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Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is worth an estimated £50 million
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Giggs is second on the Premier League all-time appearances list
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Read on for a look at Ryan Giggs and his life away from the football pitch
One of the greatest players in Premier League history, Ryan Giggs enjoyed a long and illustrious career during his 24-year tenure as a professional footballer.
A popular pick in Premier League odds throughout his time at Manchester United, Giggs won everything there is to win before announcing his retirement in 2014.
With a trophy cabinet bigger than many clubs, Giggs ended his career with 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cup trophies, three League Cup triumphs and two Champions League winners’ medals.
While Giggs doesn’t feature on the oldest Premier League players list, the Welshman was in his 40s when he hung up his boots and his longevity has to be admired.
Giggs made the transition into management after retiring but it hasn’t been plain sailing, with off-field issues impacting his career and personal life.
We’ll touch on that a little later on but for now, let’s appreciate Ryan Giggs’ exploits on the football pitch and his legacy at Old Trafford and on the Premier League.
How Much Is Ryan Giggs Worth?
Playing for one of the biggest football clubs on the planet will certainly help when it comes to enhancing net worth and we can assume Ryan Giggs salary figures were significant.
While the majority of Giggs’ playing career was before footballer wages went absolutely sky high, he was still one of the biggest earners throughout his time at Old Trafford.
According to figures obtained by Celebrity Net Worth, estimates value Ryan Giggs net worth at £50 million – more than many of those he played alongside at United. Some other outlets are closer to £35 million.
Since retiring, Giggs has earned money from his role as Wales national team manager but the bulk of his wealth has been obtained from property and business ventures.
Like a few of his former United teammates, Giggs has invested heavily in other endeavours – with the Welshman owning part of Salford City FC and Hotel Football.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in 2014, Giggs revealed how he wanted to ‘give back’ and support people from the region.
He said: “I am involved with a lot of things with Garry Neville and it is something that we are conscious about. We want to give back because we want to give people a chance.
“We had that chance when we were coming through the ranks at United, we had a manager who believed in giving young players a chance, and we want to do that in the city.
“Whether it be a local neighbourhood or in the city centre, we want to give people jobs in places that are interesting and different and put a new spin on things.”
Manchester United
The dominant force in English football prediction tips during the Premier League era, Giggs has a strong affinity with the Old Trafford club and its supporters.
Having worked his way up through the Red Devils youth system, Sir Alex Ferguson offered Giggs his first professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Four months later, the Welshman made his first team debut as a substitute before scoring the only goal of the game in the Manchester Derby on his first full start for the club.
One of Fergie’s Fledglings, Giggs became a key figure for the club the following year and he quickly became an ever-present in the United starting line-up.
Playing the majority of matches and scoring at least once in every Premier League season, Giggs turned out to be one of the most reliable players in the Red Devils squad.
While you could argue he wasn’t as talented as Paul Scholes, David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo, Giggs rarely struggled and he still had the ability to win a game.
Giggs broke a number of club records at Old Trafford, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s tally of 758 appearances for the club – also starting more games than any other United player.
In addition, Giggs holds the Premier League record for most assists with 162. Kevin De Bruyne is currently in second place on 112.
Wales
Wales are often underdogs in football bets today and that was also the case during Giggs’ tenure as he failed to make a major impact on the international stage.
Giggs earned 64 caps for Wales, scoring 12 goals but fans often look back at his international career with a rather negative view.
Having set a new record as the youngest player to appear for the Welsh national team back in 1981, Giggs looked destined to enjoy a long and successful career.
However, he came under scrutiny for regularly missing international friendly matches, with Wales fans feeling ‘second best’ after his club commitments.
Even when announcing his international retirement in 2007, Giggs cited the main reason as he wanted to focus primarily on his Manchester United career.
While he is a legend of Premier League football – and European football in general – he isn’t afforded that luxury when it comes to the national team. His achievements have been comprehensively surpassed by Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and others.
Investments
Like many footballers, Giggs decided to invest in business ventures once his playing career ended – a smart move considering his relatively young age.
In 2013, Giggs and Neville launched a hospitality company named GG Hospitality with the plan to build football themed hotels across the United Kingdom.
The first restaurant, Café Football, opened in London in November 2013 before Hotel Football, located opposite Old Trafford, launched in 2014.
The acquisition of Salford City sent shockwaves across the sports world, with Giggs joining forces with Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers to buy the club.
While the Class of 92 group sold a 50% stake to billionaire Peter Lim, they retain an avid interest in Salford City and dream of reaching the Premier League.
Three years later, Giggs proposed University Academy 92 in Greater Manchester, with the ambition of offering ‘broader courses’ than traditional establishments.
UA92 is now up and running and the former Manchester United winger takes on a pivotal role in promoting the university and the philosophy of the institution.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
