There are flashier players out there, but Giggs do

Manchester United has won a record 19th title, while Liverpool remains stuck at 18, its most recent top-division crown coming in 1990. It wasn't easy, but Manchester United got a 1-1 draw against Blackburn, a result that gave the Red Devils the point they needed to win a record 19th league title. Love him or loathe him, you have to respect him. When Manchester United's 2010-11 campaign comes to a close next weekend against Blackpool, Sir Alex Ferguson will have made 850 team selections for the Premier League since the start of the 1992-93 season. Take your pick: Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar, Eric Cantona or Wayne Rooney, Bryan Robson or Nemanja Vidic,Adidas T-Shirt, Ferguson has constantly reinvented his side, changing the pieces but never the goal. Except it was more than a goal. It was an all-consuming desire to "knock Liverpool off their bloody perch," as Ferguson famously said. When the Scot arrived in Manchester in 1986, United had won the First Division title seven times; Liverpool had been the top team on 16 occasions. Manchester United Jerseys Now, with United's title-clinching, 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday, Ferguson can claim mission accomplished.
Since taking control of United, Ferguson has won a total of 12 championships starting with the inaugural year of the Premier League in 1992-93. One man's determination has helped overturn a rich Reds history dominated by legends such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish.Football Club JerseysGareth Bale won PFA Player of the Year, and while his performances bombing down the left-hand side of the pitch during the first half of the season were inspiring, Bale -- along with most of his Spurs teammates -- lost steam in the second half. He beat out Charlie Adam, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez, Rafael van der Vaart and Vidic. All worthy picks, but Giggs, 37, should have at least been on the list, if not at the top of it. To do what he's done at his age is remarkable. The way he nutmegged Michael Essien, almost 10 years his junior, in United's win over Chelsea last week said it all. So did Giggs' two brilliant assists in the Champions League quarterfinal at Old Trafford to knock the Blues out of the competition, and countless other moments of magic from the Welshman.
There are flashier players out there, but Giggs does something even more special -- he makes the players around him better. Saturday's title is also the 12th of Giggs' career, as he has been a part of all the squads that have finished No. 1 during Ferguson's reign. "It's a great achievement by the team and the manager to haul back our biggest rivals over the 1970s, 80s and 90s," Giggs recently told reporters.The back line had some shaky moments this season, particularly on the road and late in games.Soccer Jerseys From China But if there's been one constant, the keystone holding up the bridge, it's Vidic. He's helped anchor a defense that has often been without Rio Ferdinand -- Vidic had made 33 league appearances to Ferdinand's 18 as of May 13 -- and schooled the younger players, principally Chris Smalling. Coming into the Blackburn game, Vidic led the team with 52 defensive clearances and 26 defensive blocks. Imagine how United would have fared without him this season. The picture isn't pretty -- just consider how Arsenal coped without its best center back, Thomas Vermaelen.