VETERAN Manchester United player Ryan Giggs won the PFA Player of the Year award last night (Singapore time), one of the few awards that the Welshman had not won in his glittering career.
The 35-year-old beat United teammates Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar, as well as Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard to the award, adding to his two PFA young player awards among other team accolades.
While few will argue that the United vice-captain deserves some form of recognition for his achievements – he has 10 league titles to his name, and has won 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups and the Champions League twice in his 17-year United career – but does Giggs deserve the award this season?
The midfielder has started only 12 games this season, although he is still a major part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans, coming on often as impact subsitutes.
And while the days where the Welshman dribbles up and down the left flank at blistering speeds may be over, Giggs has carved a new niche in his aging legs in the middle of the park, sharing the playmaking role with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and fellow old guard Paul Scholes.
But the question remains – Sentiments of his achievements aside, how influential was Giggs in United’s push for glory this season, and was it enough to clinch him the award?
Was he more influential than the Vidic-Ferdinand combination in United’s central defence? Or even Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard for that matter?
WELCOME TO THE POSTMAN'S NEIGHBOURHOOD 
A definite yes. I’ve been watching Ryan Giggs play since 1992 and I picked him as the winner of the PFA award before the results are announced. (Eh serious ah).
This season Ryan Giggs is like an inspiration to me. Like when I play street soccer, the boys call me uncle. I say, ‘You all know Ryan Giggs right. He also old and MU are champions. I’m not even 40 and you call me uncle. Since when I marry your auntie?’.
Steven Gerrard don’t deserve because Liverpool are only in one competition left to win.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are like two guys with one brain.
Edwin Van Der Sar cannot win because he let in 4 past him against Liverpool at Old Trafford. Not his fault? Sure its Ferdinand and Vidic’s fault and they are also nominees!
Cristiano Ronaldo? He cannot win everything just like he can’t score with every girl he wants.
CONGRATULATIONS RYAN GIGGS! May they retire the #11 jersey.
Qyaerus-Syahrein, 27, Chelsea fan
Comment by Alex 'The Write Off' Hart — April 27, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
The fact that there is no clear favourite among the PFA candidates this year meant that each of them are deserving of the award one way or another. Despite his limited playing time due to his age, the Welshman have put in some impressive performances with his mazy runs and precise passes. In all fairness, I would not say that Giggs contributed much more to his team than the other contenders. In fact, looking at their playing time alone, Giggs has already lost out.
While the PFA award winner usually plays a big part in their team’s ambition, it should not and has never been the sole criteria. It would be unfair to say Ryan won the award simply due to sentimental votes alone. At the age of 35, one cannot expect Giggs to be playing on the pitch week in week out. However, the winger has put in full effort whenever he takes on the field. He has also shown great versatility by excelling when being deployed at other positions. Furthermore, Giggs has invaluable experience which will be great help to the young devils who have played an important role in United’s campaign this season.
Most importantly, Giggs has defied his aging body and continued to serve the Red Devils well. Despite his old age, the array of skills he possesses and displayed, is simply breathtaking. Such techniques have won him great respect even from his opponents. The loyalty and commitment he has shown simply puts him in a more advantageous position to clinch the award. I believe that even without putting down the other candidates (eg. Gerrard’s court case or the recent leakage of goals by United), Giggs has emerged as a convincing winner.
Comment by Suen Chun Lung — April 27, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Ryan Giggs, in his twenties, was feared by most because of his tremendous ability to dribble past people. He would even have given the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi a run of their money if he still has the legs!
As a Man United fan, Cantona, Schmeichel and Giggs have always been my idols. I was surprised when told the Welshman has never ever lifted the PFA Player of the Year award. This is a guy who is probably the most decorated and successful player in the English game and yet he has never been honoured? Come on, if there is anyone who deserves it, it’s him!
I thoroughly feel he is a worthy winner not because of any sympathy votes or sentiments whatsoever. It is similar to last night’s Star Awards where Chew Chor Meng deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor award. Some felt the prize was given to him because of his illness, but I thought he was won it fair and square with his outstanding acting. Giggs won this year’s award because he has been outstanding for United, chipping in with crucial assists and goals despite limited actions.
Did someone see his goal against West Ham where he skilfully glided past a few West Ham players before shooting past Green with his RIGHT foot! Top Class!
