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One Club Man

19 reasons why Ryan Giggs is a footballing legend

The Manchester United veteran called time on his playing career in order to become Louis van Gaal’s assistant yesterday.

1. His goal against Arsenal

Jordan Long / YouTube

YouTube credit: Jordan Long

2. Gary Lineker played against him

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3. Giggs had been playing first-team football at United for four years when Adnan Januzaj was born

image(Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images)

4. His very manly chest

image(Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)

5. His Secrets and Skills video

chongsiu2000 / YouTube

chongsiu2000 / YouTube

YouTube credit: chongsiu2000

6. His surprise Countdown appearance

 

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YouTube credit: Beanyman62Sports

7. His career provides endless scope for montages

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YouTube credit: stevenjvd

8. He has made more Champions League appearances than any other player

image(Martin Meissner/AP/Press Association Images)

9. Even as a youngster, he was scoring incredible goals

MU FC / YouTube

YouTube credit: MU FC

10. His emotional reaction to United winning the league in 2013/Ferguson retiring

image(Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)

11. He’s a big fan of the current Ireland assistant boss

RyanGiggsOBE / YouTube

YouTube credit: RyanGiggsOBE

(From 1.10 onwards)

12. He was around when black-and-white photographs were still being taken

image(Mike Brett/Mike Brett/Press Association Images)

13. His unique celebrations with Incey

image(Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport)

14. Himself and Scholes were a combined age of 75 when they were both in the team at one point

image(Eamonn & James Clarke/Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment)

15. He was part of the famous Class of 92

image(Eamonn and James Clarke/Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment)

16. Alessandro Del Piero once famously said that watching Giggs made him cry

image(Matthew Ashton/EMPICS Sport)

17. The hard evidence for Giggs’ greatness

Giggs has made 965 appearances for United since his debut in 1991. He has the record number of Premier League winner’s medals — 13, the most Champions League campaigns — 20, the most Premier League appearances and most appearances for one club — 672, he has appeared in the most seasons — 22, the first player to be named Young Player of the Year two seasons in a row, the most consecutive seasons to score at least one goal — 21. He is also 19th in the list of all-time Premier League scorers — 114 goals (168 overall). He has won 4 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions Leagues.

18. Despite turning 40 last November, we still think of him as ‘the boy wonder’

image(John Marsh/EMPICS Sport)

19. He took over as interim manager when David Moyes departed

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester United v Norwich City - Old Trafford Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

A version of this article was originally published on 28 November

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