Ryan Giggs' name is written in Manchester United folklore, having spent 24 years playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at the Theatre of Dreams, and the Welsh wideman played with all manner of spectacular talent. But among the Wayne Rooney's and Paul Scholes' of the world, Giggs also lined up alongside players who were far less talented than the aforementioned duo.
A member of the celebrated Class of '92 alongside David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and the like, Giggs was a dazzling winger who initially started his career in Manchester City's youth ranks. It wasn't long before he was consumed by the red half of the football-crazed city, however, and he became one of the Premier League's most legendary players.
Of course, the Welshman's career was littered with silverware – including 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and a total of four FA Cups – and the fact that he spent his entire career at United during Ferguson's dynasty means that he will forever be remembered. But who, in the eyes of the 51-year-old, is the worst player he ever lined up alongside?
Ryan Giggs Names Worst Man Utd Teammate of All Time
ryan giggs man utd
It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows for Cardiff-born Giggs, who reverted to being an energetic central midfielder in the concluding stages of his lengthy, 963-match Old Trafford career, though – and there were a few of his teammates who were not up for the job of playing under Ferguson and his entourage in a period of sheer dominance.
William Prunier, who spent a large chunk of his career in his homeland of France, was one of them and Giggs recently named the Frenchman as his worst-ever teammate. Daily Mail journalist Riath Al-Samarrai attended 'An Evening With Wes Brown, John O'Shea and Ryan Giggs' at Hotel Football on November 21 as he revealed all. Al-Samarrai wrote:
"William Prunier, a Frenchman given two games on trial across the pavement at Old Trafford in the Nineties, came off less well – Giggs named him as the worst player he saw at the club."
william prunier
Under Ferguson's watchful eye, Prunier played just twice – two 90-minute cameos in the Premier League against London duo Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur – before never stepping foot on the pitch for the club again. For reference: Giggs, too, played 180 minutes across the two league outings and had a front row view of Prunier.
Prunier's Career Outside of Man Utd Spell
prunier manchester united
Prunier, who is widely recognised as one of the worst players in the history of the Premier League, came through Auxerre’s academy alongside the iconic Eric Cantona and spent most of his career in Burgundy as a generally well-respected central defender who picked up a solitary cap for France in 1992 – a 2-0 loss to Brazil in an international friendly.
How the now-58-year-old worked his way onto the radar of Ferguson and other Old Trafford boardroom bosses isn't clear, though Cantona's influence is said to have been influential in his move from Bordeaux to United in 1995 on loan.
William Prunier – Club Career Statistics
Club
AJ Auxerre
FC Toulouse
FC Girondins Bordeaux
Olympique Marseille
Montpellier HSC
KV Kortrijk
Napoli
Manchester United
Copenhagen
In 1996, just one year after he moved to England, it was back to France for Prunier as he re-joined Bordeaux. Another loan spell beckoned, this time in Denmark for Copenhagen, and he spent the remainder of his career dotting about Europe for the likes of Montpellier, Napoli, K.V. Kortrijk and Toulouse. For the final six months of his career, he played for Al-Sailiya in Qatar.
Ferguson Labelled Prunier's Signing As a 'Disaster'
Sir Alex Ferguson cast his verdict on Freddy Adu
Giggs was not the only notable figure who was not impressed by the French defender, as Ferguson, who had been one of the many architects in his loan move, also looked back at his ill-fated spell in disappointment. Compared to additions that went above and beyond, there were very few transfer market misses during the Scot's time in the dugout.
But Prunier was one of them, as he later revealed in his 2015 autobiography. Per talkSPORT, he wrote: "William Prunier was another one I was mocked for. Even Patrice Evra, in that high-pitched way, said to me one day: 'Boss, did you have William Prunier?' Ryan Giggs' face dropped as he waited for the response.
"'Aye, we had him on trial once,' I snapped. 'On trial?' Evra squeaked back. He was not going to let it drop. 'Yes, and it was a disaster!'" Even Ferguson, a master of his craft, admitted his wrongdoings. Incredibly, Prunier attempted to follow in the footsteps of the United boss as, following his retirement in 2004, he stepped into coaching. As of today, he's the manager of US Chauvingy in France.
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 26/11/2025