People might argue that he has played far too little matches this season to be counted as the best. But here’s a little reminder, it’s quality that counts, not quantity.
I believe Giggs won by quite a close margin because of the outstanding candidates this year. Vidic has been truly marvellous, putting in tackles, winning headers and scoring quite a number of important goals too. The Serbian would have been my top choice if not for Giggs’ form.
Rio has been steady, if not spectacular this season. Gone were the days where he would constantly be found wanting due to a lack of concentration. He has matured into a truly great defender and he compliments superbly with Vidic.
Van der Sar’s name will never be forgotten, not least because he has written his name into the record books with the clean sheets’ record. He has been a steady influence in this United side but the thing that counts against him in this award is that he really doesn’t have much to do in most of his matches! He could even take a nap during matches and he wouldn’t have missed anything!
The only way for Ronaldo after last year’s magnificient achievements is down. He set such a high standard last season and a failure to match those lofty records would be seen as underachievment by most. The Portuguese has a slow start because of his early-season injury which kept him out for a few months.
Since then, he has only shown flashes of his brilliance and most often than not, he cuts a frustrating figure on the pitch as decisions went against him. But his performances in the last few weeks have improved and that should leave United’s upcoming opponents a little more worried.
Two great goals against Villa and Porto, and a top-notch performance capped with two goals at the weekend showed the genius might have returned just in time for the finale. If the PFA award is given out at the end of the season, he might have more of a chance.
Last but not least, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard. Zidane named the England midfielder as the best and it’s easy to see why. I would certainly rank him alongside the likes of Iniesta and Xavi as the best in their position.
The thing that counts against him is maybe his disciplinary problems not so on the pitch, but off it. As we all know, he was involved in a court case after getting himself embroiled in a fight. It is vital to be a great role-model for youngsters as a PFA Player of the Year and for this, Gerrard fared badly.
The fact that Giggsy has been able to perform so well at his age is a credit to himself. He is the one player in the game whom players need to look up to. To be named the PFA Player of the Year at 35 years of age with his undoubted quality is baffling because he should have gotten it much earlier. But as they say, better late than never……
Well done Ryan, you are a true Great!
Comment by Loh Shengli, 24, Man United — April 27, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
Giggs getting the PFA will not have much complain from most people because he is indeed a very good player. However, what we are missing out is that this is a vote for PFA of the year. Yeah if you are going to pick the PFA of the decades, then i will say giggs. but you are talking about PFA of the year. From his contribution this year, he does not deserve the award.
Comment by Joseph — April 27, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Yes,maybe a long service award rather than a PFA award.I think what Giggs received was just a sympathy vote from his fellow peers perhaps for thanking his contribution to English football for the past 18 yrs.Just take a look,Gerrard,Vidic or Ferdinand certainly deserved the award more than Giggs as their contribution is never ending to their team for the past 1 year but i just accept it since Giggs have not many yrs left in his football career but also the fact that what he have contributed to Man United trophy cabinet.Maybe a long-service award should be created as it sounds more suitable for people like Giggs who contributed a lot over the yrs in football.
Norman Ng,14,Liverpool fan
Comment by norman — April 27, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
I would have liked Gerrard to win as base on current form this season he was clearly the best player as stats from both fantasy Epl and Uefa Champs League do not lie. Some guys who judge Gerrard not worthy cause liverpool is only in 1 cup aint very smart cause if so many players like Shearer for newcastle, Zalatan Imbramovic for Sweden etc would not win anything.For the not so smart ones, this comp is about individuals not the team they play for, thus its called player of the year award not TEAM of the year. Trophies are impt but form is more important. Gerrard has been winning games himself so often that ppl often mistake Gerrard for liverpool itself. Even the great Zidane says Gerrard is the best in the world, surely we cant doubt the Great one!
Comment by KC — April 27, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
It is an absolute NO. I have deep respect for this Man Utd legend, but I have valid points to argue why Giggs do not deserve to be nominated.
1. PFA Player of the Year Guidelines
This award should be awarded to the player that had impactful contributions in a consistent basis throughout the season. Unfortunately, Giggs’s contributions although inspirating at times, do not fall into the category of ‘consistent basis’, much due to the fact that he had limited playing time.
