Ryan Giggs

2.1. Childhood and Background

Ryan Joseph Wilson was born on November 29, 1973, at St David's Hospital in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. His father, Danny Wilson, was a professional rugby union player for Cardiff RFC and a Wales international rugby league footballer. His mother is Lynne Giggs (now Lynne Johnson). Giggs is of mixed race heritage, with his paternal grandfather hailing from Sierra Leone, and he has openly spoken about the racism he experienced during his childhood.

Giggs spent his early years growing up in Ely, a western suburb of Cardiff, often spending considerable time with his maternal grandparents and playing football and rugby league on the streets outside their home in Pentrebane. In 1980, at the age of six, his father transitioned from rugby union to rugby league, signing with Swinton RLFC. This move necessitated the family's relocation north to Swinton, a town in Salford, Greater Manchester. This move was emotionally challenging for young Giggs, who was very close to his grandparents in Cardiff, though he frequently returned to Wales with his family on weekends or during school holidays. At the age of 16, two years after his parents' separation, he adopted his mother's surname, Giggs, aiming to identify himself as his mother's son.

2.2. Youth Football and Early Recognition

After moving to Salford, Giggs began playing for the local team, Deans FC, which was coached by Dennis Schofield, a scout for Manchester City. Schofield, recognizing Giggs' potential, recommended him to Manchester City, and Giggs was subsequently signed to their School of Excellence. Despite this, Giggs continued to play for Salford Boys, a representative team from Salford, and captained them to the final of the Granada Schools Cup competition at Anfield in 1987. Salford Boys emerged victorious against their Blackburn counterparts, with Giggs being named man of the match. The trophy was presented to him by Liverpool's chief scout, Ron Yeats, who was also impressed by Giggs' talent. Giggs also participated in rugby league at the schoolboy level.

While playing for Deans FC, Giggs was regularly observed by Harold Wood, a local newsagent and steward at Old Trafford. Wood personally conveyed his observations to Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, who then dispatched a scout to watch Giggs. Following this, Giggs was offered a trial during the Christmas period of 1986. During a trial match for Salford Boys against a United Under-15s side at The Cliff-United's training ground at the time-Giggs scored a hat-trick with Ferguson watching from his office window. On November 29, 1987, his 14th birthday, Ferguson visited Giggs' home with United scout Joe Brown and offered him a two-year associate schoolboy contract. They agreed to waive the usual YTS forms and persuaded Giggs to sign by promising him the opportunity to turn professional within three years.

Giggs, under the name Ryan Wilson, even captained the England Schoolboys team, playing at Wembley Stadium against Germany in 1989. However, it was later clarified that eligibility at the schoolboy level is based solely on the location of the school, not nationality. Giggs always maintained his preference to represent Wales.

3.1. Debut and Early Development (1990-1995)

Giggs was offered his first professional contract on November 29, 1990, his 17th birthday, and he formally accepted it two days later, on December 1, 1990. At this time, Manchester United had recently secured the FA Cup, their first major trophy under Alex Ferguson's management since his appointment in 1986. The team was gradually challenging the dominance of Liverpool and Arsenal in the league.

Giggs made his league debut against Everton at Old Trafford on March 2, 1991, coming on as a substitute for the injured full-back Denis Irwin in a 2-0 defeat. In his first full start, during a Manchester derby on May 4, 1991, Giggs was credited with his first-ever goal in a 1-0 victory, although it appeared to be a Colin Hendry own goal. Despite this, he was not included in the squad that defeated Barcelona in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final 11 days later, with Lee Sharpe taking the left-wing position.

Giggs became a first-team regular early in the 1991-92 season. He also continued his involvement with the youth system, captaining the team, which included many of "Fergie's Fledglings" (a group of talented young players brought through the club's academy by Alex Ferguson), to an FA Youth Cup triumph in 1992. His rise set a precedent for other Manchester United youth players under Ferguson's guidance. As the youngest member of the first team, Giggs sought advice from older players like Bryan Robson, who recommended he sign with agent Harry Swales.

