No doubt it will generate plenty of debate, but Ryan Giggs has been named as the best player in the 20 seasons of the Premier League to date.
The Welshman has featured prominently in every single season of the competition to date and it is that longevity which is probably the main reason the 38-year old saw off competition from the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and his former teammate Roy Keane to win the top award.
Although others competing for the award arguably made more of an impact than Giggs at various stages of their careers, he has made than more than 900 appearances for the Red Devils and has a list of medals that five players combined would be glad with accumulating throughout their careers.
The award will likely be welcomed by Manchester United fans and maybe slightly begrudged by fans of other clubs, who also had a thing or two say about Giggs’ controversial PFA Player of the Year award in 2009.
If Giggs winning the Player award is a little controversial, then there can be little argument with Alex Ferguson beating the likes of Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp, David Moyes and Jose Mourinho to the award for best Premier League manager after the Scot guided Manchester United to 12 Premier League titles.
Fergie and Giggs won their awards as part of the Premier League’s 20 seasons celebrations, which also featured a public vote for the categories of best goal, best match, best save, best goal celebration and a Fantasy Team made up of the best XI from the last 20 seasons.
Wayne Rooney’s shinned effort against Manchester City last season won the top goal award, the derby match between the two Manchester sides in 2009 was voted as the best game, Craig Gordon won the best save for his exploits against Bolton in 2010 and Eric Cantona’s arrogant shrug of the shoulders beat off competition from Lomana Lua Lua and Jimmy Bullard for the coveted Best Goal Celebration award.
The full list of awards, including the fantasy teams picked by the fans and the experts, can be seen below.
Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comment box at the bottom of the page; just remember that it wasn’t us that picked them!
Premier League ’20 seasons’ awards:
Fantasy Team – Public: Peter Schmeichel, Ashley Cole, Tony Adams, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer
Fantasy Team – Experts: Peter Schmeichel, Ashley Cole, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer
Match of the past 20 seasons
1. Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, 20/09/2009 – 18%
2. Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle United, 03/04/1996 – 16%
3. Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal, 21/04/2009 – 15%
Goal celebration of the past 20 seasons
1. Eric Cantona, Manchester United v Sunderland, 1996/97
2. Lomana Lua Lua, Newcastle United, multiple occasions
3. Jimmy Bullard, Manchester City v Hull City, 2009/10
Save of the past 20 seasons
1. Craig Gordon, Sunderland v Bolton, 18/12/2010
2. Peter Schmeichel, Newcastle v Manchester United, 21/12/1997
3. Jussi Jaaskelainen, Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers, 20/10/2001
