Giggs makes his Man Utd debut

By Peter Shuttleworth

Ryan Giggs was the talk of the Premier League 20 years ago - and it seems nothing has changed.

The footballing grapevine was buzzing with anticipation ahead of Giggs' Manchester United debut against Everton on 2 March 1991.

And on 2 March 2011 the game is still enjoying Giggs' talents as it notes another milestone equalled - and soon to be passed - by a type of footballer these shores may never see again.

While it would be easy to be blase about Giggs' latest record - he joined Sir Bobby Charlton on 606 league appearances for United when he came on as a substitute against Chelsea on Tuesday - fellow Welsh sporting legend Joe Calzaghe considers it a remarkable achievement.

The retired boxer, who like Giggs is a former winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, said: "His longevity is incredible.

"But he hasn't just played 20 years for anyone, Giggsy has played regularly at a consistently world-class standard for the greatest football team in the world.

PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT RYAN GIGGS Age: 37 Manchester United appearances (goals): 863 (158) Wales caps (goals): 64 (12) Any other business: 2009 PFA Player of the Year, 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, record Man Utd and Premier League appearance holder and OBE JOE CALZAGHE Age: 38 Pro wins (knockouts): 46 (32) WBO super-middleweight title defences: 21 The Ring Magazine light-heavyweight title wins: 2 Any other business: 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Ring Magazine top-10 pound-for-pound boxer

"That is an awesome achievement. He takes his sport and position as a role model seriously. He is not one of these guys who courts publicity and gets himself in trouble. That is what a top sportsman should be about.

"Giggs is the whole package - and there are precious few of them in football. He has been around so long, I can't imagine football without him."

Boxing great Calzaghe, an unbeaten two-weight world champion, is a football fanatic and Giggs, to him, is a hero.

The once undisputed super-middleweight king ruled his division for a record 11 years before relinquishing his title to beat two great Americans at light-heavyweight in the United States.

Once Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr were demolished, Calzaghe had the luxury of retiring on his own terms in February 2009 with his 15-year, 46-fight unblemished record in tact - an extremely rare feat in fighting.

But a one-club footballer is even more scarce in this 21st Century world.

Giggs is one of only a few Welsh sports stars to have won more silverware than the man regarded as Wales' finest pugilist.

The 37-year-old, who has 48 medals (including ones for finishing as a runner-up), has long been British football's most decorated player, with an impressive list that includes two European crowns, four FA and League Cup wins apiece, a record 11 championship titles and an OBE.

Giggs, a nine-time PFA team of the year member, has the distinction of being the only player to score in every Premier League campaign and has been on target in a record 11 consecutive Champions League tournaments.

And his professional United career began 863 games ago - two-and-a-half years before Calzaghe's own pro debut against Paul Hanlon in October 1993.

To put Giggs' longevity further into context, the Premier League's first teenage sensation made his professional debut nine months before the division's latest bright prospect, Arsenal's England midfielder Jack Wilshere, was even born.

"Ryan Giggs is a consummate professional and a role model to how you should be as a professional sportsman," said Calzaghe.

"He is not just a great player but, similar to myself, has enjoyed great longevity in his sport.

"For me, it is not just about being a great sportsman but how long you stay at the top.

"So many sportsmen are great for only a year or two then fade away.

"To stay at the top, and to be an integral part of a Manchester United team that has been the greatest team in the world for the whole time he has been there, is amazing.

"To still have the skill, the speed, the desire and cutting edge is a credit to his professionalism and dedication.

"But he has continued to adapt over the years to keep himself at the top; he is more of a playmaker these days rather than an out-and-out winger.

"He is awesome and a great ambassador for football and we should be proud that he is Welsh."

Wales boast very few global sporting superstars so there is incredible mutual respect between the country's two idols of their generation.

Indeed, Calzaghe and Giggs were team-mates when their Rest of the World XI beat England in the 2010 Soccer Aid fundraising match at Old Trafford.

Giggs may have a wonder-goal back catalogue to rival any but it was Calzaghe who scored in the 2-2 draw and also in their successful penalty shoot-out.

"It was a huge honour and pleasure as a football fan to play on the same team as him and spend the week with Ryan," said Calzaghe.

"Not many people can say they played on the same football team as Giggs, Zidane, Figo and Austin Powers!

"But Giggs is a great guy and a huge boxing fan and watched me fight a lot back in the day.

"He presented me with a signed shirt and a pair of his limited edition boots after the Soccer Aid game. It was awesome, I was like a kid at Christmas."

So it seems that the more football has changed over the last 20 years, the more it has stayed the same.

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