Ryan Giggs’ illustrious athletic journey solidified his reputation as one of the greatest wingers in football history and among the top players during his era.
Throughout his remarkable sports career, Ryan Giggs became renowned as an exceptional winger in football, often ranked among the best players of his time.
Moreover, beyond his performances on the field, the star’s fame extended off it too, for over nearly four decades, his name has come to be associated just as much with scandals as with football.
The card number 51, often referred to as such, gained the moniker ‘The Welsh Wanderer’ due to his surprising behavior. This behavior included an eight-year relationship with his brother’s spouse, a restraining order, and a high-profile arrest for allegations of assault and domestic abuse.
The scandal significantly influenced the latter part of Ryan’s career, with him not being inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Even after amassing an impressive 13 championships over my 24-year tenure with Manchester United and representing Wales a commendable 64 times, I was still taken aback by this unexpected turn of events in my career journey.
Daily Mail takes a look at how Ryan became one of football’s biggest players…
HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER
2011 saw the revelation that Ryan had been involved in an affair with his brother Rhodri’s spouse, Natasha, while he was married to Stacey Cooke for four years. They have a 17-year-old son Zach and a 19-year-old daughter Libby together.
Natasha found herself pregnant by Ryan, a situation that occurred prior to her marriage to Rhodri’s brother in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, she had to terminate the pregnancy only two weeks before the wedding.
In a thrilling twist of fate, I had the sheer luck to cross paths with my idol back in March 2003, right in a buzzing Manchester nightclub. While his beloved fiancée Stacey nestled comfortably at home, expecting their bundle of joy, there I was, basking in the same atmosphere as him! What an unforgettable evening it turned out to be, spending it with none other than my adored hero.
Even though Natasha began dating Rhodri only two months after their initial breakup, they rekindled their romance a year later, engaging in clandestine meetings at hotels and vacant properties that Natasha, being an estate agent, had access to.
Rhodri mentioned that several of his football-playing acquaintances had been involved with his ex, and he alleged that one of them left a bar in Portugal rather than confronting him.
Rhodri revealed that quite a few of his football friends were romantically entangled with his ex, and he asserted that one of them made an exit from a Portuguese bar instead of facing him directly.
Upon hearing the news, members of Ryan’s family decided to distance themselves from him. His father expressed feelings of shame towards his son, while Natasha took advantage of the situation and made an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother a year later, capitalizing on the scandal.
In a reference to their initial clash in 2011, Rhodri has openly expressed before that he would always be available should his brother choose to connect again.
Rhodri mentioned: ‘He finally gathered the nerve to meet up with me around three or four weeks later. It was at a friend’s place, where he claimed it was regarding sex, but it turned out to be more about his self-pity and expressing dissatisfaction with his Reebok contract.’
I can’t help but be utterly blown away by this deal I’ve heard about – it’s got to be the most extraordinary contract out there! After all, he’s raking in a fortune for merely sporting sneakers. Now, I may not agree with every penny spent, but hey, if that’s the gig, you’ve taken the plunge, right? You signed up for it!
It seemed as if I was about to find myself in a difficult situation. I had the urge to play a sad melody, such is his circumstance. I felt sympathetic towards him despite all the troubles he’s caused and here he was acting arrogantly. I couldn’t help but wish for some distance from him.
Feel free to call me at any time. My life has taken a new direction now; I’m currently working within the education sector. Over the years, I’ve faced numerous challenges, but I’ve managed to handle most of them independently.”
This version maintains the original sentiment while using more polite language and avoiding colloquialisms that might be considered inappropriate in certain settings.
Despite the affair, Giggs’ marriage with Stacey managed to endure for a while but ultimately lasted only ten years, ending in 2017.
THE GAGGING ORDER
Even though he was involved with Natasha and remained married to Stacey, Ryan yearned for something more. Consequently, in the year 2010, he initiated a passionate seven-month relationship with the Big Brother competitor, Imogen Thomas.
In an exhilarated interview with a Sunday newspaper, Imogen expressed that there was an immediate connection between them, as they shared numerous similarities, but she chose to keep the identity of the footballer confidential.
This occurred because Giggs had issued a confidentiality agreement, preventing the disclosure of details about their seven-month affair, as his personal life faced an unprecedented level of media attention.
Regardless of a costly super injunction worth £150,000, information about the footballer’s scandalous affair was ultimately disclosed when Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming invoked Parliamentary privilege to publicly identify him within the House of Commons.
It’s said that Giggs became aware of Thomas in a nightclub and then actively sought her out. However, he wished to maintain their relationship secretive because of her past.
Previously, she had modeled without a top for men’s publications, and had relationships with footballer Jermain Defoe (from Tottenham) and comedian Russell Brand.
As per the footballer’s statement following the revelation of the scandal, it was stated that they had a total of four meetings with Thomas, which took place from September to December in the year 2010.
In March 2011, she reached out to him via text message, a move that prompted him to believe she might be considering the sale of her personal story.
It’s said that she requested, or demanded, a £50,000 payment from him, and he consented to meet her at the hotel where he was lodging.
In that setting, he asserted that he had gifted her a signed football jersey, yet declined to offer her £50,000. Shortly after, she requested another meeting with him, to which he agreed, albeit unwillingly, and presented her with some football tickets instead.
