring United's third goal against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] at [[Craven Cottage]] in a 5–0 win on 21 December, his first of the season in the league. On 10 February 2012, Giggs signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs signs Manchester United contract extension |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16982498 |website=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=11 February 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Ryan Giggs 1314.jpg|thumb|Giggs playing against his hometown club, Cardiff City, for the first time in November 2013]]
On 26 February 2012, Giggs made his 900th appearance for Manchester United, in a 2–1 away win against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]. He marked the occasion by scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute, scoring from a cross by [[Ashley Young]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Rostance |title=Norwich 1–2 Man Utd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17093446 |website=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2012 |access-date=26 February 2012 }}</ref> After the match, Alex Ferguson told ''[[BBC Sport]]'' he believed that a player playing in 900 games for [[List of one-club men in association football|one club]] "won't be done again".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson labels Ryan Giggs 'amazing' after record |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17170929 |website=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2012 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref> By March 2011, Giggs had played with more than 140 different players for the Manchester United first team.<ref>{{cite news |first=Will |last=Wainewright |title=Ryan Giggs's 141 team-mates at Manchester United since 1991 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/mar/01/ryan-giggs-team-mates-manchester-united |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref>

On 19 October 2012, Giggs (just over a month short of his 39th birthday) told ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' that he would like to move into management when he retires as a player. He also said that he was still undecided on whether he would still be playing after the current football season ends.<ref>{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=Manchester United great Ryan Giggs says managing will be the next best thing when he hangs up his boots |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9621362/Manchester-United-great-Ryan-Giggs-says-managing-will-be-the-next-best-thing-when-he-hangs-up-his-boots.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9621362/Manchester-United-great-Ryan-Giggs-says-managing-will-be-the-next-best-thing-when-he-hangs-up-his-boots.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=Daily Telegraph |date=19 October 2012 |access-date=27 October 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Giggs scored his first Premier League goal of the [[2012–13 in English football|2012–13]] season against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on 10 February 2013 in a 2–0 home win, extending his goalscoring sequence to 23 consecutive seasons in the highest division including all 21 Premier League seasons.<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |author-link=Phil McNulty |title=Man Utd 2–0 Everton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21311607 |website=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Hunter |title=Manchester United extend lead to 12 points with victory over Everton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/feb/10/manchester-united-everton-premier-league |work=The Guardian |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

He signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United on 1 March 2013, keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs agrees new deal |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2013/Mar/ryan-giggs-agrees-new-one-year-deal.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs: Manchester United star signs new one-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21627465 |website=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref> On 5 March, Giggs made his 1,000th competitive appearance in a 2–1 home loss to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the second leg of the round of 16 of the [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]].<ref name="Giggs1000">{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-champions-united-giggs-idUKBRE92412K20130305|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325024354/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-champions-united-giggs-idUKBRE92412K20130305|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2017|title=United midfielder Giggs makes 1,000th appearance|publisher=Reuters|first=Sonia|last=Oxley|date=5 March 2013|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref> On 4 July, Giggs was appointed as [[Player-coach#Player-managers in association football|player-coach]] by new manager [[David Moyes]] with immediate effect.<ref name="Player-coach">{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs appointed player-coach at Manchester United |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/04/ryan-giggs-appointed-coach-manchester-united |website=The Guardian |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs named player-coach |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2013/Jul/ryan-giggs-appointed-manchester-united-player-coach.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=21 July 2013 }}</ref> Giggs became interim player-manager when Moyes was sacked in April 2014.<ref name="Temporary">{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Jolly |title=Giggs named temporary United boss |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1793625/ryan-giggs-named-temporary-manchester-united-manager-following-david-moyes-exit |website=ESPN FC |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014 }}</ref>

On 2 October, after coming off the substitute bench against [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]], Giggs became all-time leading appearance holder in the European competition, overtaking Raúl, an achievement he described as "special".<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Rice |title=Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs claims Champions League appearance record |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/manchester-united-midfielder-ryan-giggs-claims-champions-league-appearance-record-8854006.html |website=The Independent |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Jolly |title=Ryan Giggs enjoys 'special' UCL record |url=http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/story/1571179/manchester-united-midfielder-ryan-giggs-enjoys-special-champions-league-appearance-record |work=ESPN |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> In November, Giggs celebrated his 40th birthday, leading to media outlets and football figures praising him for reaching the milestone while still an active professional footballer.<ref name="Giggs40">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ryan-giggs-at-40-how-the-manchester-united-midfielder-did-it-8970866.html |title=Ryan Giggs at 40: How the Manchester United midfielder did it |website=The Independent |first=Ian |last=Herbert |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=McGowan |title=Ryan Giggs: Fit, 40 and still firing |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/29/sport/football/ryan-giggs-40-manchester-united-football/ |work=CNN|date=29 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Hunter |title=Manchester United's Ryan Giggs still firing and fabulous at 40 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/28/manchester-united-ryan-giggs-40-champions-league |work=The Guardian |date=28 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Ogden |title=Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday still dreaming of Champions League glory |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10482125/Manchester-United-midfielder-Ryan-Giggs-celebrates-his-40th-birthday-still-dreaming-of-Champions-League-glory.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10482125/Manchester-United-midfielder-Ryan-Giggs-celebrates-his-40th-birthday-still-dreaming-of-Champions-League-glory.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9047670/manchester-united-legend-ryan-giggs-celebrates-his-40th-birthday |publisher=Sky Sports |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>

Giggs announced his retirement from professional football on 19 May 2014 in an open letter to all Manchester United fans posted on the club website.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Giggs |title=Giggs announces retirement |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/May/ryan-giggs-announces-his-retirement-from-playing.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519153536/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/May/ryan-giggs-announces-his-retirement-from-playing.aspx |archive-date=19 May 2014 |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Jackson |title=Ryan Giggs retires from playing after taking Manchester United No2 job |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/19/ryan-giggs-manchester-united-assistant |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014}}</ref> Upon retirement, Giggs received many plaudits for the achievements he earned throughout his career, and the longevity of it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs: The games, the goals and the gongs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21632281 |website=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Hunter |title=Ryan Giggs takes his leave as most decorated player in English game |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/19/ryan-giggs-leave-most-decorated-player-english-game-manchester-united |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Reynolds |title=Ryan Giggs retires: The 10 best moments from the former Manchester United midfielder's career |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ryan-giggs--the-ten-best-moments-9398318.html |work=The Independent |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Henry |last=Winter |title=Ryan Giggs produced guile and goals for Manchester United to secure place among the greats |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10842540/Ryan-Giggs-produced-guile-and-goals-for-Manchester-United-to-secure-place-among-the-greats.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10842540/Ryan-Giggs-produced-guile-and-goals-for-Manchester-United-to-secure-place-among-the-greats.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Campbell |title=Was Ryan Giggs' playing career the best in the history of English football? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/21/ryan-giggs-career-history-english-football-manchester-united |website=The Guardian |date=21 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>

