Wayne Rooney Bicycle Kick_Man Utd vc Man City

Stunning shot of Rooney's bicycle-kick winner at Old Trafford

Ryan Giggs – A True United Legend

What is there to say about Giggs but he’s simply the greatest premiership player of all time, having been discovered playing for his local side Deans FC he signed up to Manchester Citys school of Excellence. While playing for Deans he was watched regularly by local newsagent and Old Trafford steward Harold Wood who personally spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about this young lad who duely sent a scout to have a look, the scout was impressed enough to offer Giggs a trail, The following November on Ryan’s 14th Birthday he signed schoolboy forms.

Giggs made his league debut in the 1991/92 season against Everton in March, the following season (also the first Premier League season) Giggs was firmly established as United’s first choice Left winger. He was afforded many opportunities which were not normally offered to footballers at his young age, such as hosting his own television show, Ryan Giggs’ Soccer Skills, which aired in 1994. A book based on the series was also released. Giggs was part of the league’s attempt to market itself globally, re-forging its image after the hooliganism-blighted years of the 1980’s and was featured in countless football and lad mags covers, becoming a household name. Despite his aversion to attention, Giggs had also become a teenage pin-up at the time and was once described as the “Premiership’s First Poster Boy”, and the “boy wonder”- where he was arguably the original footballer who catapaulted the term into the public lexicon. He was hailed as the first football star to capture the public imagination in such a popular way, unseen since the days of George Best, and the irony was that Best and Bobby Charlton used to describe Giggs as their favourite young player, specially turning up at The Cliff training ground to watch him, where Best once quipped, “One day they might even say that I was another Ryan Giggs.”

With his career coming to an end and age catching up on Giggs, he again started to shine in a new role within United, starring in central midfield, putting in some dazzling performances, defying people who were saying he should think of hanging up the boots. And there’s no saying Giggs is ready to stop with United pushing on another three trophies this season having already secured the Club World Cup and Carling Cup this season.

With all his achievements Giggs has become the most successful player in English Football, winning countless team and individual honours.

HONOURS

Manchester United

* Premier League (10): 92/93, 93/94, 95/96, 96/97, 98/99, 99/00, 00/01, 02/03, 06/07, 07/08
* FA Cup (4): 93/94, 95/96, 98/99, 03/04
* Football League Cup (3): 91/91, 05/06, 08/09
* FA Community Shield (7): 93, 94, 96, 97, 03, 07, 08
* Uefa Champions League(2): 98/99, 07/08
* Uefa Super Cup (1): 91
* Intercontinental Cup (1): 99
* FIFA Club World Cup (1): 08

Individual

* PFA Young Player of the Year: 1992, 1993
* Bravo Award: 1993
* BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1996
* Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award: 1997–98
* Intercontinental Cup
* MOTM: 1999
* Premier League Team of the Decade: 2003
* English Football Hall of Fame: 2005
* Wales Player of the Year Award: 1996, 2006
* FA Premier League Player of the Month: September 1993, August 2006, February 2007
* PFA Team Of The Century: 2007
* PFA Team of the Year: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2007
* Only Manchester United player to have played in all ten Premier League-winning teams and only player to win 10 league titles
* Only Manchester United player to have played in all three League Cup-winning teams
* Only player to have scored in eleven consecutive Champions League tournaments
* Only player to have scored in thirteen different Champions League tournaments
* Only player to have scored in every Premier League campaign since its inception

Orders and special awards
* OBE for services to football.
* Awarded an honorary Masters of Art degree from Salford University on 15 July 2008 for contributions to football and charity work in developing countries
Author: RED till i DIE

Article Source : manutd talk

Cristiano Ronaldo Will Never Be a Manchester United Legend

"You can argue as much a you like Miles but Ronaldo will never ever be a Man Utd legend!"

This was the scathing and agitated response I got from a mate who happens to be a Manchester United fan through and through. As a modest Charlton Athletic supporter it beggared belief that this thought could be the consensus amongst Reds fans, so here beings the investigation.

Firstly I refuse to patronize the footballing masses by trawling through the various achievements, trophies and accolades amassed by Cristiano Ronaldo under Sir Alex Ferguson.

What is fact is that the right winger scored 118 goals in 292 appearances and what is obvious is that he was United's most influential and important player, as well as being certified as officially the best player on the planet at the peak of his United career.

For a midfielder his scoring record was exceptional and his goals per game ratio eclipses that of any other midfielder let alone right winger to have ever played for Manchester Untied. A prolific dead ball specialist, an accomplished dribbler, a deft finisher from range, a predator in the box and in the air he scored all types of goals and in important matches too.

He netted several crucial goals in Premier League matches in three seasons of dominance for the north east team including goals in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup final and a Champions League final to boot. The talisman also topped the assists charts setting up his team mates as often as he found the back of the net himself.

The exclusive group of players that go down in folklore at Manchester United are never disputed and this is probably why Ronaldo rouses so much debate in this field. Many fans feel he treated the club that made him with disrespect by openly pursuing his dream move to Real Madrid in what would turn out to be a world record breaking £80 million fee.

Others point to some of his on field antics as a reason he may not be appreciated as much as he should be. Everyone bar opposing defenders enjoys the silky skills of the Portuguese superstar, playing his game with a cocky arrogance which in fact is an undeterred belief and confidence in himself to be the best he can possibly be.

But when things were not going so well United fans were exposed to a different Ronaldo. Diving to win free kicks or going down too easily, arguing with officials, sulking and moaning, choking when he needed his composure the most.

In the eyes of some United fans that alone restricts him from sitting side by side with the greats to have pulled on the red shirt but to me it washes as a senseless and weak argument typical of the modern football fans selective memory bank.

His ability is unquestionable but it's when you throw the likes of Bobby Chalrton, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane or George Best into the mixer that the debate intensifies. An 11 year old United fan would not try to pretend that Eric Cantona or Denis Law are they're favourite players to have donned their teams colours. So there is a great number that would feel Ronaldo would probably be the best player they have ever seen in United colours.

But for a 60 year old veteran supporter, opinion would surely differ. But that insight into the understanding of the clubs history should not distort the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is amongst some of the best players to have played for that club in decades.

Article Source : bleacherreport.com