Staff : First team : Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs is the club’s most decorated player with 17 major honours, yet he might never have graced Old Trafford had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s intervention.

Cardiff-born Giggs was attending Manchester City's School of Excellence in his early teens, but Sir Alex made a personal visit to his house on his 14th birthday and Ryan jumped at the chance to sign for his boyhood club.

He turned professional at United in November 1990. He made his League debut in the old Division One against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 as a substitute for Denis Irwin.

The following season his first League start proved a memorable occasion, scoring his first ever United goal (albeit via a deflection) in a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Injury to Lee Sharpe enabled Giggs to pin down a regular place at the start of the 1991/92 campaign, thanks to his mesmerising dribbling skills and blistering pace.

His first trophy arrived in April 1992 as United beat Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final, and the following season saw Giggs claim the first of his eight Premiership winners’ medals.

Giggs’ impressive trophy haul contains European Cup, European Super Cup and Inter-Continental Cup winners’ medals, while he has played a part in four of Sir Alex Ferguson's five FA Cup triumphs. The prestigious cup competition will forever be synonymous with the Reds winger after his superb solo effort in the semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park in April 1999.

Ryan celebrated 10 years at Old Trafford with a testimonial match against Celtic in 2001/02. The milestones keep coming; a year later he bagged his 100th career goal in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, while the 2-1 win over Liverpool in September 2004 saw him become only the third player to play 600 games for United alongside Sir Bobby Charlton (759) and Bill Foulkes (688).

He made his 700th appearance in a red shirt against the same opposition in March 2007 as the Reds sealed a dramatic injury-time victory at Anfield thanks to John O'Shea's winner.

Ryan's current deal expires in July 2008, giving him every chance of catching Charlton’s huge appearance total.

Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 710
Goals: 140
Joined United: 09 Jul 1990
Transfer Fee: None
Previous Clubs: None
United Debut: 02 Mar 1991 v Everton (H)
International Wales