Premier League - Giggs drops retirement hint

Eurosport - Tue, 06 Jan 16:37:00 2009

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has given a strong hint that he could retire when his contract expires in the summer.

FOOTBALL Manchester United Ryan Giggs - 0

The 35-year-old Welshman has not yet been offered a new deal and admitted that, after 19 years of loyal service to the reigning Premier League champions, he may be forced to hang up his boots.

"I will keep playing as long as I enjoy it, I am fit and the manager wants me," Giggs told The Sun.

"If one of those three things stops, I will consider retiring.

"It could be at the end of this season. Or it could be the next one. I am at the end of my contract in May, so we will see. At the minute, there hasn't been any contact with United.

"I am as fit as I have ever been. The only difference is recovering from games.

"Two days after a game, I am still tired. Before, I could play Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Wednesday no problem.

"Today, I would be a lot less efficient at doing things. Nowadays, I only play once a week, it's very good that way."

Giggs has won every possible trophy during his time at United, with 10 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns representing the pinnacle of his achievements.

He admits that he would slip into retirement as a contented man, should he be forced to do so, with age having mellowed him and allowed him to appreciate how fortunate he has been.

Giggs added: "Today, victories and titles make me happier than when I was younger, because I know that they could be the last ones.

"The Champions League win last season made me a lot happier than in 1999, for instance.

"I am lot more confident than I was before. My relation to stress has changed over the years.

"When I was first in the first team, at 17 or 18, I felt no pressure at all. Nothing. It lasted for three to four years.

"Then things changed, injuries happened, I had poor games, and suddenly I started feeling the pressure. It weighed on my game.

"But since I turned 30, I don't think about anything any more, there's no pressure."

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 110 - 129 of 129

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  1. Giggs is a one of most proffesional,loyal and fantastic­ players to have ever graced Old Trafford and a­ gentleman because the younger footballers can use his­ example of how to play the game, when he retires it­ will be a sad day but might v=be a grat ambassador for­ United best team in the world MANCHESTER UNITED

    From Eucledes, on Wed 7 Jan 5:15PM
  2. I had wished Giggs Played for the best football club in­ the world (ARSENAL)

    From jejemix, on Wed 7 Jan 12:25PM
  3. My most admired Man United Player. Giggs was different­ in that he had character & Pace Bravo Giggs u have­ made an impact in the world of football. U are truely a­ legend. U can now take a bow.

    From jejemix, on Wed 7 Jan 12:23PM
  4. Ryan Giggs, a true Manchester United star player, long­ may he continue to shine.

    From lionel.mann, on Wed 7 Jan 10:06AM
  5. GIGGS IS AS FIT AS SOME OF THE UP AND COMING­ YOUNGSTERS, HE COULD GIVE THEM A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.

    From L H, on Wed 7 Jan 9:47AM
  6. Giggs... one of the few man-united players i have­ admired over the years. you have entertained and you­ have played your heart out. a truly great sportsman.­ Liverpool for life YNWA!!

    From Nemesis, on Wed 7 Jan 8:56AM
  7. Giggs is the only true gentleman in football. A fine­ example to all young players in England and else where.­ FIFA should use his profile to encourage younger­ players to play the game, 'no diving,no intentional­ fouls, no bad language and he is the same on the­ playing field as in his private life. Go son, God be­ with you. Asa for United sure the club could use him as­ the perfect embassordor. Thanks for all you have done­ for football.

    From llanito65, on Wed 7 Jan 6:17AM
  8. Giggs is a true living football legend, be sorry day­ for football when he retires. Go Giggs make it 11­ before you go son!!

    From jon.m.williams, on Tue 6 Jan 11:39PM
  9. Davidbanks15. Thanks for your comment. This is what­ forums should be about, opinions. Not abusive, foul­ comments.

    From Graham P, on Tue 6 Jan 10:33PM
  10. ryan giggs:a true professional and a true gentleman.I­ hope all true football fans will agree..one of the true­ greats to grace our game.

