Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs was blown away by the quality of two legendary teams he crossed paths with in his remarkable playing career at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs spent his entire club playing career at Old Trafford and is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League players of all time.
The 51-year-old Manchester United legend came through the Red Devils’ youth academy before breaking into the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s.
Giggs spent the majority of his United career under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and was a key senior figure for the legendary Scotsman.
One of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ stars, the former United winger went on to eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton as the Red Devils’ all-time leading appearance-maker.
During his legendary spell at Old Trafford, Giggs lifted 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and four League Cups with United.
The ex-Wales international played for one season after Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 as a player-coach under former United manager David Moyes.
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Salford City coach Ryan Giggs during the EFL League Two match between Salford City and Bromley at the Peninsula Stadium on February 04, 2025 in Sal...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Man Utd legend Giggs on two teams
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs opened up about his deep-seated admiration for one legendary Arsenal team of the past.
Sir Alex Ferguson shared a legendary rivalry with iconic former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during the Premier League era.
United narrowly edged out Arsenal to the Premier League title by a single point during their famous 1998-99 continental treble-winning season.
Giggs played a key role in United’s memorable treble-winning side and the Welshman was in awe at the Gunners squad they competed against that season.
The former Wales star also admitted that he felt Jose Mourinho’s former Chelsea team were a “tough” team to play against in his career.
Jose Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea saw him challenge Ferguson’s dominance over English football and the ‘Special One’ achieved incredible success with the Blues.
However, Giggs felt that the “experienced” 1998-99 Arsenal team “could do everything” compared to Mourinho’s legendary Blues side.
“They [Arsenal’s 1998-99 side] had such an experienced team,” he said, as per The Daily Mirror in 2020.
“Obviously, at the back, the famous back five but in front of them had a bit of everything.
“They had power, they had pace, imagination with Dennis Bergkamp, goals and penetration with Nicolas Anelka. I agree with you [Gary Neville] they were the toughest team to play against.
“I mean, Jose’s Chelsea team were tough in a different way; they were pragmatic and tough to break down but Arsenal could do everything.
“They were similar to ourselves they could build up, could counterattack, they were similar, right through the spine they were so strong right from the goalkeeper through to Bergkamp and Anelka.”
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Man Utd legend Ferguson on Wenger rivalry
Ferguson paid the ultimate tribute to Arsene Wenger when the ex-Arsenal manager bowed out of the Emirates and said he was “proud to have been a rival” for him.
“I am really happy for Arsene Wenger,” he said in 2018, as per Sky Sports.
“I have great respect for him and for the job he has done at Arsenal.
“It is a great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that he has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job he loves.”
Ferguson added: “He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.”