Giggs befits 'greatest' tag

Sir Alex Ferguson has given his seal of approval to Ryan Giggs being named the club’s greatest ever player. The manager was not surprised to see Giggs come top of the pile, as voted for by readers of Inside United and ManUtd.com, saying: “Longevity always comes into play in these things, and Ryan’s been around for more time than any other player.”


“When you look at the galaxy of stars that have been at this club, this is a huge honour for Ryan,” the manager goes on in the March issue of Inside United. “There are some who would maybe put others ahead of him – players such as Denis Law, George Best or Eric Cantona – but nobody can argue he doesn’t deserve to be in that top bracket.”


Fittingly, it was Sir Alex – Giggs’s mentor and manager for over two decades – who presented the Welshman with an award recognising the result of the vote. The manager paid tribute to the talent and professionalism of the man he first unleashed on the football world in 1991. “His performances have been top class for 20 years. Even now, at 37, he’s amazing,” says Sir Alex.


“I get asked about Ryan all the time and I always find myself talking about the same attributes – the way he’s looked after his physique, the way he constantly strives to better himself and the way he applies himself to make sure he succeeds. He’s a fantastic role-model for young players. Ryan is a model of how to carry yourself, both as a footballer and a human being. He’s shown by sacrifice what can be achieved.”