In the 1991-92 season, United finished as runners-up to Leeds United in the final year of the old Football League First Division before the inception of the Premier League. Giggs secured his first piece of silverware on April 12, 1992, as United defeated Nottingham Forest in the League Cup Final, with Giggs assisting Brian McClair for the decisive goal. He had also scored the winning goal against Middlesbrough in the semi-final. At the end of the season, he was voted PFA Young Player of the Year, an award his colleague Lee Sharpe had won the previous year.

By the start of the 1992-93 season, the inaugural season of the Premier League, Giggs had cemented his position as United's first-choice left-winger, outperforming Sharpe. He was recognized alongside Steve McManaman as one of English football's most promising young wingers, drawing comparisons to the 1950s winger Stanley Matthews. Giggs' contributions were crucial to United's first top-division title in 26 years. His emergence, coupled with the arrival of Eric Cantona, ushered in an era of Manchester United's dominance in the Premier League. Ferguson adopted a protective stance, refusing media interviews for Giggs until he turned 20. United achieved the double in the 1993-94 season, with Giggs being a pivotal player alongside Cantona, Paul Ince, and Mark Hughes. However, they lost 3-1 to Aston Villa in the League Cup final, preventing a historic treble.

Off the pitch, Giggs was credited by newspapers for "single-handedly revolutionizing football's image" as a dazzling young talent with speed and exceptional ball control. His celebrity status led to opportunities like hosting his TV show, Ryan Giggs' Soccer Skills, in 1994, and featuring on numerous magazine covers. He became a household name and contributed to the rise of footballers as celebrity idols, akin to pop stars, in the mid to late 1990s. Despite his aversion to attention, he was a teenage pin-up, dubbed the "Premiership's First Poster Boy" and "boy wonder." He was hailed as the first football star since George Best to capture public imagination, with Best himself famously quipping, "One day they might even say that I was another Ryan Giggs." At the end of the 1993-94 season, Giggs secured his second consecutive league title and became the first player to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards, a feat later matched by Robbie Fowler, Wayne Rooney, and Dele Alli.

Giggs was known for scoring spectacular goals, with many of them nominated for "Goal of the Season" awards. Among his most memorable strikes were those against Queens Park Rangers (1994), Tottenham (1994), Everton (1995), Coventry (1996), and his iconic solo effort against Arsenal in the replay of the 1999 FA Cup semi-final. In extra time of that match, Giggs intercepted a pass from Patrick Vieira, then embarked on a solo run from his own half, dribbling past the entire Arsenal defense, including Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, and Martin Keown, before unleashing a left-footed strike past David Seaman. He famously celebrated by whipping off his shirt. This goal also holds the distinction of being the last ever scored in an FA Cup semi-final replay, as the format was changed to a single game from the following season.

3.2. Premier League Dominance and Treble (1995-2000)

The 1994-95 season saw Giggs' appearances limited to 29 Premier League games and just one goal due to injury. Although he regained form and fitness later in the season, it was too late to secure any major trophies for United, who lost the Premier League title to Blackburn Rovers on the final day. A week later, Giggs came on as a substitute in the FA Cup final, but United lost 1-0 to Everton. Despite this, Giggs scored twice in the opening Champions League game against IFK Göteborg (a 4-2 win) and also found the net in an FA Cup fourth-round victory over Wrexham, accumulating four goals across all competitions that season.

In 1995-96, Giggs returned to full form and played a vital role in United's second double. His goal against Everton at Goodison Park on September 9, 1995, was nominated for "Goal of the Season," though it was ultimately surpassed by Manchester City's Georgi Kinkladze. In November, Giggs scored two goals in a 4-1 Premier League win over Southampton, maintaining pressure on Newcastle United, who initially held a 10-point lead but were eventually overtaken by United in mid-March. Giggs also featured in United's FA Cup final victory over Liverpool on May 11, 1996. By this period, new young talents such as Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, and Paul Scholes had emerged, forming a new-look United midfield alongside Giggs and Roy Keane.

