Ryan Giggs to captain GB football team at Olympics

Ryan Giggs will captain the Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympics.

The Football Association announced this morning the Manchester United winger would lead the hosts' bid for gold.

The 38-year-old is one of the three over-age players in Stuart Pearce's squad for the Games.

Giggs told http://www.thefa.com: "Obviously I have experience and there are a lot of younger players in this squad, as captain hopefully I can pass that on to the younger players."

Despite never having played in a major international tournament with Wales, his credentials are impeccable, having won 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League crowns.

He also won 64 caps for Wales before retiring from international football in 2007.

Giggs' compatriot Craig Bellamy and Manchester City defender Micah Richards are the other two over-age players in the squad.

They were picked ahead of David Beckham whose non-selection provoked a lot of debate.

Giggs will lead out Team GB for the first time when they face Brazil at the Riverside Stadium on Friday, July 20.

"Ryan Giggs is going to be captaining the squad for the duration of the tournament," Pearce told Press Association Sport.

"I looked at the squad and I thought there are some good candidates there.

"Aaron Ramsey captains Wales, Micah Richards has captained Manchester City at times, Craig Bellamy for the experience he's had and one or two others within the camp as well.

"But I think Ryan is the standout captain amongst the group. He has got the respect of all the members of the group and I am quite looking forward to working with him and alongside him."

Giggs admitted he was proud to be handed the role and revealed his excitement for the Games.

"Obviously it is a tremendous honour to be part of the Olympics," Giggs told Press Association Sport.

"Stuart has obviously given the me the captaincy, which is even better so I am really looking forward to it.

"It is a unique experience and one from the start that I wanted to be part of when I got the opportunity.

"I think it just got more and more exciting as the Games got nearer and then when the squads were announced I was obviously really, really proud to be involved."

PA