Many of the football legends I have never witnessed first-hand and I only know of their remarkable feats from history books and numerous forums;but Ryan Giggs is someone you will look at his achievements and say that yes,he is truly a legend.I call them the one-club players.Ryan Giggs won so many titles that if I start putting them down,I'm afraid I might not be able to finish them.He won more than 35 trophies,including 13 premier league titles and 2 champions league and close to 50 medals.A player known for his tireless running,ball possession and ability to create goalscoring opportunities for those around him.Born 29,November 1973,he played for Manchester United from 1990 to 2014 and scored close to 150 goals in more than 900 appearances.For his country Wales,he scored 12 goals in 64 appearances between 1991 and 2007.
He is the only player to have played in 22 successive premier league seasons and the only player to score in 21 successive premier league seasons.He holds the most premier league appearance and most premier league assists with 271.In 2011,he was given the premier league golden foot.One of the high point in his career was when he set up the equalising goal scored by Teddy Sheringham in 1999 UEFA champions league final.Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's goal to seal victory for Manchester United epitomizes to what extent of drama and excitement champions league,nay football,can really provide.Celebrations had already begun in Munich,and legend has it that the name of Bayern Munich had already been engraved in the cup to be handed out to them.
However,deep into extra time, Teddy Sheringham equalised from Giggs' cross.Ole Gunnar followed that up with another goal late into injury time,and the rest,as they say,is history.I still remember David Beckham's words-''I looked and I saw them bringing down the cup with Bayern colours,but two minutes later,I had the cup in my hands.'' Giggs scored 28 goals in 137 champions league matches.He is the most decorated player in Welsh and English history and he has never been sent off in a club match.One unhappy story about Giggs(great men always have unhappy stories),was that he never appeared in the world cup,as Wales had never qualified for the world cup since 1958(lets hope that Bale will triumph where Giggs failed).
He is greatly remembered for his solo effort against Arsenal in the replay of the 1994 FA cup.Giggs ran with the ball and dribbled past the whole Arsenal back line before launching his left-footed strike just under the great David Seaman himself,into the net.And while we wait for other players to join him(I don't think they will)in the hall of fame,let us remember Ryan Giggs:a great player,a legend,a player adored by all and above all,a phenomenon.
Beautiful Giggs of life.
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