== International career ==
=== England Schoolboys ===
Born in [[Cardiff]] to Welsh parents, Giggs represented [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at international level. As a youngster, Giggs captained [[English Schools' Football Association|England Schoolboys]], but contrary to popular belief, he was never eligible for the senior England team (eligibility at the schoolboy level depends solely upon the location of the school, in Giggs' case [[Moorside High School, Swinton|Moorside High School]] in Salford).<ref>{{cite news |first1=Mike |last1=Adamson |first2=John |last2=Ashdown |title=Could Ryan Giggs have played for England? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/06/theknowledge.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 October 2004 |access-date=26 September 2009 }}</ref> In October 2009, new rules were introduced for the Home Nations' associations that would have enabled Giggs to represent England had he not already represented Wales in an official competition,<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Shuttleworth |title=Shawcross now eligible for Wales |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8302195.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2009 |access-date=14 November 2012 }}</ref> but Giggs has always maintained that he would have chosen to play for Wales anyway; he stated in 2002, "I'd rather go through my career without qualifying for a major championship than play for a country where I wasn't born or which my parents didn't have anything to do with".<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs annoyed by England talk |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/wales/2328559.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=15 October 2002 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref>

In his one year with the England Schoolboys team, Giggs played nine times, all as captain, winning seven matches and losing twice.<ref>Giggs (2006), p. 24.</ref> Among the wins was a 4–0 victory over his Welsh peers, many of whom he would play alongside when he made the step up to the Welsh youth team the following year.<ref>Giggs (2006), p. 25.</ref>

=== Wales ===
[[File:Giggs wales x brazil.JPG|thumb|upright|Giggs played for [[Wales national football team|Wales]] 64 times, but never at a major international tournament.]]
In May 1991, Giggs made his debut for the Wales Under-21s, a 2–1 victory over [[Poland national under-21 football team|Poland]] in Warsaw.<ref>Giggs (2006), p. 45.</ref> It would turn out to be his only appearance for the team, as he received a call-up to the senior team later that year.

Giggs made his international debut away to [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in October 1991,<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2023 |title=Did Ryan Giggs Skip Wales Matches? Stats Revealed Football Stories |work=Football Stories |url=http://footballstories.co.uk/did-ryan-giggs-skip-wales-matches/ |access-date=7 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for [[Eric Young (footballer, born 1960)|Eric Young]] at the age of {{Age in years and days|1973|11|29|1991|10|16}} to become the youngest player to appear for the Welsh senior team; he held this record until June 1998, when [[Ryan Green]] appeared against [[Malta national football team|Malta]] at the age of {{Age in years and days|1980|10|20|1998|6|3}}.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-green-the-younger-to-eclipse-giggs-mark-1162623.html Green the younger to eclipse Giggs' mark], ''The Independent'', 3 June 1998. Retrieved 14 June 2009.</ref> Wales were still in contention to qualify for [[UEFA Euro 1992]] before the game, but a 4–1 victory for the Germans, who went on to win their remaining games against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]], meant they qualified at Wales' expense.

Giggs' first senior goal for Wales came on 31 March 1993 in a 3–0 win over [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in [[Cardiff]] in a [[1994 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] qualifying game, the same game in which [[Ian Rush]] scored for Wales for a record 24th time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/ryan-giggs-top-5-moments-wales|title=Ryan Giggs - Top 5 moment for Wales|website=faw.cymru|date=16 January 2018|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>

After his international debut in 1991 against Germany, Giggs missed 18 consecutive friendly games before finally making his first friendly appearance for Wales against [[Finland national football team|Finland]] in March 2000,<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Walker |title=Ferguson 'protects' Giggs from Wales |work=The Independent |location=London |date=2 March 2000 |page=29 }}</ref> by which time he had already accrued 25 caps.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wales flop in Cardiff |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/695256.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=29 March 2000 |access-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref> The reason for his continued absence from non-competitive fixtures was largely a protective measure against unnecessary injuries; in his autobiography, Giggs states: "At that time, whenever I played two games in one week I always seemed to pick up an injury, so [Alex Ferguson] and I sat down and looked at it game by game. If the international was a friendly, the feeling was that I didn't have to play."<ref>Giggs (2006), p. 124.</ref> Regardless, his regularly withdrawing from Wales squads and routinely missing friendlies was criticised.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42684241|title=Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend set to be named Wales manager|website=BBC Sport|date=14 January 2018|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref>

In a qualifier against England for the 2006 FIFA World Cup at [[Old Trafford]] where Wales lost 2–0, Giggs played against some present and former Manchester United teammates including [[David Beckham]], [[Gary Neville]], and [[Wayne Rooney]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Walker |title=Bullish Giggs primed for historic meeting with familiar faces |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/06/newsstory.sport9 |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 October 2004 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Beckham: Giggs needs more |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3726104.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=England 2–0 Wales |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3719514.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=9 October 2004 |access-date=1 December 2013 }}</ref> During a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on 12 October 2005, Giggs scored a rare double in a 2–0 win, but Wales failed to reach the play-offs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wales 2–0 Azerbaijan |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5320010.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2005 |access-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref>

In September 2006, he played in a friendly against Brazil at [[White Hart Lane]] where Wales lost 2–0. Brazil coach [[Dunga]] complimented Giggs' performance by stating he would not look out of place playing for the five-time world champions alongside stars such as [[Kaká]] and [[Ronaldinho]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil's Dunga dazzled by Giggs |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5320010.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=6 September 2006 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref>

Giggs announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, 30 May 2007, at a press conference held at The Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, drawing the curtain on a 16-year international career.<ref name="life_after"/> He cited concentrating on his United career as the main reason for stepping down. His final game for Wales, and as captain, was the Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic on 2 June at Cardiff. He earned his 64th cap in this game and won the Man of the Match award as Wales drew 0–0.<ref name="rginternationalcareer">{{cite news |title=Giggs ends international career |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6703359.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2007 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> In November, he was one of three players in the final nomination by the [[Football Association of Wales|FAW]] for the Wales Player of the Year award, which was ultimately won by [[Craig Bellamy]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=17th Football Presentation Awards Evening |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=13 November 2007 }}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]'' on 26 March 2010, Giggs hinted that he might be tempted to come out of international retirement for his country's [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]] campaign, in order to cover for the injured [[Aaron Ramsey]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Bloom |title=Ryan Giggs considers Wales return |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2010/03/26/ryan-giggs-considers-wales-return-91466-26112027 |work=Western Mail |publisher=Media Wales |date=26 March 2010 |access-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903140343/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2010/03/26/ryan-giggs-considers-wales-return-91466-26112027/ |archive-date=3 September 2010 }}</ref> He later clarified his position to [[BBC Radio Manchester]], saying that he would only return to Wales duty in an emergency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs plays down talk of a Wales return |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/8588201.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2010 |access-date=26 March 2010 }}</ref>

=== Great Britain ===
[[File:Giggs GB Team.jpg|thumb|left|upright|For the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London, Great Britain entered a team for the first time in over 40 years, with Giggs as captain.]]

