Ryan Giggs: 40 Not Out
Ryan Giggs returned to his hometown on Sunday to the place where he first kicked a ball, coming off the bench in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City.
United failed to capitalise on a number of chances before a stoppage-time equaliser from Kim Bo-Kyung sealed a deserved point for the Bluebirds.
The sides hadn’t met in the top flight since 1961, and for United stalwart Giggs, it was that little bit special.
Giggs entered the field in the 73rd minute, some 22 years after making his debut for the Reds and helped the visitors get back into the ascendancy after a dominant spell from Cardiff, laying on Danny Welbeck, only for him to lash over the bar. And the miss proved costly with the late equaliser sealing United’s fate, in the week building up to the number 11’s 40th birthday.
It’s a remarkable feat for the Welshman who left his home country at the age of seven to Manchester and even at such an early age, his breath-taking talent was recognised and at one point almost ended up playing in the blue half of the city. Eric Mullender, a Manchester City scout, first saw Giggs at the age of nine, and almost lured him to, at that time, Maine Road.
“He really took my eye. He would just go past players,” the 80-year-old scout remembered, “He had pace, a lovely left peg. He had the skill, good control and he developed from there. I thought he had potential to play for city. He would come in on school holidays.”
Sunday marked his 952nd game for the Red Devils and as he reaches the big 4-0 on Friday, people will no doubt be replaying his finest goals and of course asking, when will it end?
Now acting as player-coach under Moyes’ new regime, many are believing that after 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues, the most decorated player in football will call time on his illustrious career.
Many except Giggs and Moyes that is. Following Sunday’s game, the United boss thinks there is no reason why the midfielder can’t continue beyond his current deal.
“He doesn’t look like someone who is going to drop considerably,” he told the Telegraph.
“He has made the first step into coaching and management and sometimes when you do that you say: ‘Actually I have had enough of playing now’.
“He doesn’t look as if he’s at that point yet, so who knows? And it’s only these sort of decisions you would make right at the end. At his age you don’t consider it six months before.”
What is certain however is that when he does finally sign off, he’ll want to do it as a Premier League Champion.
United have picked up their performances considerably in the last few weeks and top the form table, but a disappointing result in the Welsh capital and the Reds still sit outside the top four. It could be difficult for the team who are currently fifth favourite according to Freebets.com.