The 1996-97 season offered Giggs his first significant opportunity to excel in Europe. Having played a key role in securing United's third league title in four seasons, he helped the team reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, a feat not achieved by a United side in 28 years. Their European ambitions were ended by Borussia Dortmund, who defeated them 1-0 in both legs. At the end of this season, Juventus's Alessandro Del Piero lauded Giggs as one of his two favorite players.

In 1997-98, Arsenal narrowly pipped United to the Premier League title following a poor run of form in March and early April, leaving United without a trophy for only the second time since 1989. The following season, 1998-99, Giggs missed several games due to injury. However, when fit, his form was exceptional, and he featured in both of United's cup finals. Memorable moments included his extra-time goal in the FA Cup semi-final replay against arch-rivals Arsenal, securing a 2-1 win for United. He also scored a 90th-minute equalizer in the home leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Juventus.

The pinnacle of the 1998-99 season was Giggs' setup of the equalizing goal scored by Teddy Sheringham in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, which propelled United towards achieving the Treble (winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League). Giggs was also named Man of the Match as United defeated Palmeiras 1-0 to claim the Intercontinental Cup later that year, further cementing his pivotal role in this historic period for the club.

3.3. Veteran Status and Adaptability (2000-2005)

Following Denis Irwin's departure in May 2002, Ryan Giggs became United's longest-serving player, evolving into a pivotal figure despite still being in his late 20s. He continued to excel in the four years after the 1999 Treble triumph, contributing to United's three Premier League titles in that period, as well as reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals three times and the semi-finals once. In April 2001, he signed a new five-year contract.

Giggs celebrated his 10-year anniversary at Old Trafford with a testimonial match against Celtic at the start of the 2001-02 campaign, which United lost 4-3 in a game that famously featured a cameo by Eric Cantona. However, this season proved to be one of United's most disappointing since Giggs' debut, as a poor run of form in early winter cost them the league title, and they were surprisingly knocked out of the Champions League on away goals in the semi-finals by German underdogs Bayer Leverkusen. A year later, on August 23, 2002, he scored his 100th career goal in a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The 2002-03 season was a challenging one for Giggs, as he was forced to defend his perceived poor form, insisting he was "not finished." This period included being booed off the pitch in a League Cup semi-final first leg draw against Blackburn Rovers on January 7, and a notable open-goal miss during a 2-0 FA Cup defeat against Arsenal on February 16, described as the worst of his career, which led to taunts from Arsenal fans. Amid speculation about his potential departure, possibly to Inter Milan, Giggs quashed the rumors by reaffirming his happiness at United. The very next day, February 25, 2003, he delivered one of his most memorable performances, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory against Juventus after coming on as an eighth-minute substitute. One of these goals was later celebrated as among his greatest and a highlight of his Champions League career.

On May 22, 2004, Giggs secured his fourth FA Cup triumph, making him one of only two players (the other being Roy Keane) to achieve this with Manchester United. He also accumulated three FA Cup runners-up medals (1995, 2005, and 2007). His participation in the victory over Liverpool in September 2004 made him the third player, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes, to play 600 games for United. In recognition of his significant contributions to English football, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005. By 2005, Giggs' form had significantly improved, and he attributed his relative freedom from the hamstring injuries that had previously plagued his career to taking up yoga.

3.4. Later Years and Milestones (2005-2014)

Ryan Giggs continued to defy age and maintain his elite performance level in the latter stages of his career. He signed a two-year contract extension, a rarity for players over 30 at United, benefiting from being largely injury-free, aside from occasional hamstring issues.

In the 2006-07 season, Giggs scored his first goal on August 26, 2006, in a 2-1 victory over Watford, which proved to be the winner. He also netted the winner in the subsequent game, a 1-0 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur on September 9, with an eighth-minute header. On December 6, he contributed a goal and an assist in the final Champions League group game against Benfica, with his free-kick leading to a Nemanja Vidić goal before he headed in a Cristiano Ronaldo cross. In February 2007, Giggs scored his final three goals of the season, including one in a 4-0 away win against Tottenham on February 4. On February 20, he scored the decisive goal against Lille in the UEFA Champions League with a quick free-kick, a move that prompted protest from the Lille players, though Giggs later expressed amazement as no rule had been broken. On February 24, Giggs scored the equalizer against Fulham in a game United eventually won, further extending their lead over Chelsea.