On 28 June 2012, Giggs was confirmed as one of the three over-age players selected for [[Great Britain men's Olympic football team|Great Britain]] to compete at [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Summer Olympics]] alongside [[Craig Bellamy]] and [[Micah Richards]],<ref>{{cite news |title=David Beckham not selected for London 2012 football squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18624174 |website=BBC Sport |date=28 June 2012 |access-date=28 June 2012 }}</ref> and he was subsequently named the team captain.<ref>{{cite news |title=London 2012 Olympics: Ryan Giggs to captain Team GB football side |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9384520/London-2012-Olympics-Ryan-Giggs-to-captain-Team-GB-football-side.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9384520/London-2012-Olympics-Ryan-Giggs-to-captain-Team-GB-football-side.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 July 2012 |access-date=8 July 2012 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

He scored with a header against the [[United Arab Emirates national under-23 football team|United Arab Emirates]] in a 3–1 win on 29 July to become the oldest goalscorer in the football competition at the Summer Olympics at the age of 38 years and 243 days, beating an 88-year-old record that had been held by Egypt's [[Hussein Hegazi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/103767-oldest-olympic-football-goalscorer-male|title=Oldest Olympic football goalscorer (male)|website=Guinness World Records}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ryangiggs.cc/news/personal/giggs-oldest-olympics-scorer-britain-beat-uae-3-1-front-prince-william-beckham|title=Giggs oldest Olympics scorer as Britain beat UAE 3–1 in front of Prince William, Beckham – Ryan Giggs – Legend of Manchester United & Wales|website=ryangiggs.cc}}</ref> In addition, by featuring in the same match, he became the oldest outfield Olympic footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/5/ryan-giggs-retires-we-salute-record-breaking-manchester-united-legend-57533|title=Ryan Giggs retires: We salute record-breaking Manchester United legend|website=Guinness World Records|date=23 May 2014}}</ref>

== Managerial career ==

=== Manchester United ===
Giggs was appointed as a player-coach at Manchester United on 4 July 2013,<ref name="Player-coach"/> as part of the coaching staff under new manager [[David Moyes]]. When Moyes was sacked on 22 April 2014, after less than 10 months in the job, Giggs took over as the club's interim player-manager,<ref name="Temporary"/> compiling a record of two wins, a draw and a defeat in the final four games of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=United under Ryan Giggs |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/managers/giggs.html |publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk |access-date=21 May 2014 }}</ref> After his final match in charge, a 1–1 draw with [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], Giggs admitted to breaking down in tears, in part due to the pressure of managing United, and also said he had struggled to sleep during the period.<ref>{{cite news |first=Luke |last=Edwards |title=Ryan Giggs admits he burst into tears after his final game as Manchester United's interim manager |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10876411/Ryan-Giggs-admits-he-burst-into-tears-after-his-final-game-as-Manchester-Uniteds-interim-manager.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10876411/Ryan-Giggs-admits-he-burst-into-tears-after-his-final-game-as-Manchester-Uniteds-interim-manager.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |website=The Telegraph |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Robin |last=Scott-Elliot |title=Ryan Giggs admits he broke down in tears at end of short spell as Manchester United manager |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ryan-giggs-admits-to-tears-at-end-of-short-spell-as-manchester-united-manager-9489258.html |website=The Independent |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> When [[Louis van Gaal]] was announced as Moyes' permanent replacement on 19 May 2014, Giggs was also appointed as Van Gaal's assistant manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United: Louis van Gaal confirmed as new manager |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27243233 |website=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014 }}</ref>

Giggs was praised for giving debuts to youngsters [[James Wilson (footballer, born 1995)|James Wilson]] and [[Tom Lawrence]] in a 3–1 victory over [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], a game in which he brought himself on as a substitute for Lawrence.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Jackson |title=James Wilson and Ryan Giggs star in Manchester United win over Hull |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/06/manchester-united-phil-jones-hull-city-premier-league |work=The Guardian |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Garside |title=Ryan Giggs revives tradition of blooding young talent as James Wilson impresses |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-3-hull-city-1-ryan-giggs-revives-tradition-of-blooding-young-talent-as-james-wilson-impresses-9328536.html |work=The Independent |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Christopher |last=Atkins |title=James Wilson, Tom Lawrence and the Manchester United way |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/305697.html |work=ESPN |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who are Manchester United youngsters James Wilson and Tom Lawrence who made debuts against Hull? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10812933/Who-are-Manchester-United-youngsters-James-Wilson-and-Tom-Lawrence-who-made-debuts-against-Hull.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10812933/Who-are-Manchester-United-youngsters-James-Wilson-and-Tom-Lawrence-who-made-debuts-against-Hull.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |website=The Telegraph |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Giggs was suggested by many – including Louis van Gaal – as the Dutchman's potential successor at Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32457693 |title=Louis van Gaal: Ryan Giggs will succeed me at Man United |website=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2015 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9820974/louis-van-gaal-backs-ryan-giggs-to-succeed-him-at-manchester-united |title=Louis van Gaal backs Ryan Giggs to succeed him at Manchester United |publisher=Sky Sports |date=24 April 2015 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> However, following the appointment of Portuguese coach [[José Mourinho]], Giggs announced his departure from the club on 2 July 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs leaves Manchester United |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Jul/official-statement-ryan-giggs-leaves-manchester-united.aspx |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=2 July 2016 |access-date=2 July 2016 }}</ref>

=== Wales ===
[[File:Ryan Giggs Welsh Government and NHS Wales.webm|thumb|A short video of Giggs on the 70th birthday of the NHS]]
Giggs was appointed manager of the [[Wales national football team|Wales national team]] on 15 January 2018 on a four-year contract, succeeding [[Chris Coleman (footballer)|Chris Coleman]], who had left the role to take up the manager's position at [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] the previous November.<ref name="wales appointment"/> His first match in charge was in a 6–0 win over [[China national football team|China]] during the [[2018 China Cup]], where [[Gareth Bale]] broke the all-time scoring record previously held by [[Ian Rush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43465791.amp|title=China PR 6–0 Wales|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=21 March 2018|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> Later that year, Wales participated in the [[2018–19 UEFA Nations League B|UEFA Nations League]], finishing behind [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] with six points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46147506|title=Wales 1–2 Denmark|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=16 November 2018|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> In 2019, Wales had a slow start to their [[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group E|qualifying group]], only accruing three points from three matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48507471|title=Hungary 1–0 Wales|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=11 June 2019|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> However, they went unbeaten for the rest of the year, culminating in a 2–0 win over [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] and securing qualification for [[UEFA Euro 2020]].<ref name="euro qualification"/> The resulting tournament was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and the next time that Giggs would manage the national team was [[Behind closed doors (sports)|behind closed doors]] during the [[2020–21 UEFA Nations League B|UEFA Nations League]] campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53927793|title=Finland 0–1 Wales|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=3 September 2020|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> His final match in charge was a 1–0 win over [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54363913|title=Bulgaria 0–1 Wales|website=BBC Sport|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|date=14 October 2020|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>

On 3 November 2020, and following Giggs' arrest on assault charges, his assistant manager [[Rob Page]] became the caretaker manager.<ref name="page caretaker"/> On 20 June 2022, it was announced that Giggs would step down from his position due to his upcoming trial.<ref name="giggs resigns"/>

== Player profile ==
=== Style of play ===
{{Quote box |quote=This is embarrassing to say but I have cried twice in my life watching a football player. The first one was [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]] and the second was Ryan Giggs.<ref name="MostImportant"/>|source=– [[Alessandro Del Piero]] |align=centre |quoted=1 |width=36%
}}

