In 1990 the two best players in the World were Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona. In the ’90 World Cup West Germany, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia all advanced to the quarter finals, with With Germany taking home the cup. International superstars David Beckham and Ronaldo had yet to make their entrance on the senior stage, but a young Welshman named Ryan Giggs made was introduced to the world in his debut for Manchester United.
In the 19 years that have passed since then, Matthaus and Maradona have either faded into obscurity or flamed into infamy. West Germany, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia no longer exist, and Beckham and Ronaldo are languishing on mediocre teams in second or third tier leagues. Giggs, on the other hand, is still starting for arguably the best team on the planet and is on the short list for the World Player of the Year.
The chips are stacked against a player being able to play at a high level for this long, now more than ever. The game is faster, the players are larger and more athletic, top players will end up playing many more games over the course of a season, what with international duty, the league cup, charity tournaments and European competitions, as Giggs has turned in over 800 senior level appearances, almost 200 more than another famous Welshman Ian Rush and his renowned mustache, and all of Giggs’ have been at the highest level. Rush, whose senior career spanned two more years than Giggs’ has to date, included spells at such illustrious clubs as Chester City, Wrexham, and Sydney Olympic.
In addition to growing into perhaps the finest left winger in the history of the game with his tremendous work rate, technical ability and raw speed, Giggs has also spent the last 19 years gathering more awards and honors than another player in United history. This last year he has smoothly transitioned from the position he has practically defined out on the wing to a central role directing the attack from behind the strikers. In fact, just about the only thing that Ryan Giggs hasn’t done is answer the question of why some players age with such grace and others, and the list is long, disappear behind the haze of injury, revelry, and most inevitably, age itself (see: Michael Owen, Ronaldinho, and Alan Shearer).
On behalf of the footballing public, I would like to offer thanks to Ryan Giggs for all that he has done for the sport, for his selfless loyalty to his club, for his dazzling runs down the wing, for never making headlines for off the field antics, and for giving the rest of us a reason to watch United, despite however we may feel towards the team on the whole. Thank you, Ryan Giggs. It has been a pleasure.
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6 comments:
Matthias=Matthaus
Ronaldo has appeared in 97 international matches, amassing 62 goals and standing 15 goals away from the Brazilian national scoring record. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994, and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller's previous record of 14. Let's forget that due to Giggs handicap internationally. Ronaldo had over 160 goals in a 10 year span for Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter. 3 time FIFA footballer of the Year, 2 time European Footballer of the Year.
Matthaus played 21 years, FIFA player of the year. scored more goals than Giggs playing mdf and sweeper in in the mid 13 years of his career than Giggs did his entire career and still coaches.
I am sure Giggs would be the first one to tell you that he doesn't belong in the same breath, but coaching Argentina is not a bad gig currently. Maradona was voted player of the Century.
Ryan Giggs is great player who is fit and durable...as a fan of football I did not know that...thanks!!!!What an original blog! What new insight will you give me next week...Karl Malone was a good power forward...grass is green...There is nothing selfless about staying on a well paying team that wins all the time for good money. He's better than Beckham? My 5 year old son knows that. Your blog is so edgy...I can't wait for the long awaited tribute to chocolate ice cream; oft unsung, underrated, and unappreciated. His name is Ryan...hey your name is Ryan!!!Cool!Thanks again Larry King for the earth shattering news about Giggs!
Anonymus,
As much as we all enjoy your artful mastery of the ellipses, at no point did I imply that Giggs was on the same tier as Maradona, Matthaus, or Ronaldo. Though your trenchant points and deft wit are well taken, the point of the blog was a mere reflection on a career of length and consistent quality.
You mean a fluff piece not a blog because blogs are meant to look at things from the author's hopefully different and original viewpoint. Looking forward to reading "Water: The wettest of the elements."
Hilarious... I must know this man....
Giggs...the first healthy "player of the year" candidate to not start in a Champions League quarterfinal. Don't respond...I don't want to interrupt your next enlightening piece of prose "Ryan Giggs: A brief appearance in an important game."
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