I was delighted to hear Giggsy was named Player of the Year last night and although I think there was definitely some sentiment going on with the vote, it was fully deserved. He’s had to wait a long time to pick up the PFA honour but he’s finally got his reward.
Some people have been pointing out he’s only started 12 league games for United this season but you’ve got to look at the impact he’s had in those matches. It’s a case of quality rather than quantity and it’s easy to overlook his versatility, which makes such a valuable asset to Fergie.
Truth is, he’s been an exceptional player for so many years. He’s been written off as a spent force a few times and every time he’s bounced back to help United win trophies. His longevity is truly amazing and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got a couple more years left in the tank.
He’s been lucky in that he’s played in an era with increasingly big squads, which has meant he hasn’t always had to play Saturday, Wednesday and he’s been able to get his rest in. But you still have to look after yourself properly to play that long and I’ve seen whippets with more meat on them.
In public, Giggsy is very mild-mannered and softly spoken but trust me, he’s a real character when the cameras aren’t on him. My favourite memories of him when we were team-mates are his post-match singing. His party trick was getting up on stage and belting out some famous rap song – don’t ask me which one – and he’d do it word for word. He also liked to dance like a Cossack at club parties, which probably didn’t do his hamstrings any favours.
Written by Gary Pallister and previously published on 4sportsake.com.
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