Giggs celebrates milestone

By taking to the field at Anfield on Sunday, Ryan Giggs officially became Manchester United's most dedicated servant, overtaking the great Sir Bobby Charlton's record of club appearances. That he did it from the first whistle to the last, even crossing for Javier Hernandez's consolation goal is even more impressive – and only goes to show that the Welsh Wizard is far from being finished.

Although in recent seasons he has undoubtedly lost that extra yard of pace which has made him the scourge of defenders throughout Europe since he broke through to the Manchester United first team back in 1992, it is no surprise that his arrival as a regular attraction for the Old Trafford faithful has coincided with their revival and subsequent dominance of the Premier League. In his nineteen years playing for the club, Giggs has won it all: eleven Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups, eight Community Shields, two Champions Leagues, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and a FIFA World Club Cup – that such a haul can possibly adorn the walls of just one player is quite astonishing.



Coming through a youth set-up which also boasted the emerging talents of the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt, Giggs is arguably the only player who still remains a true force to be reckoned with - a point underlined by the fact that he has just signed a contract extension at Old Trafford whereas of Fergie's other Fledglings have either flown the nest or are week-by-week fading before our very eyes.



The truth is that Ryan Giggs has learned the hard way that a career as an athlete is not something that one can take for granted – no matter how much success you've enjoyed or are enjoying. Having shed his wild party-child image of the early nineties, he knuckled down into a strict diet and exercise regime which has seen him continue to play at the highest level for nearly two decades, and remains a role model for any athlete – be they an up-and-coming starlet, or an old-timer begrudgingly winding down their careers.