A skilful and dynamic left-footed midfielder, Giggs usually played as a traditional out-and-out [[Midfielder#Wide midfielder|left-sided midfielder]], who would take on opposing defenders, although he was a versatile player, who was capable of playing on either flank, as well as in several other positions; throughout his career he was also fielded in various offensive roles, as a left or right-sided [[Winger (association football)|winger]] or [[outside forward]] in an attacking trident, as an [[attacking midfielder]], as a [[deep-lying forward]], or even as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]]. In the later stages of his career, as his pace and athleticism declined, he was often used as a [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|defensive]] or [[central midfielder]], or as a [[deep-lying playmaker]]; he was even deployed as a [[full-back (association football)|full-back]] on occasion. A quick and technically gifted player, in his prime, his main traits were his speed, acceleration, strength, ball control, flair, [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, and trickery in possession, as well as his vision; he also was able to refine his [[Cross (association football)|crossing]] and passing ability as his career progressed, which made him an excellent [[Assist (association football)|assist]] provider, and saw him take on more of a [[Playmaker|playmaking]] role for his team in later years, which enabled him to dictate play in midfield and create chances for teammates, in addition to scoring goals himself. A fast and energetic player, he also drew praise in the media for his tactical intelligence, movement, stamina, work-rate, and consistency; furthermore, he was an accurate [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] taker. In addition to his footballing skills, Giggs also stood out for his leadership and longevity throughout his career.{{#tag:ref|See<ref name="Giggs40"/><ref name="MostImportant">{{cite web |last=White |first=Tom |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1496987-ryan-giggs-the-most-important-united-player-of-all-time |title=Ryan Giggs: The Most Important United Player of All Time? |work=Bleacher Report |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1569193-ryan-giggs-11-greatest-moments-at-manchester-united#slide0 |title=Ryan Giggs' 11 Greatest Moments at Manchester United |work=Bleacher Report |last=Wakeman |first=Gregory |date=15 March 2013 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/onora-il-padre/ |title=Onora il padre |website=ultimouomo.com |language=it |last=Gabrielli |first=Fabrizio |date=14 March 2014 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/110786-ryan-giggs-a-true-legend |title=Ryan Giggs: A True Legend |work=Bleacher Report |last=Dowding |first=Chris |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/jan/14/rob-bagchi-ryan-giggs-manchester-united-chelsea |title=Be grateful for Giggs, a gift that keeps on giving |work=The Guardian |last=Bagchi |first=Rob |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McRae |first=Donald |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/sep/13/newsstory.sport |title=Giggs: my fear of the blue revolution |work=The Guardian |date=13 September 2005 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/waynes-new-world-4-other-big-name-players-who-changed-position-successfully |title=Wayne's (new) world: 4 other big-name players who changed position successfully |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Warrington |first1=Declan |date=14 June 2016 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/dwight-mcneil-ryan-giggs-manchester-united |title=Dwight McNeil reveals the player he models himself on |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=15 December 2019 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.in/football/blog/name/93/post/1847150/headline |title=What next for Ryan Giggs? |website=ESPN FC |last1=Okwonga |first1=Musa |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7219291.stm |title=Ronaldo savours his 'best' goal |website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2008 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/3111716/nemanja-vidic-talks-to-espn-fc-about-manchester-united-and-more |title=Fergie, Ferdinand, Moscow and more -- Nemanja Vidic talks to ESPN FC |website=ESPN FC |last1=Mitten |first1=Andy |date=26 April 2017 |access-date=28 April 2020 }}</ref>|name="playing-style"|group="nb"}}

=== Discipline ===
Giggs was never [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] in his 24-season playing career for Manchester United and was only once sent off when playing for Wales, on 5 September 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Norway;<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs off as Wales are beaten in Oslo |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1527688.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=5 September 2001 |access-date=28 September 2010 }}</ref> Giggs received a second yellow card in the 86th minute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hughes defends Giggs over red card |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1527725.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=5 September 2001 |access-date=28 September 2010 }}</ref> In November 2003, he was found guilty of improper conduct by the FA due to his behaviour during the [[Battle of Old Trafford]] game against Arsenal (one of two United and six Arsenal players charged over the incident);<ref>{{cite news |title=Eight charged after bust-up |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3128290.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=24 September 2003 |access-date=28 September 2010 }}</ref> Giggs received a £7,500 fine but avoided suspension.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Rowbottom |title=Giggs and Ronaldo escape bans for fracas |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/giggs-and-ronaldo-escape-bans-for-fracas-575326.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327142620/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/giggs-and-ronaldo-escape-bans-for-fracas-575326.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 March 2010 |work=The Independent |location=London |date=2 December 2003 |access-date=22 December 2011 }}</ref> In the same week, Giggs received a two-match suspension from international football for deliberately elbowing Russian player [[Vadim Yevseyev]] in the face during the first leg of the Euro 2004 play-offs.<ref name="uefaban">{{cite news |title=Giggs handed two-match ban by UEFA |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/05/uefa.giggs.reut/ |work=CNN|access-date=28 September 2010 |date=5 December 2003 }}</ref> The offence was missed by referee [[Lucílio Batista]], but Giggs was later charged using video evidence.<ref name="uefaban"/>

== Endorsements and public image ==
Giggs featured in advertisements for [[Reebok]], [[ITV Digital]], [[Kagome (company)|Kagome]] tomato juice, [[Quorn]] and [[Celcom]]. A 1996 Reebok advertisement, which did not feature him, included figures such as [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[Richard Attenborough]] and [[George Best]] impersonating him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Ryan |title=Ryan Giggs' 10 Best TV Adverts |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1869791-ryan-giggs-10-best-tv-adverts |access-date=18 July 2023 |work=Bleacher Report |date=29 November 2013}}</ref>

According to an article by ''[[BBC Sport]]'': "In the early 1990s, Giggs was [[David Beckham]] before Beckham was even holding down a place in the United first team. If you put his face on the cover of a football magazine, it guaranteed you the biggest sales of the year. Why? Men would buy it to read about 'the new [[George Best|Best]]' and girls bought it because they wanted his face all over their bedroom walls. Giggs had the million-pound boot deal ([[Reebok]]), the lucrative sponsorship deals in the Far East ([[Fujifilm|Fuji]]) and the celebrity girlfriends ([[Dani Behr]], [[Davinia Taylor]]) at a time when Beckham was being sent on loan to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]."<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Benson |title=Ryan Giggs in a league of his own |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6376845.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=28 October 2007 }}</ref>

Giggs features in EA Sports' [[FIFA (video game series)|''FIFA'' video game series]], and was selected to appear on the cover of ''[[FIFA Football 2003]]'' alongside Dutch international midfielder [[Edgar Davids]], and Brazilian international fullback [[Roberto Carlos]].<ref>[http://www.espnfc.com/gamingzone/editorial/20021025fifarelease.html "FIFA 2003 release date announced"]. ESPN. Retrieved 18 February 2015</ref> Giggs was included in the ''[[FIFA 16]]'' and ''[[FIFA 17|17]]'' Ultimate Team Legends.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA 16 Ultimate Team – New Legends|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/ultimate-team/news/2015/fifa-16-fut-legends|publisher=EA Sports|access-date=16 April 2015}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
=== Family ===
Giggs is the son of former [[rugby union]] and [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] international [[rugby league]] footballer [[Danny Wilson (rugby league)|Danny Wilson]].<ref name=Hughes2009>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Hughes |title=Ferguson and Giggs, side by side at ManU |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/sports/03iht-SOCCER.1.20556079.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=4 June 2012 }}</ref> Giggs was christened Ryan Joseph Wilson but as a teenager changed his surname to that of his mother after his parents separated.<ref name=Hughes2009/> Giggs is said to have inherited his balance and athleticism from his father.<ref name=Hughes2009/> He is a distant cousin of the Barbados international footballer [[Curtis Hutson (footballer)|Curtis Hutson]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/footballer-gets-second-shot-pro-2053502|title=Footballer gets second shot at pro career despite epilepsy blow|date=23 June 2012|website=WalesOnline}}</ref>

