Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the league, was a logical choice to be one of the first honourees when the Premier League officially announced its new Hall of Fame in 2020. During his remarkable career at Old Trafford, the Manchester United veteran played a crucial part in Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary teams and earned an incredible 13 Premier League winners’ trophies.
The first two people inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021 were Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer. Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, and David Beckham were the next in line. Giggs has missed out on each of the 22 players who have been inducted since then.
The fact that Giggs was left off of the 15-player shortlist for the 2024 Hall of Fame selections is even more bizarre. Ferguson claimed that during his 26-year tenure at Manchester United, he only oversaw four elite players, yet only one of those individuals has consistently been disregarded by the Premier League.
Although Giggs’ exclusion from the Hall of Fame has never been officially explained, BBC Sport stated in January 2025 that many people had come to the conclusion that “the controversy over his character lay behind his absence.” Over the previous ten years, Giggs’ numerous off-field problems have received a lot of attention, and it is hypothesised that his public persona is the reason he hasn’t been inducted yet.
Giggs Responds to Hall of Fame Omission
Welshman gave rare interview to Rio Ferdinand
In a rare interview with his old Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, Giggs has now publicly discussed his exclusion from the Hall of Fame. “Are you bothered at all that you’re not in the Premier League Hall of Fame?” Ferdinand questioned Giggs while filming the most recent episode of his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, which was sponsored by Qatar Airways and debuted on April 25. I didn’t think of anyone else than the first two inductees. To me, you were the first individual who immediately jumped off the page. Do you think about that at all? Do you have any idea why I’m not in there?
Giggs answered:
“Not at all. No, I mean, I didn’t give it any thought until you mentioned it. I don’t give it much thought. In my opinion, you don’t at first… These are the goals you aren’t aiming for. You’re putting a lot of effort into winning games and trying to get awards. For me, that is the most crucial factor.
Premier League Stats for Ryan Giggs
Looks
632
Objectives
109
Helps
162
Gains
407
Losses
87
Player of the Month honours
2.
Premier League championships
13.
“Now I am upset,” Giggs stated in response to Ferdinand’s announcement that he had been inducted. I am now… What’s going on, Jeez? When I get home, I’m going to check the list. Is Gary Neville’s character Nev on it?
“No, I don’t believe Nev is on it yet,” Ferdinand retorted. Soon, he’ll get to it. Willn’t he talk his way into it?
What kind of legacy do you hope Ryan Giggs leaves behind? Apart from being the most decorated player in Premier League history, of course, what would you do if you were sitting there and thinking, “You know what? “That’s how I want to be remembered.”
“I did want to entertain,” Giggs continued. In training, I wanted to amuse myself. I intended to amuse myself. I therefore desired to… You have to win at United. However, if you are able to amuse yourself and do new things, like playing games with players or trying small stunts,
As the most successful player in the Premier League, Giggs is unquestionably one of the best football players in English football history, regardless of whether he gets admitted into the Hall of Fame. He is the only player to challenge him for the title of greatest Premier League player of all time.
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