Ryan Giggs retires: A factfile of the former Manchester United midfielder after he announces his retirement from playing

A look at the playing career of Giggs as the veteran midfielder announces his retirement

(Getty)

Ryan Giggs has announced his retirement from playing for Manchester United after he was appointed as assistant manager to Louis van Gaal. The 40-year-old, who made his debut for the club back in 1991, is the most successful player to have featured in the Premier League.

1973: Born Ryan Joseph Wilson on November 29 in Cardiff.

1990: Signs as a trainee with Manchester United in July and as a professional in December.

1991: Adopts mother's maiden name and becomes Ryan Giggs.

March - Makes United debut aged 17 as a substitute against Everton. Two months later he scores the winner against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

October - Becomes the youngest footballer to represent Wales when he plays against Germany in Nuremberg aged 17 years and 322 days.

November - Wins his first piece of silverware with United as the Reds beat Red Star Belgrade to lift the UEFA Super Cup.

1992: Helps United lift League Cup and wins PFA Young Player of the Year award.

1993: Becomes first player to win PFA Young Player of the Year award twice. Member of United side which ends the club's 26-year wait to win the league title.

1994: Helps United win the Premier League and FA Cup double.

1996: Helps the Red Devils win the double for a second time.

1997: Wins a third league title in four years and in October scores a memorable goal in 3-2 Champions League victory over Juventus at Old Trafford.

1999: Scores stunning winner in United's epic FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Arsenal at Villa Park in April. Helps the Reds complete an historic treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup trophies.

2000: Wins his sixth Premier League winners' medal in eight years.

2001: Collects his seventh league championship and 12th major honour in total.

July - Signs a new five-year contact. Sent off for the first time in his career as Wales crash 3-2 in Norway

2002: August 23: Nets his 100th career goal for United with the team's second goal in league game at Chelsea.

2003: May - United are crowned league champions again.

2004: May - United finish third in the table but Giggs lines up in the 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.

2007: May 6 - Wins ninth Premier League title with Manchester United.

May 30 - Announces retirement from international football.

December 11 - Receives an OBE from the Queen for services to football.

2008: May 11 - Equals Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record for the club when he plays his 758th game, against Wigan.

May 21 - Breaks Charlton's record after coming on as a substitute - and scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out - as Manchester United beat Chelsea in the Champions League final.

2009: April 26 - Voted Professional Footballers' Association player of the year.

May 16 - Helps United win the Premier League and becomes the first footballer to collect 11 top division English league title medals.

December 13 - Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

December 31 - Named the Manchester United Player of the Decade.

2010: February - Wins the League Cup as United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the final.

2011: January 17 - Makes his 600th league appearance for United, against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

March - Surpasses Charlton's Manchester United league appearance record by playing his 607th game against Liverpool.

May - Wins the Premier League title for a 12th time.

2012: February - Makes his 900th appearance for United, scoring a last-minute winner in a 2-1 away win against Norwich.

June - Named as one of three over-age players in the Great Britain squad for the Olympic Games.

August - Team GB knocked out of Olympics in quarter-final by South Korea on penalties.

2013: February 10 - Scores opening goal in United's 2-0 win over Everton, continuing his record of scoring in every season of his professional career, which ended with a goalless return in 2013-14.

March 5 - Makes 1,000th senior competitive appearance, turning out for United as they controversially crash out of Champions League against Real Madrid at last-16 stage.

May - Lifts Premier League trophy for a 13th time.

July 4 - United confirm Giggs will take up a player-coaching role from 2013-14 season, under new manager David Moyes.

2014: April 22 - Following the sacking of Moyes, Giggs is announced as interim manager.

May 19 - Announces his retirement as a player following his appointment as assistant to new United manager Louis van Gaal.

PA