Giggs married his long-time partner, Stacey Cooke, in a private ceremony on 7 September 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan meets his match |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2007/Sep/Ryan-meets-his-match.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=8 September 2007 }}</ref> They have two children, both born in [[City of Salford|Salford]], and lived in [[Worsley]], Greater Manchester, close to where the player grew up.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Benson |title=Ryan Giggs in a league of his own |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6376845.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=28 August 2008 }}</ref> Giggs and Cooke divorced in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs' estranged wife granted divorce|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/11/estranged-wife-granted-divorce-ryan-giggs/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/11/estranged-wife-granted-divorce-ryan-giggs/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=8 June 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> His son [[Zach Giggs]] is also a footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-wales-legend-ryan-26931511.amp|website=Walesonline|accessdate=8 November 2023|title= Ryan Giggs' teenage son signs for Premier League club|date=17 May 2023|first=Tom|last=Coleman}}</ref>

Giggs conducted an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri's wife, Natasha. The affair resulted in members of Giggs' family repudiating their former ties to Ryan; after Ryan was appointed as manager of the Wales national team, his father Danny said he was "ashamed" of him and that "I can't even bring myself to use his name".<ref>{{cite news |title='I am ashamed of him. I can't even bring myself to use his name' – Ryan Giggs' dad on Wales appointment |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/i-am-ashamed-of-him-i-cant-even-bring-myself-to-use-his-name-ryan-giggs-dad-on-wales-appointment-36493358.html |work=Irish Independent |date=16 January 2018 |access-date=16 January 2018 }}</ref>

=== Activism ===
In August 2006, Giggs became an ambassador for [[UNICEF]] UK, in recognition for his work with Manchester United's 'United for UNICEF' partnership with the children's organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Giggs, UK UNICEF Ambassador |url=http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-supporters/Celebrities/Ryan-Giggs/ |work=UNICEF UK |access-date=23 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221729/http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-supporters/Celebrities/Ryan-Giggs/ |archive-date=4 October 2013 }}</ref> Giggs visited UNICEF projects in [[Thailand]] and told the [[BBC]]: "As a footballer I can't imagine life without the use of one of my legs... Sadly this is exactly what happens to thousands of children every year when they accidentally step on a landmine."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Giggs speaks to Unicef |url=http://www.unicef.org/football/players |access-date=13 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411174048/http://www.unicef.org/football/players/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref>

=== Post-playing career ===
In October 2010, Giggs said he would "probably finish [his] career here [Old Trafford]", and that he could not see himself "dropping down leagues and playing at a lesser level". He said he wanted to go into coaching, describing the management of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] or [[Wales national football team|Wales]] as "the two ultimate jobs", and stating that he was halfway through his [[UEFA Pro Licence|UEFA 'A' coaching licence]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs reveals Wales and Man Utd managerial hopes |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/9055751.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=3 October 2010 |access-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

[[Gary Neville]], ahead of his 2011 testimonial, said he would put the proceeds towards a supporters club and hotel near [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Neville to spend testimonial cash on supporters' club |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-13430187 |website=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Stone |title=Gary Neville admits cynicism surrounds modern day testimonials |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/gary-neville-admits-cynicism-surrounds-modern-day-testimonials-2285318.html |website=The Independent |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> [[Trafford Council]] approved the hotel in 2012 despite objections from Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Neville Old Trafford hotel approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18033018 |website=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2012 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> In 2013, Giggs and Neville launched a hospitality company named ''GG Hospitality'',<ref>{{cite news |first=Shelina |last=Begum |title=Tangerine hits back of net with GG Hospitality |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/media/tangerine-hit-back-net-gg-5676197 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> with plans to build football-themed hotels and cafés around the United Kingdom, initially in Manchester and London.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Bignell |title=Former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville to open a football-themed hotel and a restaurant |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/former-manchester-united-teammates-ryan-giggs-and-gary-neville-to-open-a-footballthemed-hotel-and-a-restaurant-8688890.html |website=The Independent |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Jupp |title=Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville team up to build football-themed hotels and cafés around the UK |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/checking-sir-giggs-neville-team-5066739 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Hotel Football' venue in Manchester |url=http://www.colliers.com/en-gb/uk/insights/property-news/2013/0710-hotel-football-manchester |publisher=[[Colliers International]] |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> The first operation was a football-themed restaurant named Café Football in [[Stratford, London]], which opened in November 2013,<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Owens |title=Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville hire Tangerine for Café Football launch |url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1194394/ryan-giggs-gary-neville-hire-tangerine-cafe-football-launch |work=[[PRWeek]] |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> with Hotel Football, previously under the guise of the supporters club Neville announced in 2011, scheduled to be opened in late 2014.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alice |last=McKeegan |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-united-legends-ryan-giggs-6130549 |title=Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville kick-off their hotel empire in the shadows of Old Trafford |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 |work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

In 2014, it was announced that Giggs, along with former Manchester United players Gary Neville, [[Paul Scholes]], [[Nicky Butt]] and [[Phil Neville]], had agreed a deal to purchase [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]] ahead of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Keegan |title=Class of '92 stars agree deal to buy Salford City FC |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/class-92-buy-salford-city-6887407 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt agree deal for Salford City FC |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9235598/gary-neville-phil-neville-ryan-giggs-paul-scholes-and-nicky-butt-agree-deal-for-salford-city-fc |work=Sky Sports |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> with plans to get the club to the [[Football League]].<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Robson |title=Class of 92 have big plans for Salford City |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/class-92-big-plans-salford-7576928 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> The group announced they would take part in a special friendly, with Salford facing a [[The Class of '92|Class of '92]] team.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Keegan |title=Class of 92 to play in Salford City friendly |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-class-92-play-7094821 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=9 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs and Manchester United 'Class of 92' team-mates to face Salford FC |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ryan-giggs-and-his-class-of-92-teammates-to-face-salford-fc-in-preseason-friendly-as-manchester-uniteds-interim-manager-ponders-his-future-9342530.html |work=The Independent |date=9 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 }}</ref> On 22 September, the group agreed to sell a 50% stake in the club to billionaire [[Peter Lim]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/22/salford-city-peter-lim-class-of-92 |title=Peter Lim to buy 50% stake in Salford City from Class of '92 |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11113782/Singapore-businessman-Peter-Lim-joins-forces-with-ex-Manchester-United-players-and-invests-in-Salford-City-FC.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11113782/Singapore-businessman-Peter-Lim-joins-forces-with-ex-Manchester-United-players-and-invests-in-Salford-City-FC.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Singapore businessman Peter Lim joins forces with ex-Manchester United players and invests in Salford City FC |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Giggs was signed as the marquee player of the Mumbai 5s for the inaugural season of the [[Premier Futsal League]]; an Indian semi-professional futsal competition. He led the team to victory in the final, with Mumbai defeating Kerala 3-2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryan Giggs stars as Mumbai 5s beat Chennai 5s in the India's Premier Futsal League |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10503424/ryan-giggs-stars-as-mumbai-5s-beat-chennai-5s-in-the-indian-premier-futsal-league |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-25 |title=Giggs wins Indian Premier Futsal League |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37481378/ryan-giggs-wins-indian-premier-futsal-league-mumbai-5s-penalties |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2017, along with former United teammates including Gary Neville, Giggs proposed a university in Greater Manchester, named [[University Academy 92]] which would offer "broader courses than traditional degrees" and attract students who "otherwise might not go on to higher education".<ref name="guardian2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/20/manchester-uniteds-class-of-92-unveil-plans-to-open-university|title=Manchester United's 'class of 92' unveil plans to open university|first=Imogen|last=Cooper|date=20 September 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>{{update inline|date=June 2021}}

In November 2017, it was reported that Giggs had signed a consultancy deal with the Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talents FC (PVF). The two-year deal would involve making two trips per year to [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs: Man Utd legend to sign deal with Vietnamese academy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41975817 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=14 November 2017 }}</ref>

