11 facts you didn’t know about Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs is Manchester Uniteds all-time leading appearance maker and is the most decorated British footballer. Recently, he was also the manager (interim manager for all you pedants) of Manchester United, the only club he has ever played for. But there are some things about the Welsh wing wizard that not many are aware of.Here are 11 lesser known facts about Ryan Giggs.

#11 His father was a rugby player and so was he during his schooling

Danny Wilson, his father was a rugby union player who played for Cardiff RFC and even represented Wales in the rugby league. So it was no surprise to see where his athleticism and agility came from.

But something you might not know was that apart from football, Giggs also played rugby union at schoolboy level. Thankfully for Manchester United, he turned his attention towards football after that.

#10 Giggs played at Manchester Citys School of Excellence before signing for United

Everybody knows the story about how Sir Alex Ferguson showed up at Giggs’ doorstep when he was 14 and convinced his mother to let him play for Manchester United.

But, something that is lost in the footnotes of history is the fact that before joining Manchester United, a young Giggs played at Manchester City’s School of Excellence.

He was recommended by Manchester City scout Dennis Schofield. At the same time, he also played for Salford FC for whom he scored a hat-trick at United’s old training ground The Cliff, where he was spotted by Sir Alex and the rest as they say is history.

#9 Giggs played for England Schoolboys, but couldnt have played for senior side

Although Giggs was born in Cardiff, to Welsh parents, his move to England meant that his schooling was in England and was thus eligible to play for England schoolboys.

Not only did Giggs play for them, but he also captained them. However, since both his parents were Welsh he couldn’t have played for England at the senior level.

#8 He wasnt always called Ryan Giggs

Born to Danny Wilson and Lynne Giggs (now Johnson) in Cardiff, Wales, he was called Ryan Joseph Wilson until the age of 16.

But, after his mother remarried, he took his mother’s maiden name and was from thereafter called Ryan Joseph Giggs or Ryan Giggs in short.

#7 He was named PFA Young Player of the Year at the end of his first full campaign

After signing his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, Giggs made his first appearance for United in the old first division on March 2 1991. He finished his first senior campaign with two appearances and a goal.

But in his first full season, he was a regular fixture as he scored four goals and helped United finish second in the League.

He also won his first senior trophy, the League Cup, against Nottingham Forest and was named PFA Young Player of the Year at the end of his first full campaign.

#6 He was the first player to win PFA Young Player of the Year award twice

As Manchester United won their first League title in 26 years, Ryan Giggs collected his second individual honor, the PFA Young Player of the Year Award for the 1992/93 season as well as becoming only the third teenager to score in the Premier League.

In doing so, he became the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards, a feat that has since been equaled by Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney.

#5 He has never been sent off for Manchester United

Despite making over 960 appearances for Manchester United, the winger has never been sent off when playing for the club.

In fact the only time he has been sent off in a playing career that has spanned over two decades and 1000 appearances was for Wales during a World Cup Qualifier against Norway on 5 September 2001.

#4 Giggs had an extra-marital affair with his brothers wife

Ryan Giggs was twice involved in extra-marital affairs. First in 2011, when he lost a legal battle to hush up his affair with model Imogen Thomas.

In addition to the Imogen Thomas affair, Giggs was the subject of speculation about another affair in the summer of 2011, this time with his sister-in-law, Natasha, who was married to his brother Rhodri.

#3 He presented his own television show in 1994

While his quality on the pitch was undeniable, off the pitch, as one newspaper called it, he "single-handedly revolutionized football's image".

He was described by some as the “Premiership’s First Poster boy” "with pace to burn, a bramble patch of black hair bouncing around his puppy pop star face, and a dazzling, gluey relationship between his impossibly fleet left foot and a football."

At the height of his popularity, he even hosted his own television show, Ryan Giggs' Soccer Skills, which aired in 1994, and also had a book based on the series.

#2 He wasnt allowed to speak to journalists until he was 20

Despite being a Premier League winner and two-time PFA Young Player of the Year, he wasn’t allowed to speak to speak to journalists until he was 20.

Sir Alex Ferguson's strict rules meant that his first big interview was with Des Lynam on Match of the Day in the 1993-94 season, a full three years after making his debut for the club.

#1 His Professional career is older than the Premier League

Having won 35 trophies, it is fair to say that Ryan Giggs has had a more than distinguished career. Amidst all the records he has to his name- all-time appearance leader in the Champions League and Premier League and the only player to have scored in 21 successive Premier League seasons and 17 different Champions League tournaments to name a few, one record stands tall above the rest.

Having made his top-flight debut in the 1990/91 season, one year before the advent of the Premier League, Ryan Giggs holds the unique distinction of having a playing career longer than the tournament he is playing in (Premier League).