Posts Tagged ‘PFA player’
Giggs deserves plaudits
December 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: 
Ryan Giggs's nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is definitely merited.
Based on his achievements throughout an outstanding career as a professional, winning the award would be the very least he deserves.
He epitomises professionalism in the manner that he conducts himself on and off the pitch. He is a humble, dedicated individual and I am glad that he has been recognized with this nomination.
Given his success with Manchester United, he has a bulging trophy cabinet at home, but had not picked up too many individual awards before finally winning the PFA Player's Player of the Year last season.
His commitment has always been to the team over the individual and the major shame with Ryan is that he hasn't been given the international platform to showcase his class regularly on the international stage.
He will go down as an absolute legend at Manchester United and one of the Premier League's greats, and is certainly one of the shining lights in the game. In my opinion, he is one of the very best in this era which is a major credit to Ryan given the calibre of players we have seen since the inception of the Premier League.
He is an excellent example of how to extend a career through the right mental and physical preparation. His understated attitude to playing is phenomenal with the right level of rest, nutrition and hydration around the game proving vital to his success.
From a personal perspective, I am committed to emulate the longevity of Ryan Giggs's career in my own, looking to play at the very top level when I am 36.
As you get older it is important to adapt your game slightly. I think the most important thing is that you become more astute in your decision making.
You cannot look to go out with the same intensity for 90 minutes as you did when you were fresh on the scene at 21, and you have to be more selective with your options.
Around the game, there is naturally greater emphasis on rest and recovery, and also the diet in order to replenish accordingly. Of course, these factors are important throughout a career, but they certainly become integral to prolonging a career as you age.