Ryan Giggs CBE
Winger / Midfielder · Manchester United · Wales
About Ryan Giggs CBE
Ryan Giggs is the most decorated footballer in British history, winning 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United across a career spanning 24 years. He made his debut at 17 under Sir Alex Ferguson and retired under David Moyes at 40 — serving under six different United managers. His longevity, fitness, and adaptability rank among the most remarkable achievements in football history.
Ryan Giggs CBE's story
Cardiff to Old Trafford
Giggs was born in Cardiff (WAL) and grew up in Salford after his family moved north. He played as a schoolboy for Manchester City's youth team before Alex Ferguson personally recruited him to United at 13. He made his debut at 17 and was immediately recognised as an extraordinary talent.
24 Years at the Top
Across 24 seasons, Giggs transformed from a lightning-quick winger who tormented Premier League defences to a brilliant central midfielder whose intelligence and fitness allowed him to play at the highest level into his late 30s. He is the only player to have scored in every Premier League season from 1992 to 2013.
Personal Controversies
His later career was overshadowed by revelations about affairs with his brother's wife and other women. He was charged with assault in 2021 — a case that was eventually discharged. He was stripped of the Wales managership in 2022. He has two children from his marriage to Stacey Cooke, which ended in 2017.
Did you know?
- 🏆 Giggs won 13 Premier League titles — more than any player in the history of English football by a significant margin.
- ⚽ He is the only player to have scored in every season of the Premier League's existence, from 1992–93 through to 2012–13 — 21 consecutive seasons.
- 👨👩👧👦 Married Stacey Cooke in 2007 and divorced in 2017; they have a daughter, Liberty Rose, and a son, Zachary. He later entered a relationship with Kate Greville.
- 🌹 His dribble goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay — spinning past five players before scoring — is widely voted the greatest individual goal in FA Cup history.
- 📏 He served under 14 different managers at Manchester United if you count caretaker roles — and was first-choice for every single one of them.
- 🎖️ He was awarded an OBE in 2007 and a CBE in 2016 — the latter while still under criminal investigation, which caused significant controversy.
- ⚡ As a teenager his pace was so exceptional that he could run the length of the pitch in under 11 seconds while carrying the ball — faster than many dedicated sprinters.
- 🏴 Despite his success with Manchester United, Giggs never played at a major international tournament — Wales failed to qualify every time during his career.
- 🤝 He later became United's assistant manager under Louis van Gaal (2014-16), earning him the distinction of being involved with the club in six different decades.
Honours
- Premier League x13: Manchester United (1993–2013)
- UEFA Champions League x2: Manchester United (1999, 2008)
- FA Cup x4: Manchester United (1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)
- PFA Young Player of the Year x2: 1992, 1993
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2009
See the full Ryan Giggs CBE profile
Stats, photo gallery, what the press are saying and the daily challenge, free on DailyPlayer.
Open the full profile