Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has insisted he ‘won’t lose sleep’ over his continued omission from the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
Giggs’ extensive list of achievements had made the 52-year-old a leading contender for inclusion when the Hall of Fame was created back in 2021.
The former winger is a record 13-time Premier League winner – two more than his former team-mate Paul Scholes. Giggs is also the competition’s all-time assist leader with 162, while he is third for appearances with 632.
Giggs has, however, not been included in nomination lists for the Hall of Fame which has prompted suggestions he has been blacklisted.
No official reason has been given for his absence, but it has been suggested that off the field controversies are behind his lack of nomination.
Giggs had previously been exposed for having an affair with his brother’s wife Natasha, took out a gagging order over a fling with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, and later saw his marriage collapse.
His managerial career with Wales ended in turmoil after he was arrested on suspicion of assault in 2020. He always denied the allegations and was cleared in 2023 after his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville withdrew from a retrial.
A total of 24 players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including nine of Giggs’ former team-mates.
Giggs has claimed he will not lose sleep over his continued omission, stressing that winning trophies during his career had always been the overarching aim.
‘It’s not something that I really think about,’ speaking to Daily Mail Sport via betting site BetSelect.
‘It’s been brought up a couple of times, and only then do I think about it. [The Hall of Fame] isn’t something you start in football to be in.
‘I came into football to play and to try to be the best player I could be. And then you get greedy, you want to try and win things. And I was fortunate to be at United during an era when we won a lot.
‘But I don’t know who makes the decisions. It’s not something I lose sleep over.
‘If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, then, as I said, I won’t lose sleep over it.’
Under the Hall of Fame’s rules, players must have retired prior to the start of the year of their nomination.
They must have made a minimum of 250 Premier League appearances, unless they have reached one of several milestones.
The milestones include making a minimum of 200 Premier League appearances for one club, selection in a Team of the Decade or 20-Year Anniversary teams, winning a Golden Boot or Golden Glove, or being named Premier League Player of the Season.
Milestones also include winning three Premier League titles, scoring 100 Premier League goals or recording 100 Premier League clean sheets.
Giggs also reflected on Man United’s progress under Ruben Amorim this campaign, after the Red Devils had endured a miserable 2024-25 season.
The Man United legend believes progress is being made under Amorim, but stressed the Portuguese coach needs time and more transfer windows to deliver success.
‘We don’t expect to win the league this year, maybe not even next year, but we want to see improvements. Is it winning the FA Cup? Is it getting a Champions League spot? Is it being more consistent? Is it bringing in players that excite us? And he needs time to do that,’ Giggs said.
‘The problem is you don’t get time anymore, it seems like he’s got the backing of the club. You really do need to manage short-term and long-term. He probably has to concentrate more on the short term at the moment.
‘But the problem we’ve had in the last 10 years is that the next manager comes in and just chops and changes because he’s not happy with the players, and it’s just a vicious circle.
‘He’s got rid of the players he doesn’t fancy, the Sanchos, the Antonys, the Rashford, and he’s got good players in. He needs a couple more transfer windows.
‘His results haven’t been great, and I think he’ll know that. But I think he also knows where he wants to be. We still need a couple of transfer windows to be really at a maximum, whether it’s getting the right people in in January and then in the summer.
‘We can’t just keep sacking managers. But if you’re at Man United and you keep losing games, you are susceptible to the sack. But I think the majority of United fans like him. I think they like him as a character. They can see he’s trying his best. But United, unfortunately, with the world’s media watching you, you have to win games consistently. And that’s probably where we fell short.
‘I do think we have improved, and I believe a Champions League spot is up for grabs this year.’
Man United are currently sixth in the Premier League table, just two points shy of the top four which comes with guaranteed qualification for the Champions League.
