Manchester United's Ryan Giggs announces retirement after 23 year career

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs announces his retirement from club football. This news followed after the confirmation of Louis Van Gaal's appointment as the new head coach of the club. Giggs will assist Van Gaal in his new managerial role. The 40-year old has been at the club since 1991 and has been an instrumental player for the Red Devils through out.

Giggs has made 963 appearances for the club and over 1000 appearances in total, scoring more than 170 goals for club and country. He has scored in every season of the Premier League since its inception. 

BREAKING: Ryan Giggs retires from playing. Read the new no.2's open letter to #mufc fans: http://t.co/IMtn2vdt52 pic.twitter.com/Io0mmPISBw

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 19, 2014

Here is Ryan Giggs' open letter to the club:

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,

Ryan.

Ryan Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history. He has 13 premier League medals to his name. Giggs has also won four FA Cups, three League Cups and two UEFA Champions League. He also holds two runner-up medals from the Champions League, three from the FA Cup and two from the League Cup.

At an individual level Giggs won two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 & 1993). He has been named in the PFA Team of the Year on six occasions (1992–93, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09).  He has been named in the PFA Team of the Century 1997-2007. 

Giggs will now be the assistant manager at Manchester United, previously being their interim manager.