The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 50: Unearthing Giggs

For Ferguson, Giggs was a great shock to him. Based on his decades of experience in football, he believed that this was an extremely rare talent, a talent that was bound to become a football superstar.

--Inscription

A landmark event in Ferguson's efforts to strengthen the Red Devils' youth training was the signing of 1988-year-old Lee Sharp from Torquay United for £6 in June 20.

This move surprised the English football world, as no one expected Ferguson to spend money so generously. The transfer fee even set a record, as few young players in small clubs in English football at the time were worth the price.

For English football, this is a bit like a thirst for talent.

Ferguson's thirst for talent was also reflected in the recruitment of Giggs at the end of 1986. From a timeline perspective, the discovery of Giggs was the first and most important step for Ferguson to strengthen the Red Devils' youth training.

Ryan Giggs was only 13 years old when he joined the Red Devils' youth training camp.

Ryan Giggs was born on November 1973, 11 in Cardiff, Wales. His father and grandfather were both athletes, which gave him athletic talent and made him love sports. Because his parents separated, Giggs moved to Salford, Manchester with his mother and began a difficult life. Giggs had an outstanding talent in football since he was a child, and was recruited by the Dean Fc youth football team as soon as he arrived in Salford.

Here he received careful guidance from coach Schofield, his football skills improved rapidly, his ball control and dribbling abilities made great progress, and he grew rapidly in the forward position.

Giggs soon became a football star in the neighborhood. He had a variety of dazzling dribbling skills and had many fans at the age of 11. Giggs even appeared in newspapers and on TV, showing various football skills on the screen, various ingenious dribbling and feints, and endless tricks under his feet. Many reporters felt like they had "met a genius", "Giggs's feet can do homework, draw pictures, and play the piano. The dexterity is comparable to that of his hands!"

Dean FC is a satellite club of Manchester City. Giggs would have joined the Manchester City youth team directly, and his mother also wanted to join Manchester City nearby. But Manchester City rejected the recommendation of Dean FC, and replied coldly: "Ryan may have certain abilities, but he needs further observation and evaluation, and is not suitable for joining our youth training program now."

Manchester City rejected Giggs, and then-Red Devils manager Atkinson also received a recommendation, but he also thought Giggs was too thin and did not meet his standards.

Things changed after Ferguson took over as manager of the Red Devils.

Ferguson expanded his scout network, and the new scout Wood began to notice this little guy, and was shocked when he met him. Wood recommended this "football prodigy" to Ferguson, and even personally asked to meet Ferguson for this purpose, spent a long time introducing Giggs's talent and ability, and also brought a large bag of video materials.

Ferguson immediately decided to see the kid in person. At the Red Devils' training ground, Giggs confidently performed his skills in front of a group of adults, his various talents glittering like gems. Ferguson was surprised at first sight, thinking that it was not a football that a child could kick.

Ferguson was glad to have found a treasure. "I don't know why others look down on Giggs, he is so extraordinary. I can only say that their football is different from what I understand."

Giggs was invited to play in the Red Devils youth team game, and he happily agreed. After the specially arranged game began, Ferguson sat in his office and observed, feeling Giggs' "miraculous" performance from a distance: extraordinary ball sense, easy passing, clever changes of direction, and accurate shooting. In Ferguson's eyes, Giggs' body movements were like dancing, light, elegant, and radiant. He dribbled past opponents, he played with defenders, he easily broke into the penalty area, and shot at will... Giggs enjoyed the fun of football, he kept trying to pass everyone in front of him, and kept performing a dragon in the opponent's penalty area. He passed through the crowd of defenders like a butterfly, and his clever movements were like dancing.

Giggs beat the Red Devils' echelon defenders with a huge advantage and easily scored a hat-trick.

Ferguson described him to his assistant coach like this: "Giggs was like a little long-haired dog running on the grass, nimbly chasing pieces of paper in the wind. He had incredible agility and could perform unimaginable moves with ease. He combined technique and speed perfectly, and his understanding of football far surpassed that of other children of his generation. He was the most promising and talented player I had ever seen."

"Giggs' emergence, I think it's a gift from God."

The Red Devils invited Giggs to play against the Red Devils youth team again. The final result was no doubt that the Salford boys won 4-3. Giggs defeated the entire defense of the Red Devils alone. Giggs could not help the team not lose the ball, but he was able to beat the defender without any pressure and win the victory for the team.

Even Charlton was shocked by the match. After watching the match, the Red Devils legend said: "I seem to see Best at the age of 15."

After the game, Ferguson deliberately said to Giggs, "We don't want you now, you beat our youth team!"

