'Mr Manchester United' Ryan Giggs has spent almost 29 years at Old Trafford... We delve into the archives to look back at pictures from his time at the club
- Ryan Giggs joined Manchester United a year after Sir Alex Ferguson, in '87
- He won 34 trophies as a player, and made 963 appearances for United
- His future as assistant manager is in doubt following exit of Louis van Gaal
- We looks back at his career and delves into the photo archives
Ryan Giggs is quite clearly a Manchester United legend. From youth squad to the first team, player-coach to assistant manager, his 29 years at Old Trafford have been quite a ride.
Following the departure of Louis van Gaal this week, Giggs is weighing up his future and could leave upon the arrival of new manager Jose Mourinho.
1988
Giggs' Manchester United career dates all the way back to Christmas 1986, where he was given the best present possible in a trial at Old Trafford.
Then using the surname Wilson, he signed associate schoolboy forms in '87 after a personal visit from Sir Alex Ferguson and found success while playing in the Granada Schools Cup in 1988.
Giggs was Man of the Match for Salford in their 3-2 win over Blackburn (below), with footage caught by an ITV camera crew for us to enjoy many years later.
Ryan Giggs' (then Wilson, left) first taste of success was with Salford Schoolboys in the Granada Schools Cup
1989
Another English Schools Football Association final followed a season later, with Giggs this time captaining a Salford side against St Helens at Old Trafford. Little did Giggs know the iconic stadium would become a second home throughout his football career.
The Welshman even captained England Schoolboys, before giving his future to Wales later that year.
There was more Schools success for Giggs in 1989 as he captained Salford against St Helens at Old Trafford
1990
A big year in Giggs' career as he signed his first professional contract with United in December. He was offered the deal a few days earlier, on his 17th birthday.
By this time, he had already represented Wales at Under 18 level.
Giggs signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in December 1990 at the age of 17
1991
The accolades keep rolling in for Giggs as he makes his first-team debut for Manchester United in March.
Denis Irwin came off injured in the first half against Everton, and on came a fresh-faced Welshman by the name of Ryan... sporting a much smarter hair-cut than the previous year, too.
A first-team debut was the next accolade for Welshman Giggs as he replaced the injured Denis Irwin in 1991
1992
Giggs flitted between United's youth and first team in 1992, lining up for Sir Alex while also helping his young team mates to an FA Youth Cup triumph. He also collected his first piece of domestic silverware, as United won the League Cup final against Nottingham Forest in April.
Giggs played for both United's youth and first team in 1992, winning an FA Youth Cup with the former
1993
The first season of the Premier League in its current guise was also Giggs' first as a regular in United's starting XI. He ousted Lee Sharpe on the left wing, and helped United to their first top-flight title in 26 years... not a bad start, eh?
The first season of the Premier League in 1992-93 was also Giggs' first as a regular under Sir Alex Ferguson
1994
At the age of just 20, Giggs became a global sensation, with magazine covers, television interviews and even his own show - Ryan Giggs' Soccer Skills.
United won another Premier League title, as well as the FA Cup, beating Chelsea 4-0 at Wembley... and as if that wasn't enough, he became the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards. Phew.
Giggs burst onto the world stage in 1994, even getting his own television show titled Ryan Giggs' Soccer Skills
1995
One to forget for both Giggs and Manchester United. The club missed out on the Premier League title on the last day when they failed to beat West Ham, and Giggs came off the bench against Everton in the FA Cup final but could not stop a 1-0 defeat.
Injuries hampered much of his season, and he only managed one goal...
It was a year to forget for Ryan Giggs as injuries hampered his season and Man United missed out on the title
1996
United, and Giggs, were back with a bang the following year, righting their wrongs to secure the Premier League and FA Cup double.
The Welshman was 22 now and had been joined by a few familiar faces in the United first-team - David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Nevilles.
Giggs celebrates finding the back of the net against Man City at Maine Road as United scooped the double
1997
Giggs enjoyed his first real success on the European stage in 1997, helping United beat Juventus before eventually losing to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals.
At the end of the season, Alessandro Del Piero told the media: 'This is embarrassing to say but I have cried twice in my life watching a football player; the first one was Roberto (Baggio) and the second was Ryan Giggs.' Praise, indeed.
Giggs, pictured against Juventus in 1997, was so good he reduced Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero to tears
1998
In the 1997-98 season, United missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal after a very poor run of form at the back end of the campaign.
Not to worry though, because the next season was pretty memorable...
United may have missed out on the title to Arsenal but Giggs was full of smiles ahead of the next campaign
1999
One of the most successful years in United's history saw them win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the same season... but Giggs missed much of it through injury.
A highlight, though, was his assist for Teddy Sheringham in the Champions League final, which levelled the scores and set them on their way to the Treble and who can forget that goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa Park?
Giggs clenches his fists and raises his arms in celebration after United defeated Newcastle to win the FA Cup
2000
Giggs represented United in Brazil in January as the Champions League holders headed to South America for the FIFA Club World Championships.
Later that year, they secured yet another Premier League title - Giggs' sixth of his career.