On May 6, 2007, with Chelsea drawing 1-1 with Arsenal, Manchester United were crowned champions of England. This marked Giggs' ninth league title, surpassing the record of eight previously held by Alan Hansen and Phil Neal. In the 2007 FA Community Shield, Giggs scored in the first half to bring the game to a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, leading to a penalty shootout victory for United. This goal was also his first professional goal at Wembley Stadium.

For the 2007-08 season, Alex Ferguson implemented a rotation system involving Giggs and new signings Nani and Anderson. Giggs scored his 100th league goal for United against Derby County on December 8, 2007, in a 4-1 victory. He achieved further milestones: on February 20, 2008, he made his 100th appearance in the UEFA Champions League against Lyon. On May 11, 2008, he equaled Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for United by coming on as a substitute against Wigan Athletic, scoring the second goal in the match that secured United's 10th Premier League title. Ten days later, on May 21, 2008, Giggs broke Charlton's appearance record for United by entering as an 87th-minute substitute for Paul Scholes in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea. United won the final 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Giggs converting the decisive penalty in sudden death.

At the start of the 2008-09 campaign, Sir Alex Ferguson began deploying Giggs in a central midfield role, behind the forwards, rather than his customary wing position. Ferguson praised Giggs, stating that even at 35, he could be a key player due to his adapted, deeper role. Giggs also began working on his coaching badges, with Ferguson hinting at a future coaching role for him within the club. In February 2009, Giggs signed a one-year contract extension. After a successful season, Giggs was one of five Manchester United teammates nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. On April 26, 2009, he received the award, despite having started only 12 games that season, marking the first time in his career he had won this prestigious accolade. Ferguson publicly supported Giggs for the award, citing his long-term contribution to the game. On April 29, 2009, Giggs made his 800th appearance for Manchester United in a 1-0 Champions League semi-final win over Arsenal. On May 16, 2009, Manchester United secured the Premier League title after a 0-0 draw against Arsenal, marking Giggs' 11th Premier League winner's medal.

Giggs scored his first Manchester United hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against Hangzhou Greentown after coming on as a second-half substitute. On September 12, 2009, Giggs made his 700th start for United. He scored his 150th goal for United, becoming only the ninth player to do so for the club, against Wolfsburg in his first UEFA Champions League game of the season. On November 28, 2009, the eve of his 36th birthday, Giggs scored his 100th Premier League goal-all for Manchester United-in a 4-1 victory over Portsmouth, becoming only the 17th player to reach this milestone in the Premier League.

On November 30, 2009, a day after his 36th birthday, reports suggested Giggs would be offered an additional one-year contract, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010-11 season, which would see him pass the 20th anniversary of his debut. On the same day, Giggs was nominated for and subsequently won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009 award. On December 12, 2009, Giggs surpassed countryman Gary Speed's outfield record of 535 Premier League games. On December 18, 2009, he signed a new one-year contract, extending his stay until June 2011, making him one of the rare players to achieve 20 years of unbroken service with the same club. On December 31, 2009, Giggs was named the Manchester United Player of the Decade.

On April 24, 2010, Giggs scored the first league penalties of his career, netting two in a 3-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur. On August 16, 2010, Giggs maintained his record of scoring in every Premier League season since its inception, finding the net in United's 3-0 home victory over Newcastle United in their opening fixture of the new campaign. Having also scored in the final two seasons of the old Football League First Division, he had now scored in 21 successive top-division campaigns. On January 17, 2011, Giggs reached 600 league appearances (all for Manchester United) in a goalless draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Giggs signed a one-year contract extension on February 18, keeping him at the club until June 2012. On March 6, 2011, Giggs surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's Manchester United league appearance record by playing his 607th game against Liverpool. On April 26, against Schalke 04 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, Giggs scored the opening goal from a Wayne Rooney pass, becoming the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history at the time. Giggs also featured in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final, where Manchester United were defeated 3-1 by Barcelona.

