Giggs named best player in Premier League history
PA Photos
Ryan Giggs and Sir Alex Ferguson have both had successful career
Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has been named the best player of the first 20 seasons of the Premier League.
Giggs, 38, made his debut for United in 1991 and has been a fixture in the side almost ever since, moving into a more cerebral, central role in recent years after starting out as a traditional left-winger.
Newly-appointed England coach Gary Neville, a former club team-mate of Giggs, paid tribute to the Welshman.
"Ryan Giggs will go down as the most successful British footballer of all time and I cannot see anyone ever overtaking him," Neville said. "He has surpassed all records in terms of domestic titles and he has incredible desire, quality and spirit. He's just fantastic to watch every single week."
There was double reason to celebrate for Manchester United, as Sir Alex Ferguson was also named the best manager of the first 20 seasons of the Premier League.
The Scot has helped United win the title 12 times since his arrival at Old Trafford.
Alan Shearer received an award for the most Premier League goals (260) while David James received a prize for the most Premier League clean sheets (173).
The panel's elect team of the last 20 seasons was named as: Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer.
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I cant think of anything more fitting to hand to Giggsy and SAF, both have had an extraordinary effect on the Prem and have won just about anything they can at club level, Giggs has been a model pro despite the shenannigans witth his brothers wife.
A great tribute to two true men of football
If ever an award was justified it is this one. I guess his only competition would be from Scholes and for both to still be delivering the quality they do at this end of their careers is a huge credit to them and the way they've been managed.
Well done Giggsy. You're a lesson in athletic professionalism that a lot of the young players coming into the game would do well to learn from, [social misconduct excluded]
fgs some of u on here need to grow up!
hes been an influencial player for the last 20 yrs and in terms of his ability is a great role model!
yes his affairs were wrong, but as pointed out about jt and others his outside life is nothing to do in terms of football!
anyone disagreeing with this article just has a big chip on their shoulder over man utd its called jealousy!
he won it, u dont like it get over it!
ps why should shearer of got it jones?? just because he turned down man utd? no doubt he was a class player, he didnt play for 20yrs and influence big games did he! get over yourself!
Come on you guys. Best was an alchoholic mess and sublime footballer. Cantona was the personification of ego, and the finest showman to have ever strutted Old Trafford. Gazza, on his day was quite unplayable.
Off field qualities are not generally relevant, providing they don't spill onto the pitch and no one could really object to Cantona's drop kick.. We pay to watch them play, not to see if they can qualify for the priesthood. Come to that if we'd seen them playing we'd probably find a lot of priests wouldn't qualitfy either.
Giggs has been the most sustained athlete the football league has ever had the priviledge of watching. And to still be able to play in an offensive position and still be scoring match winning goals in his twentieth season is a total vindication for this award.
Like I said. Well done Giggsy. This is probably the most justified acknowledgement in football's history.
Wash your mouth out ste99. I'm a City supporter, and like most of my fellows can appreciate quality when I see it. If you want to complain about drivel I'd suggest you read most of the United supporters posts on almost any subject
As far as Giggs is concerned he deserved this award for his quality over a twenty year period. There have been better players than him every season, but there's none that have delivered his quality over ten years, let alone twenty. He's a credit to himself, his team and football. [Social mishaps aside].
ANTHONY WASH MY MOUTH OUT? U CLEARLY TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE AMOUNTS OF MUNICH COMMENTS STIL LGOING AROUND FROM CITY FANS SINCE SUNDAY GET TO SPECSAVERS! THE DRIVVEL PART WAS AIMED AT THAT!
as for saying much better totally disagree! there have been 1 or 2 better over the yrs on seasons certainly not loads as u make out!
chris see your point re better players, keane is a proven winner, utd would not of been the team they were had keano not driven them forward! hes head and shoulders above gerrard in my opinion and as good as viera was i think keane edged it! viera was scared of keane! he started on neville till keane offered to sort him out!
Chris
I think the selection is based on a specific brief, so one position would be Scholes or Gerrard and a different position Viera or Keane. Maybe selecting teams for a range of formations would allow recognition for a greater number of players. Cantona got left out, Sheringham as well. What about Gary Speed and Martin Keown as an outside bet for the team.
Robert Pires missed out, no room for Arjen Robben . What about Frank Lampard? You could probably pick 10 different teams and still cause a row.
steve, mike has also been throwing insults about munich today as well mate! as usual! so no surprise there then mate, usual city fan drivvell!
chris agree with most of your post there mate, your right as things stand now re better players, but in his prime i cant remember seeing a better player in the prem!
