Giggs has unique place in fans' hearts

London: Several years ago, when some Manchester United fans were beginning to question Ryan Giggs's worth, Britain's most decorated footballer picked up the phone to a reporter who had written an article in his defence.

Giggs didn't say much and the conversation didn't amount to an interview. The criticism he had received from the Stretford End had hurt him and he just wanted to say thank you to someone who had chosen to offer common sense to counter the madness.

Giggs was saying thank you again on Sunday night, in Sheffield. This time to the 151,842 people who had voted him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. In many ways, though, the two things are linked.

Winning quietly

It is largely because of the courtesy, decency and humility that Giggs has shown over the second half of his career that the United winger won this award. In Britain, we like those who manage to win and win quietly.

As regrettable as it is, not many people in British football know how to say thank you. More often than not, the phone is only picked up when there is an argument to be had or revenge is sought. In football these days, it is always somebody else's fault.

Giggs is a magnificent footballer, of course. Had he been English he would have won 100 caps. But that isn't why he has managed to find — almost by accident — such a unique place in the hearts and minds of British supporters.

There are other great players in our isles, many other worthy servants of our game. There are two others at his own club, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. But in a sport that tends to divide and split opinion almost without trying, Giggs is a rarity simply because he unites people.

Having played more than 800 games for his one and only club, such loyalty and longevity may never be seen again.

When we say goodbye to him, there will be a real sense of loss, a sense that a clearly defined chapter in the history of our game will be closing. How many players can we genuinely say that about?

On Sunday night, football supporters from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea would have felt pleased for Giggs. Some may even have voted for him. Manchester City fans would not have (Giggs was about to sign for them before United stole in 22 years ago).

For the first half of his 19 years in the United first team, Giggs was simply a supremely talented young footballer. His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, and one of his inspirations, Sir Bobby Charlton, both tell wonderful tales of the first occasions they watched him play.

"I told Sir Bobby that he had to come down and watch this young lad," recalls Ferguson. "He came down and watched him. Straight away he said that we had to sign him up.

Talents

"I said, ‘Don't worry, we already have.' We must have gone to his house countless times to make sure he came to us. Thankfully, he did."

Over the years, Giggs's talents have endured. Though in our mind's eye we will always see him as a winger, his sense of timing, his intelligence and indeed his robustness have allowed him to play across the midfield positions.

While players such as his clubmate Neville seem to be heading towards retirement consumed by rage that soon it will all be over, Giggs has carried the look of a man who seems intent on enjoying it while he can.

An ambassador for the charity UNICEF, he has been able to place football in its proper context, although, when your honours include 11 Premier League titles, two European Cups, the Super Cup, three League Cups and four FA Cups, perhaps that is easier to do.