Ryan Giggs remains one of the most famous footballers in the history of British football and no player can match his 13 Premier League titles, but the life he now leads is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of his Manchester United heyday
The most decorated player in Premier League history, Ryan Giggs is now living a life far removed from his Manchester United glory days.
Once the poster boy and a star whose name was synonymous with Old Trafford glory, Giggs has quietly slipped into the shadows. Giggs, who became a father again last year, is adjusting to parenthood in his fifties while working a low-key job far from the football limelight.
Despite his illustrious playing career, Giggs remains a contentious figure. His glittering playing career is often framed against the backdrop of personal scandals and more recent legal battles, factors which continue to cloud his legacy and no doubt weigh on perceptions at the highest levels of the game – again seeing him snubbed from a nomination from the Premier League hall of fame, making a mockery of that particular accolade.
READ MORE: Ryan Giggs snubbed AGAIN as 15 players shortlisted to join Premier League Hall of FameREAD MORE: Rio Ferdinand gives Andre Onana verdict as Man Utd flop seals Old Trafford exit
So, who is Ryan Giggs today? A football legend, a divisive character, a man rebuilding his life away from the public eye – this is the former Wales football manager now….
His job in football now
Giggs’ only active role in football today is as director of football at Salford City, the League Two club he used to co-own alongside his Class of ’92 team-mates before a takeover in May of this year. A new ownership consortium, spearheaded by Gary Neville and David Beckham, bought the club from the original Class of ’92 shareholders and the previous majority shareholder, Peter Lim.
Although Giggs’ director of football role was never officially confirmed, he has become a familiar figure on the touchline in recent months, collaborating closely with boss Karl Robinson, who has hailed his input as “outstanding”.
The 10 percent shareholding he purchased in Salford back in 2014 has essentially provided him with a pathway back into football following his departure from Wales and the subsequent legal proceedings. In-house club interviews and a Sky documentary showed him helping on the training pitch and advising behind the scenes, while his profile was raised further when Salford faced Manchester City in the FA Cup.
For now, the role keeps him tethered to football in a meaningful way. But compared to his glittering career at Manchester United and his time as Wales manager, being confined to Salford underlines just how far outside the mainstream Giggs now finds himself.
All this comes two years after domestic abuse charges against him were dropped. He was found not guilty after his ex-girlfriend, Kate Greville, declined to give evidence in a retrial and Giggs, who denied the charges, then set about rebuilding his career.
When speaking about management and a potential return to the dugout, he said: “I loved managing Wales, obviously. I do miss it, so hopefully.”
Becoming a dad at 50
Giggs welcomed another child at the age of 50 after his girlfriend Zara Charles gave birth to their first child together. The couple welcomed a daughter, named Cora, on November 1 last year.
A spokesperson for the former Manchester United star confirmed: “Ryan and his partner Zara are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Cora Giggs, who was born on Friday 1 November. They extend their warmest gratitude to all the amazing staff, especially the midwives, at Wythenshawe Hospital.”
Cora became Giggs’ third child. He’s already father to two youngsters – Zach, 18, a footballer with Sheffield United and Wales youth, and Libby, 22 – from his marriage to Stacey Cooke.
Zara, a lingerie model, 37, who has been dating Giggs since 2021, also has a daughter from a previous relationship. The pair share a seven-bedroom mansion in Greater Manchester, snapped up last year for approximately £2.1million.
Restaurant closure
Despite all his triumphs on the pitch, Giggs’ business endeavours away from football have proved far less lasting.
In 2014 he teamed up with school mates Kelvin Gregory and Bernie Taylor to launch George’s Dining Room and Bar in Worsley, the Manchester suburb where he was raised. Marketed as a “lifelong dream” for the three locals, it became a beloved establishment for nearly a decade.
Staff were told by text that the business was shutting with immediate effect, citing a steep drop in trade and spiralling costs amid the cost-of-living crisis. A handwritten sign in the window confirmed the doors would remain shut. Staff were told they would receive what they were owed, but many described the announcement as completely unexpected.
“It came totally out of the blue,” one worker told the Manchester Evening News.
The shutdown brought an end to a personal venture Giggs had hoped would establish Worsley as a culinary hotspot. It also highlighted the challenges even famous names encounter when venturing beyond football.
Premier League Hall of Fame snub
Giggs has been ignored once more for the Premier League Hall of Fame this week, despite being the league’s most successful player with 13 championship wins and a record 162 assists.
Since the Hall of Fame launched in 2021, Giggs has never received a nomination, whilst numerous former Manchester United colleagues – including Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney – have already gained entry.
This year’s candidates feature another strong former Manchester United presence. Patrice Evra and Teddy Sheringham have earned their first nominations, alongside Gary Neville, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar and Michael Owen, who have all appeared on previous shortlists. Ex-Chelsea stars Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas also feature amongst the nominees.
2021 inductees: David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Alan Shearer.
2022: Sergio Agüero, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright.
2023: Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Tony Adams, Petr Cech and Rio Ferdinand.
2024: Andy Cole, Ashley Cole, John Terry.
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