=== Gagging order ===
{{See also|2011 British privacy injunctions controversy}}
In May 2011, it was reported in non-UK media sources that Giggs was the identity of ''CTB'' in ''[[CTB v News Group Newspapers]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=CTB v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor (2011) EWHC 1232 (QB), 14 and 20 April 2011 |url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2011/1232.html |work=High Court of Justice |publisher=British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) |date=16 May 2011 |access-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref> a footballer who had obtained an anonymised [[Gag order|gagging order]] in relation to an alleged extra-marital affair with model [[Imogen Thomas]]. Giggs took legal action against the social networking site [[Twitter]] after he was named by a user in a list of identities of individuals who had allegedly taken out so-called "[[Super-injunctions in English law|super-injunction]]s".<ref>{{cite news |first=Jackie |last=Cheng |title=Twitter asked to stop users from gossiping then gets sued |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/twitter-asked-to-stop-users-from-gossiping-then-gets-sued.ars |work=Ars technica |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref> A blogger for ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine remarked that Giggs had "not heard of the [[Streisand effect]]", observing that mentions of his name had increased significantly after the case against Twitter had been reported.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kashmir |last=Hill |title=He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named (In The UK) Sues Twitter Over A User Naming Him |url=https://blogs.forbes.com/kashmirhill/2011/05/20/he-who-cannot-be-named-in-the-uk-sues-twitter-over-a-user-naming-him/ |work=Forbes |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref>

On 22 May 2011, the ''[[Sunday Herald]]'', a Scottish newspaper, published a thinly-disguised photograph of Giggs on its front page, with the word "CENSORED" covering his eyes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Matthew |last2=Gabbatt |first2=Adam |last3=Chrispin |first3=Sebastian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/may/22/scottish-newspaper-indentifies-footballer |title=Scottish newspaper identifies injunction row footballer |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=30 June 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.webdoodles.org/webimages/sundayherald22may2011.jpg Front page] ''Sunday Herald'', 22 May 2011.</ref> ''Sunday Herald'' editor Richard Walker stated that the London [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] ruling had no force in Scotland, unless copies of the paper were sold in England or Wales.<ref name="BBC Herald">{{cite news |title=Sunday Herald names footballer accused on Twitter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13491086 |work=BBC News |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=22 May 2011 }}</ref> On 23 May, the gagging order set off a political controversy, with [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] commenting that the law should be reviewed to "catch up with how people consume media today".<ref name="BBC_law">{{cite news |title=Privacy injunctions unsustainable, says Cameron |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13498504 |work=BBC News |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=23 May 2011 }}</ref> On the same day, [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] MP [[John Hemming (politician)|John Hemming]] used [[parliamentary privilege]] to name Giggs as ''CTB''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/may/23/john-hemming-outed-ryan-gigs-superinjunction |title=John Hemming: the MP who outed Ryan Giggs in superinjunctions row |work=The Guardian |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Injunctions doubt as footballer Ryan Giggs named by MP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13516941 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=2 September 2016 }}</ref>

=== Arrest and trial ===
On 3 November 2020, Giggs was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault against his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville and her younger sister Emma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shadwell |first=Talia |date=6 November 2020|title=Giggs 'arrested on suspicion of assaulting girlfriend and another on same night'|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ryan-giggs-arrested-suspicion-assaulting-22970327|access-date=7 November 2020|website=mirror}}</ref>

In April 2021, he was charged with assault that caused actual bodily harm to Kate Greville as well as [[Abusive power and control#Law|coercive and controlling behaviour]] against her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56864731|title=Ryan Giggs charged with assaulting two women|date=23 April 2021|access-date=23 April 2021 |work=BBC News}}</ref> On 28 April, he appeared in court, where he denied the charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56911812|title=Ryan Giggs denies assaulting two women|date=28 April 2021|access-date=28 April 2021|work=BBC News}}</ref>

His trial began on 8 August 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Giggs: Ex-Man Utd and Wales star headbutted ex-girlfriend - court |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62423393 |work=BBC News |date=8 August 2022 }}</ref> The jury of seven women and four men was discharged on 31 August, having been unable to reach a verdict on any of the charges.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 2022 |title=Ryan Giggs trial: Jury discharged after failing to reach verdicts |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62645830 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> On 18 July 2023, two weeks before he was due to face a retrial, Giggs was cleared as the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] withdrew charges. The prosecutor said that Kate Greville was unwilling to give evidence in the retrial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evitts |first1=Jared |title=Ryan Giggs: Ex-Man Utd star cleared over former girlfriend charges |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66230391 |access-date=18 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=18 July 2023}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==
=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+ Club appearances and goals by season by competition<ref name="clubstats">{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Endlar |title=Ryan Giggs |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/giggs.html |publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk |access-date=22 May 2014 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes [[FA Community Shield]], [[UEFA Super Cup]], [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]], [[FIFA Club World Cup]].}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="24"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[1990–91 Manchester United F.C. season|1990–91]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|2||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||1
|-
|[[1991–92 Manchester United F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|38||4||3||0||8||3||1||0||1||0||51||7
|-
|[[1992–93 Manchester United F.C. season|1992–93]]
|[[Premier League]]
|41||9||2||2||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||46||11
|-
|[[1993–94 Manchester United F.C. season|1993–94]]
|Premier League
|38||13||7||1||8||3||4||0||1||0||58||17
|-
|[[1994–95 Manchester United F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|29||1||7||1||0||0||3||2||1||0||40||4
|-
|[[1995–96 Manchester United F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|33||11||7||1||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||44||12
|-
|[[1996–97 Manchester United F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|26||3||3||0||0||0||7||2||1||0||37||5
|-
|[[1997–98 Manchester United F.C. season|1997–98]]
|Premier League
|29||8||2||0||0||0||5||1||1||0||37||9
|-
|[[1998–99 Manchester United F.C. season|1998–99]]
|Premier League
|24||3||6||2||1||0||9||5||1||0||41||10
|-
|[[1999–2000 Manchester United F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|Premier League
|30||6||colspan="2"|–||0||0||11||1||3||0||44||7
|-
|[[2000–01 Manchester United F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|31||5||2||0||0||0||11||2||1||0||45||7
|-
|[[2001–02 Manchester United F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|25||7||1||0||0||0||13||2||1||0||40||9
|-
|[[2002–03 Manchester United F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|36||8||3||2||5||0||15||4||colspan="2"|–||59||14
|-
|[[2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|33||7||5||0||0||0||8||1||1||0||47||8
|-
|[[2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|32||5||4||0||1||1||6||2||1||0||44||8
|-
|[[2005–06 Manchester United F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|27||3||2||1||3||0||5||1||colspan="2"|–||37||5
|-
|[[2006–07 Manchester United F.C. season|2006–07]]
|Premier League
|30||4||6||0||0||0||8||2||colspan="2"|–||44||6
|-
|[[2007–08 Manchester United F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|31||3||2||0||0||0||9||0||1||1||43||4
|-
|[[2008–09 Manchester United F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|28||2||2||0||4||1||11||1||2||0||47||4
|-
|[[2009–10 Manchester United F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|25||5||1||0||2||1||3||1||1||0||32||7
|-
|[[2010–11 Manchester United F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|25||2||3||1||1||0||8||1||1||0||38||4
|-
|[[2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Premier League
|25||2||2||0||1||1||5||1||0||0||33||4
|-
|[[2012–13 Manchester United F.C. season|2012–13]]
|Premier League
|22||2||4||1||1||2||5||0||colspan="2"|–||32||5
|-
|[[2013–14 Manchester United F.C. season|2013–14]]
|Premier League
|12||0||0||0||2||0||7||0||1||0||22||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
!672!!114!!74!!12!!41!!12!!157!!29!!19!!1!!963!!168
|}

