Ryan Giggs
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Ryan Joseph Giggs (born 29 November 1973 in Cardiff) is a football player for Manchester United. Originally named Ryan Joseph Wilson, he subsequently adopted his mother's surname. He was born in Wales, but was brought up in England. He played for the England Schoolboys team, but plays for the Welsh national team as an adult. Contrary to popular opinion, Giggs could not have played for the full England national side. He could only play for the English Schools team because he went to school there. In order to play for the England national team, he would have had to be born in England or have had English parents or grandparents; however, both his parents and all four grandparents are Welsh. He is the top all time scorer in the FA Premier League not to play in a striker position.
Giggs is the most decorated footballer in the history of Manchester United, having won eight Premier League championship (a record he shares with Liverpool's Alan Hansen, Phil Neal and Kenny Dalglish), one Champions League and four FA Cup titles. He has also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice.
A left-sided winger who occasionally plays as a supporting striker for United, Giggs finest goal came in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal, where his extra-time solo run from the half-way line, dribbling past three defenders, won the match for his team.
The Ryan Giggs chant often heard from the fans during the Manchester United games is as follows, "Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, Running down the wing, Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, Can do anything, Feared by the Blues, Loved by the Reds, Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs." Another chant goes, "Giggs, Giggs will tear you apart, again", adapted from the Joy Division song 'Love will tear us apart'.
During the first half of the 2004-05 season, Giggs was linked in transfer speculation with Newcastle United. However, no move was made before the transfer window closed on 31 January 2005. After the season, Giggs signed a two-year extension with Man United, after chairman David Gill relented on his normal policy of not signing players over 30 to deals longer than one year. The extension, which runs through July 2008, will effectively keep him at Old Trafford for the remainder of his playing career.
His nickname is The Welsh Wizard.
| Preceded by: Lee Sharpe | PFA Young Player of the Year 1992 | Succeeded by: retained |
| Preceded by: current holder | PFA Young Player of the Year 1993 | Succeeded by: Andy Cole |