The Welshman looks on ahead of United's clash against Vasco Da Gama in the FIFA Club World Championship
2001
Another year of celebration for Giggs, as he signed a new five-year deal at United and marked 10 years at Old Trafford with a testimonial against Celtic.
Oh, and of course there was another Premier League title.
Giggs, celebrated scoring against Coventry, was handed a testimonial after ten years service for the club
2002
A year of team lows and personal highs for the Welshman followed in 2002. United finished the season trophyless after a poor run around Christmas but Giggs netted his 100th career goal against Chelsea in August.
Giggs, who captained the side in 2002, also scored his 100th career goal against Chelsea in the same year
2003
The chant 'Give it to Giggsy' surfaced in 2003 but it was sung by Arsenal fans after a particularly poor performance by the Welshman.
It was a year that won't live long in his memory, despite another Premier League triumph.
In the summer, he was linked with a move away to Inter Milan, but the one-club man committed his future to United.
Giggs poses alongside manager Sir Alex Ferguson with bottles of champagne after winning another title
2004
Giggs won his fourth and final FA Cup as a player in 2004, while also becoming the third United player in history to make his 600th appearance for the club, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes.
The legendary United winger became the third player in history to make 600 appearances for the club in 2004
2005
United were right in the middle of a four-year Premier League slump in 2005, but on a personal note Giggs was fighting fit after a number of injury issues.
Hamstring injuries had caused him a number of problems, but in an interview with the Independent, Giggs said taking up yoga had fixed him.
Giggs roars with delight after scoring against Everton and, in 2005, revealed yoga was helping him to stay fit
2006
Manchester United fans were celebrating again in 2006, as the club secured another League Cup triumph - Giggs' 15th major trophy as a player at Old Trafford.
That year, he also won his second Wales Player of the Year Award on the international stage.
Giggs landed more silverware in 2006, taking his tally to 15 as United clinched the League Cup in 2006
2007
Manchester's United's top-flight title in 2007 propelled Giggs to a level no other had gone before - winning nine league titles in his career.
There was heartbreak alongside it though, as the Welshman had a goal ruled out in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
Captain Giggs applauds the travelling United faithful after the 2007 clash against Arsenal at the Emirates
2008
At the age of 34, 2008 became a year of landmarks for Giggs. He made his 100th appearance in the Champions League, while May 8 saw him come on as a substitute to equal sir Bobby Charlton's Manchester United appearance record of 758.
Giggs eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record and also played his 100th Champions League game
2009
Amid speculation about his future, Giggs put reports to rest by signing a one-year extension on his United contract.
In April, he won the PFA's Player of the Year, despite having started just 12 matches in the campaign.
Giggs poses alongside United chief executive David Gill as he signed a one-year contract extension in 2009
2010
Just one day before the start of 2010, Giggs was named Manchester United's Player of the Decade, perhaps a good omen for the year ahead.
He netted in the first game of the 2010-11 campaign in August to keep up his incredible record of scoring in every year of the Premier League since its inception.
Giggs was named Manchester United's 'Player of the Decade' and maintained his record of scoring in every year of the Premier League since it's inception
2011
A 12th Premier League title came for the Welshman in 2011, who at the age of 37 was surely coming towards the end of his long and incredibly successful career.
In January, he made his 600th league appearance for Manchester United.
United clinched their 12th Premier League title in 2011 with the 37-year-old still a vital member of the team
2012
February was the month to remember for Giggs in 2012, after he signed a one-year contract extension and then made his 900th appearance in all competitions for United.
He marked the occasion - against Norwich - by scoring a 90th minute winner.
Giggs, pictured against Cluj in the Champions League, made his 900th appearance for the Red Devils in 2012
2013
In February 2013, Giggs netted against Everton in the Premier League to take his goalscoring record to 23 consecutive seasons; a particularly glowing achievement given he was 39 at the time.
At the age of 39, Giggs netted against Everton to take his record to scoring in 23 consecutive seasons
2014
July 2013 saw Giggs appointed a player-coach by manager David Moyes, but 2014 was the year he made the big step up from the pitch to the dugout.
He became interim player-manager in April when Moyes was sacked, and announced the end of his playing career with an open letter to supporters in May.
Giggs swapped the pitch for the sidelines as he became player-manager following David Moyes' sacking
2015
Louis van Gaal took over at Manchester United midway through 2014 and 2015 saw Giggs at his side throughout, as the club's assistant manager.
It was a trophyless campaign, but while Van Gaal took plenty of stick, club legend Giggs was mostly praised for his impact as a coach.
Former Holland boss Louis van Gaal (left) became manager of United in 2015 with Giggs as his assistant
2016
Entering his 29th year at Manchester United, Giggs tasted his first piece of success from the touchline as the club beat Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Van Gaal was sacked after the match and with United now managerless, Giggs' future is unclear.
Whether he stays and eventually becomes manager at Old Trafford or moves elsewhere to continue his coaching career, one thing is for certain; Giggs' legendary United career will never be forgotten.
Giggs hold the FA Cup alongside Michael Carrick following United's Wembley victory over Crystal Palace
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