{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="rginternationalcareer" /><ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|7293|name=Ryan Giggs|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="17"|[[Wales national football team|Wales]]
|1991||2||0
|-
|1992||3||0
|-
|1993||6||2
|-
|1994||1||1
|-
|1995||3||0
|-
|1996||3||1
|-
|1997||3||1
|-
|1998||1||0
|-
|1999||3||1
|-
|2000||4||1
|-
|2001||5||0
|-
|2002||5||0
|-
|2003||7||1
|-
|2004||3||0
|-
|2005||6||3
|-
|2006||5||0
|-
|2007||4||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!64!!12
|-
|[[Great Britain men's Olympic football team|Great Britain Olympic team]]
|2012||4||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!4!!1
|}

:''Scores and results list Wales' and Great Britain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Giggs goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ryan Giggs<ref name="NFT" />
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
!colspan="7"|Wales goals
|-
|align="center"|1
|31 March 1993
|[[National Stadium]], [[Cardiff]], Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|Belgium}}
|align="center"|1–0
|align="center"|2–0
|[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|2
|8 September 1993
|National Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|Czechoslovakia|name=RCS}}
|align="center"|1–1
|align="center"|2–2
|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|3
|7 September 1994
|National Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|Albania|variant=1992}}
|align="center"|2–0
|align="center"|2–0
|[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying|UEFA Euro 1996 qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|4
|2 June 1996
|[[San Marino Stadium]], Serravalle, San Marino
|{{fb|San Marino|1862}}
|align="center"|4–0
|align="center"|5–0
|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|5
|11 October 1997
|[[King Baudouin Stadium]], Brussels, Belgium
|{{fb|Belgium}}
|align="center"|2–3
|align="center"|2–3
|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|6
|4 September 1999
|[[Dinamo Stadium (Minsk)|Dinamo Stadium]], Minsk, Belarus
|{{fb|Belarus|1995}}
|align="center"|2–1
|align="center"|2–1
|[[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2000 qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|7
|29 March 2000
|[[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|Finland}}
|align="center"|1–2
|align="center"|1–2
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|align="center"|8
|29 March 2003
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|Azerbaijan}}
|align="center"|4–0
|align="center"|4–0
|[[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2004 qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|9
|8 October 2005
|[[Windsor Park]], Belfast, Northern Ireland
|{{fb|Northern Ireland}}
|align="center"|3–2
|align="center"|3–2
|[[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|10
|rowspan="2"|12 October 2005
|rowspan="2"|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Azerbaijan}}
|align="center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0
|rowspan="2"|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|2–0
|-
|align="center"|12
|28 March 2007
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{fb|San Marino|1862}}
|align="center"|1–0
|align="center"|3–0
|[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2008 qualification]]
|-
!colspan="7"|Great Britain Olympic team goals
|-
|align="center"|1
|29 July 2012
|[[Wembley Stadium]], London, United Kingdom
|{{fb|UAE}}
|align="center"|1–0
|align="center"|3–1
|[[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2012 Summer Olympics]]
|}

=== Managerial record ===
{{updated|match played 30 March 2021}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="6"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (interim)
|align=left|22 April 2014<ref name="Temporary"/>
|align=left|11 May 2014
{{WDL|4|2|1|1}}
|<ref name="soccerbase">{{cite web |title=Ryan Giggs |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2575 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=23 April 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Wales national football team|Wales]]
|align=left|15 January 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42691334|title=Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend named Wales manager|date=15 January 2018|access-date=6 February 2018|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
|align=left|3 November 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54796224|title=Ryan Giggs: Wales manager will not take charge of November games|date=3 November 2020|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
{{WDL|25|12|5|8}}
|<ref name="soccerbase"/>{{failed verification|date=June 2022}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|29|14|6|9|decimals=2}}
!
|}

==Honours==
'''Manchester United'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/21632281|title=Ryan Giggs: The games, the goals and the gongs|date=19 May 2014|website=BBC Sport|access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[Premier League]] (13): [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]], [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Premier League|1995–96]], [[1996–97 FA Premier League|1996–97]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000]], [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2000–01]], [[2002–03 FA Premier League|2002–03]], [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11]], [[2012–13 Premier League|2012–13]]<ref name=PL>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/335/Ryan-Giggs/overview |title=Ryan Giggs: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]] (4): [[1993–94 FA Cup|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Cup|1995–96]], [[1998–99 FA Cup|1998–99]], [[2003–04 FA Cup|2003–04]]
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]] (4): [[1991–92 Football League Cup|1991–92]], [[2005–06 Football League Cup|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Football League Cup|2008–09]], [[2009–10 Football League Cup|2009–10]]
*[[FA Community Shield]] (9): [[1993 FA Charity Shield|1993]], [[1994 FA Charity Shield|1994]], [[1996 FA Charity Shield|1996]], [[1997 FA Charity Shield|1997]], [[2003 FA Community Shield|2003]], [[2007 FA Community Shield|2007]], [[2008 FA Community Shield|2008]], [[2010 FA Community Shield|2010]], [[2013 FA Community Shield|2013]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]] (2): [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|1998–99]], [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2007–08]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]] (1): [[1991 European Super Cup|1991]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] (1): [[1999 Intercontinental Cup|1999]]
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]] (1): [[2008 FIFA Club World Cup|2008]]

[[File:Giggs PL trophy.jpg|thumb|Ryan Giggs with the [[Premier League]] trophy in 2008]]

'''Individual'''<!--LEAGUE AND FEDERATION-SANCTIONED AWARDS ONLY. No fan or magazine-voted awards. Listed in chronological order from first time won.-->
*[[Bravo Award]]: 1993
*[[PFA Young Player of the Year]]: 1991–92, 1992–93
*[[PFA Players' Player of the Year]]: 2008–09
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League|1992–93 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 6|1997–98 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 2|2000–01 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 3|2001–02 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 8|2006–07 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#Premier League 2|2008–09 Premier League]]
*[[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] Team of the Century: 1997–2007<ref>{{cite news|title=Team of the Century: 1997–2007 – the Premiership's finest of the last decade |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1997-2007 |work=GiveMeFootball.com |publisher=Give Me Football |date=5 September 2007 |access-date=5 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021032411/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1997-2007 |archive-date=21 October 2008 }}</ref>
*[[PFA Merit Award]]: 2016
*[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]: 2009
*[[BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year]]: 1996, 2009
*[[BBC Goal of the Season]]: 1998–99
*[[Welsh Footballer of the Year]]: 1996, 2006
*[[GQ|GQ Sportsman of the Year]]: 2010<ref>{{cite news |title=GQ Sportsman of the Year |url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/men-of-the-year/home/winners-2010/gq-men-of-the-year-2010-ryan-giggs-sportsman |publisher=GQ magazine |date=29 October 2010 }}</ref>
*[[Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year]]: [[1997–98 Manchester United F.C. season|1997–98]]
*[[Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year]]: [[1990–91 Manchester United F.C. season|1990–91]],<ref name="jimmurph">{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/May/Award-joy-for-Keane.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105164425/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/May/Award-joy-for-Keane.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 |title=Award joy for Keane |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United Football Club |first=Adam |last=Bostock |date=4 May 2010 |access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> [[1991–92 Manchester United F.C. season|1991–92]]<ref name="jimmurph" />
*[[Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year#Players' Player of the Year|Manchester United Players' Player of the Year]]: [[2005–06 Manchester United F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Carney|title=Every winner of Man Utd's Players' Player of the Year award |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/every-winner-of-man-utd-players-player-of-the-year-award |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=18 September 2020 |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>
*[[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards]] (1992–93 to 2001–02): [[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards#Teams of the Decade|Overall Team of the Decade]]<ref name="Telegraph15Apr03Elite">{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Christopher |date=15 April 2003 |title=The Premiership elite selection 1993–2003 |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2399684/The-Premiership-elite-selection-1993-2003.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112234832/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2399684/The-Premiership-elite-selection-1993-2003.html |archive-date=12 November 2012}}</ref>
*Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): [[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards#Teams of the Decade|Domestic Team of the Decade]]<ref name="Telegraph15Apr03Elite" />
*[[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards]] (1992–93 to 2011–12): [[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards#Awards|Best Player]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=14 May 2012 |title=Man Utd dominate 20 Seasons Fantasy Teams |publisher=Premier League |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/man-utd-dominate-20-seasons-fantasy-team.html |url-status=dead |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518075822/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/man-utd-dominate-20-seasons-fantasy-team.html |archive-date=18 May 2012}}</ref>
*Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): [[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards#Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons|Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons]] public and panel choice<ref name=":3" />
*Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): [[List of footballers with 500 or more Premier League appearances|Most Player Appearances]] (596)<ref name=":3" />
*[[Premier League Player of the Month]]: [[2006–07 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|August 2006]], February 2007<ref name="PL" />
*UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002
*UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2006–07<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2006/statistics/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109112859/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2006/statistics/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 November 2011 |title=UEFA Champions League 2006/07 - History - Statistics – UEFA.com |website=[[UEFA]] |access-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
*[[English Football Hall of Fame|English Football Hall of Fame Inductee]]: [[English Football Hall of Fame#2005 Inductees|2005]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)#Man of the Match|Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award]]: 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyotamvp.html |title=Toyota Cup – Most Valuable Player of the Match Award |access-date=16 September 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Golden Foot]]: 2011
*[[Globe Soccer Awards]] Player Career Award: 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan Giggs – PLAYER CAREER AWARD|url=https://www.globesoccer.com/winners/ryan-giggs-player-career-award/|website=globesoccer.com |publisher=Globe Soccer Awards |access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>
*[[One Club Award]]: 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2020/06/03/ryan-giggs-the-welsh-prince-of-old-trafford|title=Ryan Giggs: the Welsh prince of Old Trafford|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=3 June 2020|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52905331 |title=Ryan Giggs: Wales boss earns Athletic Bilbao accolade for Manchester United career |website=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2020 |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref>
*[[FWA Tribute Award]]: 2007
*[[IFFHS]] Legends<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players|publisher=IFFHS|date=25 January 2016|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924082150/https://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''Records'''
*Has won a record 13 top division English league titles as a player, and only Manchester United player to have winner's medals from all 13 Premier League title wins.
*[[List of footballers with 500 or more Premier League appearances|Most Premier League appearances]] for a player, with 632<ref name="Stats">{{cite web|title=All-time Premier League Player Stats|url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/records|access-date=5 October 2016|publisher=Premier League}}</ref> (since surpassed by [[Gareth Barry]]).
*Most Premier League assists for a player, with 162.<ref name="Stats" />
*[[European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics#Most assists|Most UEFA Champions League assists]] for a player, with 41.<ref>{{cite web |title=All-time Player {{!}} Most assists Stats {{!}} UEFA Champions League |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/rankings/players/assists/ |website=[[UEFA]] |language=en |access-date=13 November 2019 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604102055/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/rankings/players/assists/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Only player to have played in 22 successive Premier League seasons.
*Only player to have scored in 21 successive Premier League seasons.
*First player to have scored in 17 different Champions League tournaments (includes 11 consecutive tournaments, [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1996–97]] to [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|2006–07]]; [[Lionel Messi]] and [[Karim Benzema]] have a better record with 18)
*Most goals by a British player in the Champions League/European Cup proper history, and 14th overall (not including preliminary rounds).<ref>{{cite web|date=4 May 2011|title=Top Scorers – UEFA Champions League 1991–2011|url=http://futbal.org/EC1.scorers.php|access-date=21 May 2011|publisher=Futbal.org}}</ref>
*[[List of Manchester United F.C. records and statistics#Appearances|Most appearances]] by a Manchester United player.
*Most starts by a Manchester United player, started in 794 games.
*First player to score 100 Premier League goals for Manchester United.
*Second midfielder to have scored 100 goals in the Premier League for a single club (first being [[Matt Le Tissier]]).
*One of four Manchester United players to win two Champions League titles (others are [[Paul Scholes]], [[Gary Neville]] and [[Wes Brown]]). The only player to play in two winning finals.
*Oldest (37 years, 289 days) player to score in the Champions League, when he scored against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] on [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage#Benfica v Manchester United|14 September 2011]].<ref name="unitedschalke" />
*One of two Manchester United players to win at least 10 top division medals (the other one is [[Paul Scholes]].)
*Oldest (38 years, 243 days) player to score in the Football competition at the Summer Olympics, when he scored against [[United Arab Emirates national under-23 football team|United Arab Emirates]] on [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament – Group A#Great Britain vs United Arab Emirates|29 July 2012]].
'''State and civic honours'''
*[[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for services to football: 2007<ref name="bbc_obe">{{cite news|date=11 December 2007|title=OBE honour for United hero Giggs |publisher=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7138518.stm|access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref>
*Honorary [[Master of Arts]] degree from the [[University of Salford]] for contributions to football and charity work in developing countries: 2008<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7508195.stm Giggs is Awarded Honorary Degree] BBC, (15 July 2008). Retrieved on 15 July 2008.</ref>
*[[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the City of Salford]]: 7 January 2010.<ref name="Freedom">{{cite news|date=7 January 2010|title=Giggs awarded freedom of Salford |publisher=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8446775.stm|access-date=7 January 2010}}</ref> He is the 22nd person to receive the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the City of Salford]].<ref name="Freedom"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances]]
* [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances]]

== Notes ==
<references group="nb"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

;General sources
*{{cite book |last1=Giggs |first1=Ryan |title=Giggs: The Autobiography |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-14-102401-1 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ryan Giggs}}
*{{FIFA player|95299}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/ryan-giggs Profile] at ManUtd.com
*{{IMDb name|0317604}}
*{{Guardian topic}}

{{Great Britain men's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1992–93 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1997–98 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2000–01 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2001–02 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2006–07 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2008–09 Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{PFA Young Player of the Year}}
{{Welsh Footballer of the Year}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{Bravo Award winners}}
{{Golden Foot winners}}
{{Intercontinental Cup Man of the Match}}
{{Goal of the Season}}
{{One Club Player Award}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Manchester United F.C. managers}}
{{Wales national football team managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giggs, Ryan}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Welsh people of Sierra Leonean descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Sierra Leonean descent]]
[[Category:Footballers from Cardiff]]
[[Category:Welsh men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Wales men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Wales men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Welsh football managers]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Wales national football team managers]]
[[Category:Salford City F.C. chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:People associated with University Academy 92]]
[[Category:People educated at Moorside High School]]
[[Category:England men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Welsh autobiographers]]
[[Category:People acquitted of assault]]
[[Category:England men's schools international footballers]]