Giggs made his first start of the 2011-12 season in the UEFA Champions League away at Benfica, scoring United's equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw, further extending his own record for the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history. He also became the first player to score in 16 different Champions League campaigns. On November 19, Giggs played a league game in his home country of Wales for the first time in his career, against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, in a 1-0 United win. He maintained his record of scoring in each of the past 22 top-flight seasons by scoring United's third goal against Fulham at Craven Cottage in a 5-0 win on December 21, his first league goal of the season. On February 10, 2012, Giggs signed another one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

On February 26, 2012, Giggs made his 900th appearance for Manchester United in a 2-1 away win against Norwich City, marking the occasion by scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute from an Ashley Young cross. After the match, Alex Ferguson remarked to BBC Sport that a player achieving 900 games for one club "won't be done again." By March 2011, Giggs had played with over 140 different players for the Manchester United first team.

On October 19, 2012, Giggs, just over a month shy of his 39th birthday, revealed to The Daily Telegraph his aspiration to transition into management after retiring as a player, while remaining undecided on whether he would continue playing beyond the current season.

Giggs scored his first Premier League goal of the 2012-13 season against Everton on February 10, 2013, in a 2-0 home win, extending his goalscoring streak to 23 consecutive seasons in the highest division, encompassing all 21 Premier League seasons. He signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United on March 1, 2013, keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2014. On March 5, Giggs made his 1,000th competitive appearance in a 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. On July 4, Giggs was appointed as player-coach by new manager David Moyes with immediate effect. Following Moyes' sacking in April 2014, Giggs stepped in as the club's interim player-manager.

On October 2, after coming on as a substitute against Shakhtar Donetsk, Giggs became the all-time leading appearance holder in European competition, surpassing Raúl, an achievement he described as "special." In November, Giggs celebrated his 40th birthday, leading to widespread praise from media outlets and football figures for his remarkable longevity as an active professional footballer.

Giggs officially announced his retirement from professional football on May 19, 2014, through an open letter to Manchester United fans published on the club's website. Upon his retirement, Giggs received numerous tributes for his career achievements and his incredible longevity in the sport.

4.1. England Schoolboys

Despite being born in Cardiff to Welsh parents, Giggs briefly captained the England Schoolboys team. It is a common misconception that this made him eligible for the senior England team. However, eligibility at the schoolboy level is determined solely by the location of the school, which in Giggs' case was Moorside High School in Salford. He played nine times for England Schoolboys, all as captain, winning seven matches and losing two, including a 4-0 victory over his Welsh peers. Giggs consistently maintained his desire to represent Wales, stating in 2002 that he would "rather go through my career without qualifying for a major championship than play for a country where I wasn't born or which my parents didn't have anything to do with." New rules introduced in October 2009 for the Home Nations' associations would have made Giggs eligible for England had he not already played for Wales in an official competition, but his stance remained firm.

4.2. Wales National Team

Giggs made his debut for the Wales Under-21s in May 1991, in a 2-1 victory over Poland in Warsaw. This was his sole appearance for the U21 team, as he received a call-up to the senior squad later that year.

He made his senior international debut for the Wales national team away to Germany on October 16, 1991, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Eric Young at the age of 17 years and 322 days. This made him the youngest player to appear for the Welsh senior team, a record he held until June 1998 when Ryan Green debuted at 17 years and 226 days. Wales was still in contention to qualify for UEFA Euro 1992 before the Germany game, but a 4-1 defeat meant the Germans qualified instead.

Giggs' first senior goal for Wales came on March 31, 1993, in a 3-0 win over Belgium in Cardiff during a World Cup qualifying match, the same game in which Ian Rush scored his record 24th goal for Wales.

Notably, after his international debut against Germany in 1991, Giggs missed 18 consecutive friendly games for Wales before finally making his first friendly appearance against Finland in March 2000, by which time he had already accumulated 25 caps. His consistent absence from non-competitive fixtures was largely attributed to a protective measure against unnecessary injuries, as explained in his autobiography, where he stated that playing two games in one week often led to injuries, and thus, friendly internationals were deemed non-essential. Regardless, his frequent withdrawals from Wales squads drew criticism.

