Ryan Giggs: What they say about Man United's man for all seasons

15 December 2009 12:28
After winning his 11th Premier League title with Manchester United in May and picking up the PFA Player of the Year award at the age of 35, Ryan Giggs rounded off a memorable year by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday.[LNB]Here some of the most respected names in the game pay tribute to the Welsh international who shows no sign of losing his status as one of the Premier League's star performers.[LNB] Huge honour: Ryan Giggs lifts the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy[LNB]TONY PULIS (Stoke City manager)[LNB]'Ryan could carry on for as long as he wants. It just depends how he feels and if he wants to give himself that challenge - it's down to him.[LNB]'I remember Billy Bonds played until he was 40 so it depends on how he is feeling physically and mentally. But his fitness levels are excellent. Sir Alex Ferguson knows when to play him and when to rest him. There's a good bond between them.[LNB]'Ryan has played for the greatest club in English football for the last two decades and he's been one of the greatest players - there's no question about that. He's certainly left a mark at Old Trafford and will go down as one of their great players.[LNB]'Ryan's a great ambassador for the game and to still be playing at his age, not only for a top club, but playing for one of the best clubs in the world is testament to his dedication and quality.'ALAN SMITH (Former Arsenal & England striker)[LNB]'He has been my favourite players for many years, not just because of his ability but for the way he handles himself. Over the years his personality has remained the same despite all the adulation. I was lucky to play against him many times when he was younger and he has always been a wonderful footballer.[LNB]'His changed his style as the seasons have gone by, those darting runs down the wing giving way to a more passing type of game. But he is a role model and it's great his contribution to the game has been recognised.'  [LNB]ALEX STEPNEY (former Manchester United & England keeper)   'In my book he is up there with Sir Bobby Charlton as a great ambassador for his club and for the game, though unfortunately he never won the European Player of the Year award. [LNB]'One of the sad things is that, like George (Best), he never played in a World Cup finals, which would have been the perfect stage for him. Like George he came into the United side very young and had lots thrown at him but fortunately Sir Alex (Ferguson) took him under his wing as Sir Matt (Busby) had done with George. This accolade will mean a lot of him because it comes from the public at large.'  GARY McALLISTER (Former Leeds, Liverpool & Scotland midfielder)   'There was never any love lost when I played against Manchester United, especially when we were at Leeds but there was always extra detail when it came to having him marked. We had to double up on him. But he was still a real handful. [LNB]'The thing that strikes me is the longevity of his career right at the very top of the sport. I played a long time but not at the level he has sustained. He has just evolved as a player from flying winger to sitting in midfield spraying perfect passes around. Nobody deserves the honour more than him.'[LNB]MARTIN O'NEILL (Aston Villa manager)[LNB]'Ryan Giggs? Absolutely delighted, I couldn't have been more pleased and it was really deserved, I have to say, for what he has achieved in the game and the length of time over which he has achieved it. It's fantastic, I am genuinely pleased.[LNB]'He is someone all players should aspire to, he's 36 and playing in the Premier League like a 22-year-old. He has an appetite, a hunger and a desire for it.'CLAYTON BLACKMORE (Former Manchester United & Wales defender)[LNB]'What he's done proves he's the best Premier League player ever. He's won everything and won it so many times as well. I don't think anybody will beat that because Man United have dominated for so long and I can't see other teams doing that in future.[LNB]'He's been the key player as well and probably the best United have ever had. I've played with and against Ryan and Eric Cantona - George Best as well, but he was 40 at the time - and I have to say Ryan was the hardest to play against.[LNB]'It's his pace and elusiveness, and he's not soft either. Some wingers don't like being kicked but he's tough. I was lucky enough to play behind him for both United and Wales. In fact, I think I set up the first ever goal he scored with his head in a game against Nottingham Forest.[LNB]'When he first started out, the funniest thing was that defenders used to be relieved when Lee Sharpe was taken off but then they saw Ryan coming on.[LNB]'Very soon he was in the starting line-up and it got to the stage where United were able to take him off after 60 minutes in Champions League games because he'd already won the match for us. [LNB]'He's the perfect player, and a perfect role model for all the young kids at United. I hope when he hangs up his boots in two or three years time he stays at the club in some role.'ANDY COLE (Former Manchester United and England striker)[LNB]'I wouldn't be surprised if he was the best Premier League player of them all. I can't think of anyone you'd put above him, to be honest.