
Friday, 2nd October 2009
Ryan Giggs's top five goals
Eye for goal... Man. United winger Ryan Giggs in a position to beat the goalkeeper.
Eleven league titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups... Ryan Giggs has already won more than any other player. At well over 800 appearances, he has also played far more often for Manchester United than anyone else.
The United legend carved out another piece of history for himself on Wednesday night, after scoring his side's equaliser in a 2-1 Champions League win over German champions Wolfsburg. It made Giggs the ninth United player to reach 150 goals for the club.
He may have taken quite a bit of time to get there but some of his contributions will live long in the memory.
Press Association Sport has picked out five of the best, including the semi-final replay classic at Villa Park.
September 19, 1992, Tottenham Hotspur (a)
As with so many of Giggs's best goals, it started from a position of minimal promise. But showing amazing balance and a blinding turn of pace, he slid past one defender, nutmegs another before rounding the goalkeeper and converting from an acute angle.
February 5, 1994, QPR (a)
Giggs seized on a loose ball just inside the Rangers half and embarked on a run forward.
The Welshman skipped past four challenges as he sped into the penalty area, then cut a shot into the far corner in the manner of George Best.
April 14, 1999, Arsenal (Villa Park)
Recently voted the best FA Cup goal of all time.
Patrick Vieira "gave Giggsy the ball" so the United song goes. Off Giggs set on a 60-yard burst that took him past a succession of Arsenal defenders before he smashed his shot high past David Seaman.
Simply superb... few would put this anywhere other than top of any list of Giggs goals.
February 25, 2003, Juventus (a)
Giggs was bearing the brunt of disaffected fans, who felt his time at Old Trafford was up.
On the biggest stage at the Stadio delle Alpi, he showed them otherwise. Charging straight through the Juve defence, he went past two sturdy challenges before beating Gianluigi Buffon and then pointing to the name on his shirt.
February 8, 2009, West Ham (a)
At 35, Giggs proves he still has the old magic. Fellow veteran Paul Scholes presented him with the ball on the left flank, allowing Giggs to cut inside.
As the West Ham defence stood off, the winger spotted his opportunity, driving home with his right foot to secure a precious victory on the road to another title.
United's 150-goal club
Ryan Giggs has become the ninth United player to reach the 150-goal milestone, following in the footsteps of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and fellow countryman Mark Hughes.
As a winger, maybe it is no surprise his goal ratio should be lower than the rest but given the way he has looked after himself as he approaches his 36th birthday, the opportunity is there for him to inch higher up the list yet.
Bobby Charlton (1956-73)
Appearances: 754. Goals: 247. Ratio: 1 goal every 3.05 matches.
Denis Law (1962-73)
Appearances: 399. Goals: 236. Ratio: 1.69.
Jack Rowley (1937-1955)
Appearances: 422. Goals: 208. Ratio: 2.03.
George Best (1963-74)
Appearances: 466. Goals: 178. Ratio: 2.62.
Dennis Viollet (1952-62)
Appearances: 291. Goals: 178. Ratio: 1.63.
Joe Spence (1919-33)
Appearances: 510. Goals: 168. Ratio: 3.13.
Mark Hughes (1983-86, 1988-95)
Appearances: 462. Goals: 162. Ratio: 2.85.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001-2006)
Appearances: 219. Goals 150. Ratio: 1.46.
Ryan Giggs (1992-present)
Appearances: 814. Goals 150. Ratio: 1 goal every 5.43 matches.








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