In a qualifier against England for the 2006 FIFA World Cup at Old Trafford, which Wales lost 2-0, Giggs faced current and former Manchester United teammates including David Beckham, Gary Neville, and Wayne Rooney. During a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on October 12, 2005, Giggs scored a rare brace in a 2-0 win, but Wales ultimately failed to reach the play-offs.

In September 2006, he played in a friendly against Brazil at White Hart Lane, where Wales lost 2-0. Brazil coach Dunga complimented Giggs' performance, stating that he would not look out of place playing alongside stars like Kaká and Ronaldinho for the five-time world champions.

Giggs announced his retirement from international football on May 30, 2007, at a press conference, concluding a 16-year international career. He cited his desire to concentrate on his United career as the primary reason for stepping down. His final game for Wales, as captain, was the Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic on June 2 in Cardiff. He earned his 64th cap in this match and was awarded Man of the Match as Wales drew 0-0. In November, he was among the final three nominees for the Wales Player of the Year award, which was eventually won by Craig Bellamy.

In March 2010, Giggs hinted at a possible return from international retirement for Wales' UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign to cover for the injured Aaron Ramsey. However, he later clarified to BBC Radio Manchester that he would only return for emergency situations.

4.3. Great Britain Olympic Team

On June 28, 2012, Giggs was confirmed as one of the three over-age players selected for the Great Britain squad to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, alongside Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards. He was subsequently named the team captain.

He scored with a header against the United Arab Emirates in a 3-1 victory on July 29, making him the oldest goalscorer in the football competition at the Summer Olympics at the age of 38 years and 243 days. This achievement broke an 88-year-old record held by Egypt's Hussein Hegazi. Additionally, by participating in the same match, he became the oldest outfield Olympic footballer.

5.1. Manchester United

Giggs was appointed as a player-coach at Manchester United on July 4, 2013, joining the coaching staff under new manager David Moyes. When Moyes was sacked on April 22, 2014, after less than 10 months in the job, Giggs took over as the club's interim player-manager. He oversaw the final four games of the 2013-14 season, compiling a record of two wins, one draw, and one defeat. After his final match in charge, a 1-1 draw with Southampton, Giggs admitted to breaking down in tears due to the pressure of managing United and struggled with sleep during that period.

When Louis van Gaal was announced as Moyes' permanent replacement on May 19, 2014, Giggs was also appointed as Van Gaal's assistant manager. Giggs earned praise for giving first-team debuts to youngsters James Wilson and Tom Lawrence in a 3-1 victory over Hull City, a game in which he also brought himself on as a substitute for Lawrence. Many, including Louis van Gaal, suggested Giggs as the Dutchman's potential successor at Manchester United. However, following the appointment of José Mourinho, Giggs announced his departure from the club on July 2, 2016, after 29 years of association, seeking to pursue his own managerial ambitions.

5.2. Wales National Team

Giggs was appointed manager of the Wales national team on January 15, 2018, signing a four-year contract. He succeeded Chris Coleman, who had left for Sunderland the previous November. His first match in charge was a dominant 6-0 win over China during the 2018 China Cup, a game where Gareth Bale broke Ian Rush's all-time scoring record for Wales. Later that year, Wales participated in the UEFA Nations League, finishing behind Denmark with six points.

In 2019, Wales had a slow start to their qualifying group, accumulating only three points from three matches. However, they went unbeaten for the remainder of the year, culminating in a crucial 2-0 win over Hungary that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2020. The tournament was subsequently delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Giggs' next matches in charge during the UEFA Nations League campaign were played behind closed doors. His final match as manager was a 1-0 win over Bulgaria on October 14, 2020.

On November 3, 2020, following Giggs' arrest on assault charges, his assistant manager Rob Page was appointed as caretaker manager. On June 20, 2022, it was announced that Giggs would step down from his position as Wales manager due to his upcoming trial related to the assault allegations. Rob Page was subsequently named as his permanent successor.

8.1. Family and Relationships

Giggs is the son of former rugby union and Wales international rugby league footballer Danny Wilson. He was christened Ryan Joseph Wilson but changed his surname to his mother's, Giggs, as a teenager after his parents separated. He is said to have inherited his balance and athleticism from his father. He is also a distant cousin of the Barbados international footballer Curtis Hutson.