2. Other Candidates
The inclusion of the veteran Welshman sets up another question? Is the EPL devoid of outstanding players who were impactful throughout the season? Luckily, the answer is no. The reason why were Chelsea’s Frank Lampard (who created more, and scored more goals) and John Terry not included in the nomination list? Or Arsenal’s impressive Gael Clichy and Samir Nasir (who scored important goals in important matches)? The lesser teams seemed forgotten too, with the awards organisers leaving out deserving players, for exmaple, Man City’s Stephen Ireland, Everton’s Tim Cahill, or Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor? Doesn’t they deserves to be nominated more than Ryan Giggs?
3. The correct category
Perhaps a new category to reward veteran player should be set up. This ‘Legend of EPL’ award fits Ryan Giggs perfectly and there will definitely be lesser disputes if this implemented this season.
Warmest regards,
Adrian Lim, 29, Civil Servant
Norwich City Fan
Comment by Adrian Lim — April 28, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
This year’s PFA is a fraud! It’s as if the lousy pick of nominees weren’t bad enough. To think Giggs won, it just disgusts me! It’s bullshit that Giggs is the best player of THIS season. Sensational, NO! Inspirational, NO! Breath-taking, NO! Although I respect Giggs as a player, I can’t swallow it that Giggs won it. It turns out just like our English Kaki predicted.
Few links regarding this matter,
http://www.thisisanfield.com/columnists/2009/04/pfa-player-of-the-year-awards/
http://community.footballpools.com/blog/2009/04/28/cascarino-giggs-pfa-award-is-nonsense/
Comment by Haley Harrison — April 28, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
With all respect to Ryan Giggs and illustrious career, I think the perhaps he shouldn’t have won the PFA player of the year. Statistics don’t lie. He only started 12 games this season and only scored a brilliant goal against West Ham. If there was an award for PFA player of the decade, he would deserve, without doubt, to win it. However, Man Utd fans would disagree saying that the Welsh wizard has contributed in all the games he participated in, whether as a starter or as a sub, especially in the 3-0 drubbing of Chelsea etc. I would like to highlight the point that there are other more deserving candidates than Giggs that have been left out. Tim Cahill, who came back from injury to score such vital goals for Everton, sending them in the FA cup semi finals as well as allowing Everton to rest comfortably at 7th place in the league. Lampard, who is the heart of the Chelsea midfield, with almost 20 goals and countless assists to his name, had been left out of the voting. Therefore, I would say that though Giggs has been an absolute inspiration to all footballers and fans alike, he shouldn’t have won this PFA player of the year as it only refers to contributions of the player in that year only.
Comment by Jun Jie — April 28, 2009 @ 8:50 pm
It has been a long time coming for Ryan Giggs to receive this award. The players have to send in their votes early and thus may have given the votes to him for sentimental reasons, knowing that he is in the twilight of his career. The chronicles of Ryan Giggs’ exemplary conduct and professionalism throughout his career are endless. No one can talk about him in any form of negative light. He may not be a storming winger now, but his calming influence in the midfield, when he was fielded, was one component which made up a successful Man Utd team.
Mr Elvin Woo P F
55 Civil Servant
Comment by Mr Elvin Woo P F — April 29, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Giggs will prove that he’s deserve to be the best player of EPL this year… All season he always plays well to support manchester united to be the best club in the world…
Comment by nani — April 29, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
A great pity England were not able to recruit him as part of their squad in the past couple of decade as they bid to win major tournaments every now and then.
A wizard-like looking figure in English football for more than a decade. Ryan Giggs has no doubt proved his infinite patriotism to his club. He was the one striking constant and enormous amount of fear into the heart of any defender before the introduction of Michael Owen, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo or even the Brazilian Ronaldo whom had been plagued with major injuries in his whole career. To be frank, Ryan Giggs has been blessed with not too many long term injuries.
Cutting through and in between defenders with the ball all the time with the pace and acceleration of Michael Owen is his trademark skill and since then it has become a legend. No wonder Ashley Young has been trying very hard to imitate Giggs.
No footballer can ever defy the natural order of turning old and living in the shadow of his glorious past but the most crucial thing is the many great moments that a footballer has brought to his team, fans and the public. Ryan Giggs has truly done more than this and he really deserves the award. And so salute to him!
Comment by Jack — May 1, 2009 @ 11:55 am