Giggs Dubbed Manchester United's 'Greatest' Player

Ryan Giggs will go down in history as Manchester United's greatest player, according to club legend Paddy Crerand.

The former midfielder says Giggs, 37, stands out from the rest because of his longevity as a player.

It is 20 years since he made his United debut, going on to win 11 Premier League and two Champions League titles.

"In the next 15 to 20 years everybody will by saying Ryan Giggs is the greatest player to ever play for Manchester United," said Crerand.

"Just look at his record. All of Wales can be very proud of what he's done - I don't know if he has any records left to break."

Giggs, capped 64 times for Wales, retired from international football in 2007 in order to concentrate on his club career, notching up 863 appearances by his 20th anniversary as an Old Trafford favourite.

"Ryan looks after himself so well - he's playing now as if he's 21. I wouldn't be surprised that next season he will be signing another year's contract with Manchester United," said Crerand, who himself made 401 appearances for United.

"Bobby Charlton was one of the people who took [manager] Alex Ferguson along to see a young Ryan Giggs training and his eyes just lit up on seeing the young player - and I'm talking about when he was 15, and he's still going 22 years later.

"Sometimes people tell you about young players and nothing really happens to a great degree.

"Sometimes great players can be great players at 15 and 16 and then at 17 they're gone, but this one is still going at 37 years of age.

"He can play for 20 years for some club that's maybe not recognisable by a great deal of people, but to play for the number one club in the world, that's amazing."

Giggs played in Manchester United's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge, making his 606th league appearance as a second-half substitute to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record for the club.