Giggs married his long-time partner, Stacey Cooke, in a private ceremony on September 7, 2007. They have two children, both born in Salford, and previously resided in Worsley, Greater Manchester, near where Giggs grew up. However, Giggs and Cooke divorced in 2017. His son, Zach Giggs, is also a footballer.

Giggs was involved in an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri's wife, Natasha. This affair led to a significant public fallout and caused members of Giggs' family to repudiate their former ties to him. Following Ryan's appointment as manager of the Wales national team, his father, Danny, publicly expressed his shame, stating he could "not even bring myself to use his name."

8.2. Activism

In August 2006, Giggs was appointed an ambassador for UNICEF UK. This recognition was for his work with Manchester United's 'United for UNICEF' partnership with the children's organization. As part of his role, Giggs visited UNICEF projects in Thailand. He told the BBC, "As a footballer I can't imagine life without the use of one of my legs... Sadly this is exactly what happens to thousands of children every year when they accidentally step on a landmine."

9.1. Business Ventures

In October 2010, Giggs expressed his intention to "probably finish [his] career here [Old Trafford]" and stated that he could not envision himself "dropping down leagues and playing at a lesser level." He voiced his desire to enter coaching, describing the management of Manchester United or Wales as "the two ultimate jobs," and confirmed he was halfway through his UEFA 'A' coaching licence.

Gary Neville, ahead of his 2011 testimonial match, announced plans to use the proceeds to establish a supporters club and hotel near Old Trafford. Despite objections from Manchester United, Trafford Council approved the hotel project in 2012. In 2013, Giggs and Neville launched a hospitality company named GG Hospitality, with ambitions to establish football-themed hotels and cafés across the United Kingdom, initially focusing on Manchester and London. Their first venture was Café Football, a football-themed restaurant in Stratford, London, which opened in November 2013. Hotel Football, which evolved from Neville's earlier supporters club concept, was scheduled to open in late 2014.

In 2014, it was announced that Giggs, along with fellow former Manchester United players Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville, had agreed to purchase Salford City ahead of the 2014-15 season. Their stated aim was to guide the club into the Football League. The group also confirmed their participation in a special friendly match, with Salford City facing a team composed of "The Class of '92" members. On September 22, the group sold a 50% stake in the club to Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim.

In September 2017, Giggs, alongside former United teammates like Gary Neville, proposed the establishment of University Academy 92 in Greater Manchester. This institution would offer "broader courses than traditional degrees" and aim to attract students who might otherwise not pursue higher education.

9.2. Football Advisory and Development Roles

In November 2017, it was reported that Giggs had signed a two-year consultancy deal with the Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talents FC (PVF) in Vietnam. This agreement involved Giggs making two trips per year to Vietnam to provide his expertise.

10.1. Privacy Injunction (Gagging Order)

In May 2011, non-UK media outlets identified Giggs as the individual referred to as CTB in CTB v News Group Newspapers. This legal case involved a footballer who had obtained an anonymized gagging order to prevent publication of details regarding an alleged extra-marital affair with model Imogen Thomas. Giggs took further legal action against the social networking site Twitter after his identity was revealed by a user in a list of individuals who had allegedly secured such "super-injunctions." A blogger for Forbes magazine noted that Giggs had "not heard of the Streisand effect," observing a significant increase in mentions of his name after the Twitter lawsuit became public.

On May 22, 2011, the Sunday Herald, a Scottish newspaper, published a thinly-disguised photograph of Giggs on its front page, with the word "CENSORED" covering his eyes. Richard Walker, the editor of the Sunday Herald, stated that the London High Court ruling had no force in Scotland, unless copies of the paper were sold in England or Wales. The gagging order sparked a political controversy on May 23, with then-Prime Minister David Cameron commenting that the law should be reviewed to "catch up with how people consume media today." On the same day, Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming used parliamentary privilege to name Giggs as CTB in Parliament.