Initially, the judge noted that while the situation wasn’t crystal clear, the evidence seemed to imply that Thomas may have coordinated the two hotel meetings in conjunction with photographers or journalists.
Subsequently, Giggseventually decided against pursuing any legal action. A court statement, delivered by Thomas’s attorney, indicated that the parties had settled their dispute, with Ryan acknowledging that there was no ground for accusing her of extortion.
Eventually, I managed to sell my tale to Max Clifford, who then polished and published it on a Sunday edition of The Mirror, giving the world a glimpse into my life.
During the interview, she remarked, “Unlike most soccer players, he appeared to be genuinely kind, private, and moral. Unfortunately, I found myself attracted to these qualities.
ARREST
In 2018, Giggs was given the role as the manager of Wales’ team. However, his professional life took an unexpected turn in November 2020, when he was taken into custody on allegations of assaulting his former partner, Kate Greville, and her sister, Emma, for which he was under suspicion.
He always denied the charges.
In the year 2023, the winger was found not guilty of assaulting Greville, who opted out of participating in a second trial. Additionally, Ryan was acquitted of charges related to abusive or domineering conduct towards her and common assault against Emma.
Chris Daw KC, representing Giggs, stated in court that his client was “extremely grateful that the prosecution has concluded after nearly three years of fighting to prove his innocence. He has maintained his innocence throughout this entire process, as there have been numerous false accusations made against him in court.
The beginning of the case’s unraveling was disclosed when Greville expressed her reluctance to testify, citing the toll the proceedings were taking on her “emotional and bodily health.
According to Giggs’ legal team, they found his argument unconvincing. They argued that the prosecution was deterred by fresh evidence unearthed by the defense, such as the fact that she underwent a cosmetic procedure for lip fillers on or near the day of the alleged incident – which was several days prior to when photos emerged showing her with swollen and bruised lips, allegedly due to the attack.
Giggs’ lawyer stated that his client is eager to reconstruct his life and career, now that he has been declared innocent.
During the 2022 trial, Greville was charged with allegedly intending to become pregnant by Giggs. This accusation was made after lawyers pointed out a message she sent to a friend in October 2020, approximately weeks before the alleged incident, stating that she wouldn’t leave empty-handed.
She shared this information with her friends after discovering that the footballer was unfaithful to her with eight other women, following which she decided to confront him, or perhaps take some form of action against him.
‘Your plan was to get pregnant by Mr Giggs,’ he asked her.
As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d like to clarify that when I said “no,” it wasn’t about abandoning the idea altogether; rather, it was expressing my reluctance to leave without our beloved golden retriever pup, Mac.
The attorney for the soccer player was read aloud a note that inquired about him purchasing a £1,000 pair of Prada shoes from Harrods, specifically.
He asked whether she had ‘got very used to the lifestyle you enjoyed with Mr Giggs’.
Instead, Greville asserted that as an unmarried woman, she was self-sufficient and able to take care of her own finances.
Hall of Fame snub
Earlier this year Giggs broke his silence on being snubbed by the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
He is a highly accomplished footballer who played for Manchester United’s first team for 24 years, during which time he won an impressive 13 titles, making him the most decorated player in the league. Additionally, he represented Wales 64 times and played for Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012. His exceptional career earned him legendary status at United, and after retiring from playing, he spent three years coaching at the club.
Despite being embroiled in multiple scandals, his name hasn’t appeared in the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, which was established in 2020 and began inducting members in 2021.
The goal is to acknowledge and celebrate individuals – both players and managers – who have accomplished remarkable feats and left a lasting impact on the Premier League. So far, we’ve welcomed 22 outstanding players and two distinguished managers into our esteemed ranks.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand on his show, Giggs was asked if the past snub still lingers in his thoughts.
Giggs responded, “I hadn’t given it much thought until now, but upon your mention, I must admit that isn’t something I usually ponder.
As a devoted admirer, let me share my perspective: When first setting foot on this exciting journey, it’s not about amassing accolades or chasing after awards. No, it’s all about conquering matches and hoisting trophies. For me, that’s the ultimate goal!
Giggs enquired from Ferdinand if his name appeared on the list, and the ex-defender detailed his induction process that took place in 2023.
Now, Giggs playfully admitted he was feeling a bit irritated. ‘Jeez, what’s happening here?’ He continued, mentioning that upon returning home, he would take a look at his list.
Later, he playfully jabbed at another ex-Manchester United defender, Gary Neville, by asking, “Is Neville aware?” or simply, “Is Nev in the know?
I don’t believe Nev has hopped onto the bandwagon just yet, but it won’t be long before he does. His knack for persuasive conversation will surely pave the way for him.
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- RAVEN2 redeem codes and how to use them (October 2025)
- Kingdom Rush Battles Tower Tier List
- Clash Royale Furnace Evolution best decks guide
- Delta Force Best Settings and Sensitivity Guide
- Cookie Run: Kingdom Boss Rush Season 2-2 Guide and Tips
- Ninja Arashi 2 Shadow’s Return expands the hit ARPG sequel with more content, ahead of Ninja Arashi 3’s launch later this year
- Kingdom Rush Battles Hero Tier List
- BBC spy drama with James Norton dubbed “the story that shocked Britain” is now on Netflix
- Vampire’s Fall 2 redeem codes and how to use them (June 2025)
2025-08-10 12:35