Giggs factfile

Sky Sports takes a look at the career of Ryan Giggs following his appointment as Team GB skipper.

Sky Sports takes a look at the career of a footballl icon

Having been included as one of three over-age players in the Team GB football squad for the 2012 Olympics, Ryan Giggs' vast experience made him an obvious candidate for the captaincy. Stuart Pearce has confirmed that the Manchester United midfielder will lead his side's gold medal charge, and here Sky Sports takes a look at the glittering career of the iconic Welshman. 1973: Born Ryan Joseph Wilson on November 29 in Cardiff. 1990: Signs as a trainee with Manchester United in July and then as a professional at the start of December. 1991: Adopts mother's maiden name and becomes Ryan Giggs. March - Makes United debut aged 17 as a substitute against Everton. Two months later he scores the winner against Manchester City at Old Trafford on his full debut. October - Becomes the youngest footballer to represent Wales when he plays against Germany in Nuremberg aged 17 years and 322 days. November - Wins his first piece of silverware with United as the Red Devils beat Red Star Belgrade to lift the UEFA Super Cup. 1992: Helps United lift League Cup and that season is voted PFA Young Player of the Year. 1993: Becomes first player to be named PFA Young Player of the Year twice. Member of United side which ends the club's 26-year wait to win the league title. 1994: Helps United win the Premier League and FA Cup double for the first time in the club's history. 1996: Helps the Red Devils win the double for a second time. 1997: Wins a third league title in four years and in October scores a memorable goal in their 3-2 UEFA Champions League victory over Juventus at Old Trafford. 1998: Injures his hamstring in February and is out for six weeks as United finish the season empty-handed. 1999: Scores stunning winner in United's epic FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Arsenal at Villa Park in April. Helps the Reds complete an historic treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup. 2000: Wins his sixth Premier League winners' medal in eight years. 2001: Collects his seventh league championship and 12th major honour in total. July - Signs a new five-year contact worth around £50,000 a week. Sent off for the first time in his career for two bookable offences as Wales crash 3-2 in Norway. 2002: August 23: Nets 100th goal for United in all competitions with the team's second goal in league game at Chelsea. 2003: May - United are crowned champions again. September - Giggs, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following his involvement in confrontations with Arsenal players after a goalless draw at Old Trafford. November - Giggs elbows Russia's Vadim Evseev in Euro 2004 play-off in Moscow, prompting the Russian football association to call for an immediate ban. December - Giggs fined £7,500 and warned as to his future conduct at an FA disciplinary hearing into Old Trafford fracas. Then suspended for two matches for Evseev incident. 2004: May - United finish third in the table but Giggs lines up in the 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall. 2007: May 6 - Wins ninth Premier League title with Manchester United. May 30 - Announces retirement from international football. October 16 - Signs new contract until end of June 2009. 2008: May 11 - Equals Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record for the club when he played his 758th game against Wigan. May 21 - Breaks Sir Bobby Charlton's record after coming on as a substitute - and scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out - as Manchester United beat Chelsea in the Champions League final. 2009: February 12 - Signs new deal with United, committing him to the club until June 2010. April 26 - Voted Professional Footballers' Association player of the year. May 16 - Helps United win the Premier League and becomes the first footballer to collect 11 top division English league title medals. December 13 - Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. December 18 - Signs a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until June 2011. December 31 - Named the Manchester United Player of the Decade. 2010: February - Wins the League Cup as United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the final. 2011: January 17 - Makes his 600th league appearance for United against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. February - Signs a one-year contract extension. March - Surpasses Charlton's Manchester United league appearance record by playing his 607th game against Liverpool. May - Wins the Premier League title for a 12th time. 2012: February - Signs one-year contract extension. Makes his 900th appearance for United, scoring a last-minute winner in a 2-1 away win against Norwich. June - Named as one of three over-age players in the Great Britain team for the Olympics. July 8 - Confirmed as the captain of Team GB.