Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs admitted that he had to “thank” in “part” one legendary footballing figure for helping him “re-examine” himself as a player.
One of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ breakout stars, the former Manchester United and Wales star enjoyed incredible success during his legendary spell at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs spent his entire professional playing career at United and the 51-year-old Welshman spent the large majority of his Red Devils spell under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The United legend rose through the ranks of the youth academy in the 1990s and became a mainstay in the Red Devils first team thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Giggs had a prolific playing career at United and the Class of ’92 star was a key part of the iconic treble-winning Red Devils team in the 1998-99 campaign.
During his time at Old Trafford, the former United winger lifted all 13 of the Red Devils’ Premier League titles and captured two Champions League trophies.
Giggs’ major silverware haul also included four FA Cups and four League Cups, with the Red Devils legend considered one of the best Premier League players of all time.
More United News
The former Wales international played under ex-United manager David Moyes after Ferguson’s retirement as a player-coach before replacing the Scotsman temporarily.
David Moyes’ sacking in 2014 saw Giggs become interim player-manager before the Welshman called it time on his career at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.
READ MORE: Paul Scholes’ world-class ability and creativity would be non-existent in one Man Utd team, he pointed out fatal flaw
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
What Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs experienced changed his entire perspective
Sir Alex Ferguson turned to the experienced Ryan Giggs and played the former Manchester United star in midfield for the 2009 Champions League final.
The Red Devils came up against Pep Guardiola’s famous Barcelona side in the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and United would lose 2-0 on the night.
Giggs saw out 75 minutes on the pitch before Ferguson withdrew him and replaced him with fellow United legend Paul Scholes for the remainder of the clash.
Speaking in The Daily Telegraph, the former United and Wales player admitted that he considered retiring from the sport after the 2009 Champions League final defeat.
“My emotions were quite overwhelming at the time but over the course of the summer they subsided and eventually I recognised them for what they were – the extreme reaction to a defeat in the biggest game of all, a Champions League final,” he said in 2016.
“I was 35 back then in 2009 and I would go on to play another five seasons for United.
“I am glad I did not miss out on all the experiences and the three major trophies that followed.”
READ MORE: Nicky Butt tells Man Utd fans ‘one thing’ that came from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interview, his clear-cut position speaks volumes
Man Utd icon Ryan Giggs pointed out the impact that Barcelona legend Pep Guardiola had on him
Fast-forward to the 2011 Champions League final and Ferguson’s United side would once again fall short to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team at Wembley.
Giggs started again in midfield and the United legend saw out the full 90 minutes, with Barcelona inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Red Devils in the Champions League final.
The former Wales boss admitted that the impact that Guardiola had on him meant that he had to put the “measures” in place to keep playing at the top level.
“I resolved then never to make decisions quickly in football, but to take my time and see how life panned out,” Giggs continued.
“That defeat made me re-examine my game and ask myself what I could do to improve.
“Perhaps I have Guardiola in part to thank for the measures I took to stay at the top for those last five years.
“Although I know now, as I knew then, that I never want to feel the way about football I did that May night in Rome seven years ago.”
Giggs later pursued a career in coaching and management and he has been out of the managerial dugout since his time with Wales came to an end in 2020.