The Giggs Story: 2007 to 2011

Ryan Giggs was virtually ever-present during one of the most successful eras in Manchester United history, breaking records and collecting winners' medals at almost every turn…
 
 
The evergreen Welshman was the first and last scorer in the unforgettable 2007/08 campaign, netting the opener in the Community Shield triumph over Chelsea before converting from the spot during the Reds’ dramatic penalty shootout success in the Champions League final. Poignantly, on that rain-soaked evening in Moscow, Giggs stepped off the bench to register his 759th match and break Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing appearance record. It was the perfect end to a season that also saw United claim the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic just 10 days earlier, when our silver-haired hero scored the trophy-winning goal. Giggs 2007/08: 33 (10) games, 4 goals
 
 
The following season, United secured a record-equaling 18th league title to add to the Club World Cup that was claimed in December, plus a League Cup triumph in March. While the number of his league starts was reduced, Giggs remained a man called upon for the big occasion and revelled in a new central midfield role. His record of netting in every Premier League campaign was also maintained via a splendid winner at Upton Park in February. Unfortunately, more Champions League success proved a step too far as Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona claimed an impressive victory over the Reds in Rome. Giggs did pick up an individual honour, however, when he was voted the PFA Players’ Player of Year at the grand old age of 35. Giggs 2008/09: 28 (19) games, 4 goals
 
In terms of goals per game, the 2009/10 season was Ryan's most prolific since 2002/03. While United failed to win the title, finishing second to Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, Giggs played a pivotal role in securing the League Cup. His opener in a feisty semi-final first leg with Manchester City was followed by an assist for Wayne Rooney’s winner in the second at Old Trafford, paving the way for a comfortable 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Wembley. The Welshman passed another milestone in November, capping a Man of the Match performance at Portsmouth with his 100th Premier League goal. In Europe, he was used sparingly but managed to score his 150th goal for the club on his solitary start against Wolfsburg, moving him up to eighth on United’s all-time scorers list. Giggs 2009/10: 28 (9) games, 7 goals
 
 
A return to the top of English football supplied a 12th Premier League winners’ medal for Giggs, whose good form helped the Reds draw clear of title rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and City. After struggling periodically with a hamstring problem through the autumn, Ryan was increasingly influential in the second half of the campaign and made two-thirds of his starts in all competitions in the New Year. In fact, from January onwards, Giggsy regularly loaded the gun for front men Hernandez, Berbatov and Rooney in a series of eye-catching displays at home and overseas. An influential cameo in a 3-2 win at Blackpool stands out, as well as a goal-scoring display against Schalke in the Champions League semi-final. Only the insurmountable obstacle of peak-era Barcelona prevented a third Champions League success for the Welsh wonder. Giggs 2010/11: 27 (11) games, 4 goals
 
 
Source: By Mark Froggatt, ManUtd.com