Mike Hails Ryan's Reinvention

Mike Phelan says Ryan Giggs has constantly reinvented his game to prolong his stay among football’s elite.

Giggs, 35, signed a one-year contract extension this week that keeps him at Old Trafford until a few months shy of his 37th birthday.

“If anyone deserves a new contract then it’s Ryan Giggs,” says United's assistant manager. “He’s been a magnificent servant to the game and to United. He’s very happy with the deal and we’re very happy to have him along. His form is incredible, he’s training exceptionally well, and I think he’s enjoying the game more than ever.

“The talent is there and it has never left him,” Phelan added. “He keeps reinventing himself all the time. He’s terrific around the place. He is Mr. Manchester United. He’s been there, seen it done it, and wants to do more. That’s great for us.

“He’s always available for training and that’s a big issue now in football. You must put the time into training because of the numerous games that we play.

Phelan was a first-team player at United when Giggs broke through as a sprightly young winger. “I was probably the one that left because he came through!” he joked. “He was one of the new generation. It was great to watch him training, everybody was talking about him, and once he got in there was no stopping him.

“He was a talent at a very young age. We all knew it was there, but little did we know that he would go on to have the career that he’s had, and put in so many years service. But he’s got all the rewards for that hard work.

“When we all first saw him at The Cliff training ground, everyone stood still and just watched him for a while, assessing what he could do. That’s how it starts. The coaches talk about a player and it filters down to the dressing room. Everyone wants a sneaky look to see what we’ve got. And then you start to panic because you know that he’s coming through and he’ll push you further forward or push you out. That’s the natural progression of a footballer.”

Likewise, Giggs will one day have to step aside for the next generation but, for now and the next 18 months at least, Ryan is a force of nature with plenty more to offer.