    From David, on Tue 6 Jan 8:50PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    giggys the welsh @#$%, thank @#$%, the @#$% boy is­ going

    From douglas, on Tue 6 Jan 7:30PM
  12. Hi Bhagyesh, you can't refer to Ronaldo and Rooney­ as legends just yet, at least wait until they turn 30 -­ they're prolific and terrific, but not quite­ legendary yet mate... Van der Sar and Giggs you can­ definitely call legends as they are both in the­ twilight of their playing years and it was a combo of­ Giggs' winning penalty and VdS and his brilliant­ bit of keeping against Nicholas "the incredible­ sulk" Anelka in the shoot out in Moscow. I­ don't even think Best and Charlton were referred to­ as legends until at least their mid twenties lol!!! ;­ )
    As for you Steven K you disgusting little bigotised­ homophobic racist bin dipping little bag rat: You want­ to be careful about using references about indecency­ towards minors and homosexual people in the same­ sentence because it is not only a nasty subject for any­ family or individual subject to such incidents, and­ also to homosexual people who live their lives day to­ day like everybody else, and are unnecessarily­ subjected to abuse like that from impudent pathetic­ little gobshites like you!!! Who the @#@# do you think­ you are? As for the Welsh comment, I'll let that­ go because it is obvious you are stil smarting over the­ fact that Liverpool is no longer the Northern Welsh­ Capital, and is therefore no longer part of Wales -­ praise be!!! Cymru am byth, twwl tin i'r saes­ yma!!!

    From PolyphobiaCymru, on Tue 6 Jan 5:40PM
  13. united r the best team there are lods of ledgends in­ manchester united
    1.cristiano ranaldo
    2.wayne rooney­
    3.RYAN GIGGS
    4.van der sar
    ­ MANCESTER UNITED ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WHOLE­ PREMIERSHIP

    THEY SHOULD NOT LET GIGGS GO BECAUSE RAYAN­ GIGGS IS THE 3`RD BEST FOOTBALL(to me )

    From Bhagyesh, on Tue 6 Jan 5:19PM
  14. Top comment Taff mate, Dalgliesh and Rush will always­ be legends over Carra-duh in the scouse camp - true­ gritty Celts each of them. From United's camp­ let's not forget Sparky Mark, both him and Giggsy­ have done wonders for both Manchester United­ domestically and also Welsh football in general... I­ can only wonder what might have been had Sparky opted­ to give it another season as Wales coach, with Ryan­ Giggs captaining quite a strong and at that point an­ experienced squad... Ah stuff the what ifs, Giggs -­ legend!

    From PolyphobiaCymru, on Tue 6 Jan 5:14PM
  15. giggzy been great but im a liverpool fan(they rule) so­ i cant say 2 much

    From jacknewtonm, on Tue 6 Jan 4:54PM
  16. Always A Legend!!

    From helonhorrey, on Tue 6 Jan 4:51PM
  17. A class act on and off the pitch, which is not­ something you can say about the majority of todays­ premier league 'stars'. If only he hadn't­ fallen out with his dad and decided to play for England­ instead of Wales. He would have been the first name on­ the team sheet every game!

    From Holty, on Tue 6 Jan 4:50PM
  18. Steven K your type are only defined as the scum of the­ earth low lifes ,

    As for giggs he is and always will­ be a Man Utd legend one of our greatest players ever­ and one of uniteds most loyal servants it will be a sad­ day at old trafford the day you retire Ryan

    From Eagle3777, on Tue 6 Jan 4:49PM
  19. steven k? Shame on you, many people lost their lives­ that night in Munich, including journalists, cabin crew­ etc. And morons like you seem to forget the tragedies­ that befell your club not so long ago. You're no­ football supporter, I pity poor fools like you.
    Giggs =­ Pure Class, a player who would benefit any club in the­ world.

    From rhealey4422, on Tue 6 Jan 4:36PM
  20. Giggs has had a brilliant career I think now is the­ right time to bring the curtain down.And wish him all­ the best in his future endevours.Management or training­ youngsters perhaps
    Andy H.

    From ANDY, on Tue 6 Jan 4:34PM
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