[LNB]'He's stood the test of time and he's still proving his quality at 36. Now he's getting towards the end of his career he's receiving the plaudits for what he's achieved.[LNB]'Ryan was a top, top player as soon as he came into the United team and he's just gone from strength to strength, year on year, and been a tremendous servant to Manchester United.[LNB]'He's a gentleman and a very funny guy. I've had the pleasure of playing alongside him and being his friend for a long time, and he's a bundle of laughs.'[LNB] Glory days: Andy Cole celebrates with Ryan Giggs during their time together at Old Trafford[LNB]GARY PALLISTER (Former Manchester United and England defender) [LNB]'You look at the great players we've had in the Premier League and it's very difficult to say who is the best, but Ryan is certainly one of them. In terms of staying at the top for so long, he's definitely the best for that. At an age when other players retire, he's still performing at a level way above what you'd expect.[LNB]'I would put him among a handful of great United players. Up there with Best, Charlton, Law and Robson. To play such a big part at the club is a fantastic achievement.[LNB]'He had a lot of pressure coming through the ranks at the age of 16, but Sir Alex Ferguson helped keep him from the glare of the spotlight and that stood him in good stead. He's taken the pressure in his stride and been a shining example for how young players should behave.[LNB]'I remember seeing him as a 15-year-old in the youth team when I first signed for United. Alex said he was going to be special then and you could see it. The shirt Ryan was wearing was heavier than him, but the speed with which he ran with the ball was incredible.[LNB]'He's a great lad and he always kept his old school friends close to him. I'm sure you've heard the stories about his rapping. Whenever we celebrated winning a trophy, he'd be up there doing his party piece.[LNB]'He's got a wicked sense of humour and was always playing pranks with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Whenever I bump into him he's the same old level-headed Ryan, but I'm sure he still getting to up to his bits of mischief.'[LNB]MICK McCARTHY (Wolves manager)[LNB]'I voted for Ryan Giggs on Sunday night, and I'd never voted before. Whether he's the Sports Personality of the Year...I suspect it's because he has achieved it over his career.[LNB]'Have a look at how many have done what he has done. There have been some really good players but he has stayed the course for nearly 20 years - and not a single bad word said about him as far as I can remember.'STEVE BRUCE (Sunderland manager and former Manchester United defender)[LNB]'I played in his debut against Manchester City nearly 20 years ago and what he's done since - 11 Premier League titles - it's frightening, staggering.[LNB]He's the total package. He has natural born ability and combined with that is steely determination. And to go on and do what he has done for 20 years is an unbelievable achievement at one club like Manchester United. I'm delighted for the lad, it's fantastic.[LNB]'I will never forget the day he first turned up at United. Fergie was trying to nick him from Man City and he said 'I've got this kid so just look after him'. He came in and trained with us and we were thinking 'hang on a minute, 14? Are you sure?'[LNB]'The first time he got the ball he dropped his shoulder and went effortlessly past Viv Anderson, who was England full-back at the time. Then he did it again and again and in the end Viv was trying to kick him because he was taking the mickey.[LNB]'When he ran you could not hear him because he was so quiet and effortless. He could probably run with the ball quicker than anyone else could run without it. The ball was stuck to his foot. He is still spindly but when you looked at him then he was probably half the size.[LNB]'When he is finished he will be talked about in the same breath as Law, Best and Charlton, absolutely.'[LNB]DAVID PLEAT (Former Luton, Leicester and Spurs manager)[LNB]'When I was manager at Leicester in the 80s we played Manchester United in a Youth Cup game. They had a winger called Ryan Wilson and I knew as soon as I saw him he was going to be a star. I told Alex (Ferguson) what I thought and he told me how special a player he was going to be. He changed his name, of course, to Giggs and went on to be as good as I had predicted. [LNB]'Ironically the only other player who has given me that buzz as a youngster was a schoolboy from Everton called Wayne Rooney. I talked to Alex about him, too, and at the time he thought there was no way he could get him. It's ironic to see them both performing so brilliantly in today's United side.'[LNB] Ryan Giggs: The humble superstar who reminds us what the game has lost...Legend Giggs has the X-Factor, says former Man United team-mate BruceManchester United star Ryan Giggs named Sports Personality of the Year 2009MANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail