Statement on the United website:

Today is a fantastic day for Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is a great appointment and let me begin by telling you how delighted I am to be working with someone of his calibre. His credentials are second to none and I’m positive the club will thrive under his leadership over the coming years.

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from professional football and embark upon a new and exciting chapter in my life, as assistant manager of Manchester United. I am immensely proud, honoured and fortunate to have represented the biggest club in the world 963 times and Wales 64 times. My dream was always to play for Manchester United, and although it saddens me to know I won’t be pulling on a United jersey again as a player, I have been lucky enough to have fulfilled that dream playing with some of the best players in the world, working under an incredible manager in Sir Alex Ferguson, and most of all, playing for the greatest fans in world football. I have always felt and appreciated your support.

I want to also give a huge thanks to the backroom staff and support teams we have and have had at Manchester United over the years. I would not have achieved the success I have without your continuing dedication and commitment to creating the best environment to enable the players to thrive. I would not have won 34 trophies in my career without you. I would also like to say a special thanks to my friends and family for all your love and support.

For me, today is a new chapter filled with many emotions - immense pride, sadness, but most of all, excitement towards the future. United fans I hope will share and echo my belief that the club, the management and owners, are doing everything they can to return this great club to where it belongs, and I hope to be there every step of the way. To the greatest fans in world football, thank you, I have loved every minute of playing for you and representing the biggest and best club in the world.

See you next season.

Does that make Carrick the oldest player in the squad?

Hallelujah!

Damn, we're gonna need a central midfielder now

It's the right time, but sad to see a true legend of the game retire.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

On average, Ryan Giggs won a trophy every 28 games...

Ryan Giggs Honours List:

13 Premier League titles
4 FA Cups
4 League Cups
2 Champions Leagues
9 Charity Shields http://t.co/UNCoRQO67v

Its the right decision, his time was up

Giggs

#Legend

comment by Barf Vader (U15867)
posted 7 seconds ago
On average, Ryan Giggs won a trophy every 28 games...
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Thats a stat!

Giggs

Numbers 7,9 and 11 are free.

Giggs

Hopefully he can be half as good a coach as he was a player, still plenty to learn and LVG is a great coach to start being a No.2 for (if that's what's happening).

So much experience lost already, surely Evra has to stay as back up for Shaw?

963 appearances

34 trophies

comment by RVP's Left Foot - Manchester is my heaven. (U11781)
posted 35 seconds ago
So much experience lost already, surely Evra has to stay as back up for Shaw?
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Rumours that he was in Turin over the weekend discussing a move to Juve?

comment by Barf Vader (U15867)
posted 4 minutes ago
On average, Ryan Giggs won a trophy every 28 games...
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WOW

agent already denied it Barf

comment by It's time!! - Avoiding Europe since 2014 (U6852)
posted 1 minute ago
963 appearances

34 trophies


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I think the best thing about Giggs retiring as a player is we can go back to appreciating what a greater player he was. That appreciation doesn't have to be dampened by the image of him holding back progress.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

The ground work starts now.We need to build a solid foundation for the future.

comment by Lord V.I.K II-Tuilagi>Burrell (U12889)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
I think the best thing about Giggs retiring as a player is we can go back to appreciating what a greater player he was. That appreciation doesn't have to be dampened by the image of him holding back progress.
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When was he holding back progress?
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When wasn't he holding back progress?

I dont necessarily think you can blame a player for holding back another player.Management,yes.