Giggs was so frightened that he even cried out of fear. He later said: "I was so scared of the rejection from the Red Devils that I didn't realize Alex was joking. Fortunately, Boss quickly told me the truth, he was teasing me on purpose."

Ferguson didn't even eat, insisted on sending Giggs home personally and visited him directly.

Ferguson's visit surprised Giggs' mother and made her feel happy. She knew the Red Devils were sincere because no coach of a top club would treat a child like this.

Ferguson said: "I knew the best way to get a child. During that time, I went to their home every week. I would talk to his mother and also talk to Giggs. I soon became familiar with their family and gained the friendship of their whole family."

Ferguson met Giggs's desire to challenge a real master and arranged a reserve team match. It was a real match, Giggs faced England international Viv Anderson. Giggs was very excited, he kept using fake moves to challenge his opponent, hoping to knock Anderson down.

Anderson, who thought he could handle it easily, felt so frustrated. Before the game, he was asked not to use excessive fouls and not to bully children. As a result, he ended up running behind Giggs in a panic, being knocked down by the opponent's feints time and time again, and could only watch the boy's back eat dust.

Anderson gasped and asked, "Who the hell is this kid?!"

"Why can't I tackle him? He's killing me."

Giggs was still a child, he was playful and treated the match with the Red Devils' regular players as a relaxing game. He did not think there was any "conspiracy" in Ferguson's visit to his family, nor did he notice too much abnormality. He did not know that no head coach in the entire English football world would personally visit a child, even the Neville brothers, Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Savage... They never enjoyed such preferential treatment in the future.

Another afternoon of the appointment came. Giggs and his friends were still playing outside. When he saw the Mercedes parked at the door, he realized that he had a guest.

Ferguson said, "Ryan, I have already talked to your mother. Now it's time to talk to you. We hope you can join the Red Devils. What do you think?"

Ferguson was silent for a while, and when he looked up, he saw Giggs was at a loss. The little guy was stunned by the news, and his mouth was wide open enough to swallow a football.

Giggs said, "When Ferguson said he wanted to sign me, I couldn't believe it. Then I was so happy. You know, I was rejected by Manchester City and the Red Devils before. I thought I had no football to play."

Giggs's mother later said: "The days when Sir Alex Ferguson often came to our house were 'stressful'. He was so famous, often on TV, and a big shot. He often came, just sitting opposite you, drinking tea and chatting with you casually, and talking to you about your son. How could this not make you 'scared'? How could I refuse their invitation to Ryan?"

At the end of 1986, Ferguson personally signed a contract with Giggs and led him into the Red Devils with his luxury Mercedes.

Ferguson said to Giggs earnestly: "Here we have the best coaches to help you succeed. You just need to train hard on the field. You can tell me about things off the field. We will help you solve any problems you have."

Giggs was not yet 14 years old that year and was experiencing the shock of his parents' divorce. He was very sensitive and reacted greatly to everything. Ferguson understood the impact of family upheaval on a teenager and always gave him warmth, care and careful attention.

Ferguson, the Red Devils coach who is both a teacher, a father and a friend, is the most important guide in Giggs' career.

Giggs later said, "Alex is such a good coach. I think meeting him is the greatest luck of my life. He really cares about me and takes care of me from every detail of life. He is a very good listener and always listens to my ideas patiently, and then gives very good advice and guidance. I trust him completely and don't need to be on guard. He knows my parents and has a good relationship with both of them. My father and mother don't have a good relationship, and they also have differences about my growth, but Alex successfully won the support of my parents and made them understand that their children's lives will only get better when they come to the Red Devils. I am willing to train with the Red Devils and I am more willing to play for him-I think the same will be true for those children in the future. Ferguson gained the trust of parents and cooperated with him to manage their children. Ferguson has such magical power. People always see Ferguson as being irritable, but I knew his warm side when I was very young."

Giggs said: "I have actually liked the Red Devils since I was a child. I am a Red Devils fan. This is not because I joined the Red Devils. Why did I join Manchester City's youth training camp? Because I had no choice at the beginning. I remember that when I was in the Dean FC football team, everyone was required to wear Manchester City's jerseys for training, but I didn't like it. Once I boldly put on a red Red Devils jersey, but the coach found out. He immediately stopped me from doing this and forced me to take off the jersey. I remember being severely scolded by the coach at the time, but I don't regret it."

Giggs has loved the Red Devils since he was a child. He is a very pure "child devil dream". Ferguson personally brought him into the door of the Red Devils and made his dream come true.

Norris said: "I once accompanied Alex to visit Giggs' family. He was very interesting when chatting with Giggs' family. They talked about various topics and the atmosphere was very harmonious. This is a very magical social ability."

Ferguson successfully brought Giggs to the Red Devils with his ability to discover genius and this special but effective way of communication.