10.2. Assault Allegations and Trial

On November 3, 2020, Giggs was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault: one against his ex-girlfriend, Kate Greville, and another against her younger sister, Emma. He denied all the charges against him.

In April 2021, he was formally charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to Kate Greville and common assault against Emma Greville. He was also charged with coercive and controlling behaviour against Kate. On April 28, he appeared in court and maintained his denial of the charges.

His trial commenced on August 8, 2022. The jury, consisting of seven women and four men, was discharged on August 31 after being unable to reach a verdict on any of the charges. On July 18, 2023, just two weeks before a scheduled retrial, Giggs was cleared of all charges when the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the case. The prosecutor explained that Kate Greville was unwilling to provide evidence in the retrial.

11.1. Club Honours

With Manchester United, Giggs achieved an extraordinary collection of titles:

• Premier League (13): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13
• FA Cup (4): 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
• League Cup (4): 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10
• FA Community Shield (9): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013
• UEFA Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08
• UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991
• Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

11.2. Individual Awards

Giggs received widespread individual recognition throughout his career:

• Bravo Award: 1993
• PFA Young Player of the Year: 1991-92, 1992-93
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2008-09
• PFA Team of the Year: 1992-93 Premier League, 1997-98 Premier League, 2000-01 Premier League, 2001-02 Premier League, 2006-07 Premier League, 2008-09 Premier League
• PFA Team of the Century: 1997-2007
• PFA Merit Award: 2016
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2009
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1996, 2009
• BBC Goal of the Season: 1998-99
• Welsh Footballer of the Year: 1996, 2006
• GQ Sportsman of the Year: 2010
• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 1997-98
• Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 1990-91, 1991-92
• Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2005-06
• Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992-93 to 2001-02): Overall Team of the Decade, Domestic Team of the Decade
• Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992-93 to 2011-12): Best Player, Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons public and panel choice, Most Player Appearances (596)
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 2006, February 2007
• UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2006-07
• English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2005
• Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award: 1999
• Golden Foot: 2011
• Globe Soccer Awards Player Career Award: 2019
• One Club Award: 2020
• FWA Tribute Award: 2007
• IFFHS Legends
• Ballon d'Or: 8th place (1997)
• Football League 100 Legends
• 20th Century's Greatest Football Players: 83rd

11.3. Records

Ryan Giggs holds several significant football records, highlighting his unique longevity and impact:

• He has won a record 13 top-division English league titles as a player, and is the only Manchester United player to have winner's medals from all 13 Premier League title triumphs.
• Most Premier League appearances for an outfield player, with 632 (since surpassed by Gareth Barry).
• Most Premier League assists for a player, with 162.
• Most UEFA Champions League assists for a player, with 41.
• Only player to have played in 22 successive Premier League seasons.
• Only player to have scored in 21 successive Premier League seasons.
• First player to have scored in 17 different Champions League tournaments (including 11 consecutive tournaments, 1996-97 to 2006-07; Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema have a better record with 18).
• Most goals by a British player in the Champions League/European Cup proper history (not including preliminary rounds).
• Most appearances by a Manchester United player, with 963.
• Most starts by a Manchester United player, with 794 starts.
• First player to score 100 Premier League goals for Manchester United.
• Second midfielder to have scored 100 goals in the Premier League for a single club (first being Matt Le Tissier).
• One of four Manchester United players to win two Champions League titles (the others being Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, and Wes Brown). He is the only player to play in both winning finals.
• Oldest player (37 years, 289 days) to score in the Champions League, when he scored against Benfica on September 14, 2011.
• One of two Manchester United players to win at least 10 top-division medals (the other being Paul Scholes).
• Oldest player (38 years, 243 days) to score in the Football competition at the Summer Olympics, when he scored against the United Arab Emirates on July 29, 2012.

11.4. State and civic honours

• OBE for services to football: 2007.
• Honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Salford for contributions to football and charity work in developing countries: 2008.
• Freedom of the City of Salford: January 7, 2010. He is the 22nd person to receive this honor.

12.1. Club

12.2. International

The table below details Ryan Giggs' international goals for Wales and Great Britain Olympic team.

12.3. Managerial