"Giggs. Still Giggs. Still Giggs. Brilliant!"

Premier League / Mike Norman / 31 July 2008 / Leave a Comment

Loved by the reds, feared by the blues, Ryan Giggs is going to be running down the wing for some time yet, says Mike Norman.

There won't be a dry eye in the stadium when the moment arrives for a certain Welshman to depart the Old Trafford pitch for the very last time - there won't be a dry eye in my home either.

I doubt there will ever be another footballer like him; a footballer who spends his whole career at the very top with one of the greatest football clubs in the world, a player who wins more honours than any other in British Football history, and a player widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers ever to play the game.

There will only ever be one Ryan Giggs.

I doubt even Sir Alex Ferguson could have ever imagined what the next 20 years would hold when he knocked on the then 13-year-old's door to persuade him to sign for Manchester United. But two decades later 'Giggsy' has had a career that Roy of the Rovers could only dream of, collecting ten Premiership winners' medals, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice, and the much coveted Champions League in 1999 and 2008.

Throughout his illustrious career Giggs has broken records galore, most notably surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time Manchester United appearances record. Yet despite his advancement in years he shows no signs of a player in the twilight of his career.

Last season, even with Nani and Anderson added to the squad as players who could operate on the left, Giggs was involved in 31 Premiership games (starting 26). This was more than the two previous seasons.

His attitude and approach to the game has never changed - he still has the hunger, and you can see the glint in his eyes as the ball arrives at his feet and he gets set to execute his pace, balance and skills as he sets off on another mazy run down the flank. Yet although those mazy runs were the hallmark of his game in the early years, he soon became adapt at playing in the middle, on the right, or even in attack - flexibility that Sir Alex utilises brilliantly to benefit the team.

It's perhaps no coincidence that after 25 years of not winning the league title, Manchester United's Premiership success commenced with the emergence of Giggs, and has continued with him.

Blessed with a sublime touch, an exquisite range of passing ability, and a wonderful eye for goal, Ryan Giggs is a tremendous all-round attacking player, not just the great left winger for which he is renowned. He is disciplined, a leader, has handled fame magnificently, become a devoted family man and an inspiration throughout the world of football. Upon his retirement he will be heralded as the greatest professional ever to represent Manchester United, and in some quarters regarded as a better player then the late great George Best - I wouldn't be surprised if that praise was led by Sir Alex himself.

It may take six minutes to watch the following montage of Ryan Giggs doing what he does best, but I promise you won't enjoy six minutes today more than these.

Giggs will not be used only sparingly this season. I expect him to play at least 35-40 games (like last season) in all competitions. Both he and Nani can play in a number of roles and it won't be a case of one or the other for the left wing position. So the good news is that there will be more to add to that clip by the end of the season, but whether or not Giggs will have secured his 11th Premiership title with United is debatable - it's [2.86] if you think he will have ([2.9] to lay United) or [2.88] if you fancy Chelsea to deny him.

Another distinction Giggs holds is that of being the first player ever to score in 12 successive seasons of Champions League football - that's certain to become 13 as United look to defend their European crown - [7.2] to do so.

You can have [5.6] about United winning the FA Cup or [7.8] for them to win the Carling Cup - but how about this ..... you can currently get matched at [70.0] for Manchester United, and the legend that is Ryan Giggs, to lift all four trophies.