The domestic league title came after 28 barren years for United. Giggs recounted growing up as a United fan, watching rivals Liverpool “win everything”, as well as losing out by four points to Leeds United in the 1991/92 season.
“So when we first won that league title, that sort of gave you the confidence to then go on and win so much after that,” Giggs told FMT in an interview when asked which trophy was the most emotionally fulfilling.
United, known as the Red Devils, went on to win 12 Premier League titles from 1994 to 2013.
Giggs is currently in Malaysia to promote a match between United and the Asean All Stars for the Maybank Challenge Cup 2025 on May 28 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
For him, United’s first domestic title, after over two decades, overshadowed the Champions League victory in 1999 when United beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in injury time, earning the club the unprecedented treble of the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League.
Wingers who take risks
Asked if any of the current footballers reminded him of his younger self, Giggs said it was “young wingers who take risks”.
Giggs said he appreciates wingers who try to take players on, score goals and make the games exciting and singled out Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé.
“It’s a bit different now because you have so many left footers on the right, and so many right footers on the left. So, they’re always cutting in.
“Whereas when I was playing, I was always going on the outside crossing,” said Giggs, whose runs from the left wing were described by then manager Alex Ferguson as “floating across the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind”.
On United’s best striker
Giggs said he had trouble naming United’s best striker, saying it was difficult as he had played with so many.
However, he said when he first joined the team he liked to play with Eric Cantona, an amazing player with whom he had very good communication.
“You go through a career where you play with teammates who you don’t even need to say anything to, you just have that telepathy. You make a run and he plays and vice versa.”
After Cantona,it would be Wayne Rooney, who “had a bit of everything”.
Giggs also paid tribute to United strikers Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Mark Hughes, Robin Van Persie, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Dimitri Berbatov and Carlos Tevez.
“I loved playing with all of them as they had different qualities. And I tried to strike a relationship with them, to know where they would be on the pitch.”
Giggs joined United on his 14th birthday in 1987, making his debut for the club in 1991. He spent his whole career with United with 963 appearances, a club record, when he retired after the 2013-14 season.
He won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions League titles, a Club World Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and nine FA Community Shields.
Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it’s the clash you can’t afford to miss.
Book your seat now at myticketempire.com/manumy before they’re gone!