Ryan Giggs Debut Aniversary: 23 years and counting

March 1, 2014
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from ManUtd.com
The football landscape is dotted with milestones marked out by Ryan Giggs; records broken, history rewritten, standards set seemingly impossibly high for those following in his far-reaching footsteps.
 
It's easy to become blasé about just another landmark for our remarkable Welshman. Yet, on 2 March it will be 23 years since Giggs made his United debut – it's no neat, round figure, unlike celebrating his 40th birthday, but it's impressive nonetheless.
 
Giggsy stepped off the Old Trafford bench in March 1991 during a 2-0 defeat at home to Everton and, although he made just one more appearance that term – a start and 'goal' in a 1-0 win over Manchester City, though today's party-pooping dubious goals panel would have something to say about it – a star was born. Few inside Old Trafford at either match could feasibly have envisaged that rakish teenage winger with a shock of black hair still strutting his stuff 23 years later, a trail of glory and unforgettable memories in his slipstream.
 
But what more can be said about a player of Ryan Giggs' calibre and accomplishments? He exhausted all superlatives some time ago, so for this latest recognition of his longevity, we've decided to detail how life and the lay of the football land has changed in Ryan's 23 years as a first team player...
 
United team to face Everton Les Sealey, Denis Irwin (Ryan Giggs 35), Gary Pallister, Mal Donaghy, Lee Martin (Russell Beardsmore 70), Clayton Blackmore, Paul Ince, Darren Ferguson, Lee Sharpe, Danny Wallace, Brian McClair – Donaghy was the oldest Red on duty that day. He's now 56.
 
A star is born Giggs entered the fray following injury to Denis Irwin. A minute earlier United were 1-0 down and four minutes later trailed 2-0. But The Observer described Giggs as "a wiry 17-year-old recently given a five-year contract and the most talked-about prospect at Old Trafford since Norman Whiteside." The Independent added: "The game was running away from United [but] his touch was sure and he created a chance for Wallace with an impressive turn and left-footed cross 10 minutes from the end."
 
Attendance 45,656
 
Change of fortunes Of the 20 Division One teams that season, Luton Town have suffered the furthest fall from England's top flight. The Hatters now ply their trade in the Conference Premier, English football's fifth tier.
 
Not yet Red Phil Jones was born on 21 February 1992, Wilfried Zaha (10 November 1992), Michael Keane (11 January 1993), Nick Powell (23 March 1994), Adnan Januzaj (5 February 1995).
 
In the charts Bart Simpson's rap Do The Bartman topped the UK singles charts, the last of a six-week stint at no.1.
 
Breaking rules Back in 1991, goalkeepers could still pick up backpasses. The rule changed in 1992, while squad numbers were introduced for the 1993/94 campaign. It's taken two decades to get goal-line technology, while the offside law has gone through more changes than David Beckham has hairstyles, and let's not even get started on the halcyon days of plain black boots.
 
What's in a name? The League Cup, which Giggs helped United win in April '92 by setting up Brian McClair's winner in a 1-0 final triumph over Nottingham Forest, has gone through five name changes: Rumbelows Cup, Coca Cola Cup, Worthington Cup, Carling Cup (we won it three times) and Capital One Cup.
 
Trophies won since 37: 13 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, 2 European Cups, 1 Intercontinental Club Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Cup Winners' Cup, 1 European Super Cup.
 
Transfer records David Platt became the first £5million English player when he signed for Bari from Aston Villa in July 1991. United's record transfer at the time was Gary Pallister, signed for £2.3m from Middlesbrough, until it was broken with the capture of Roy Keane for £3.75m from Forest in 1993.
 
Cost of living In the UK in 1991, petrol was 39.5p per litre, a pint of milk cost 32p and a pint of beer set you back £1.37.
 
Older than the Internet Giggsy's debut predates the World Wide Web, launched to the public on 6 August 1991.
 

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