Giggs: Footballers deserve their cash

October 14, 2009

Ryan Giggs

RYAN Giggs believes the majority of top-flight players deserve their massive wages.

Such has been the explosion of cash into the Premier League over the past few years, that salaries in excess of £100,000 a week, if not exactly commonplace, are hardly unknown.

It is a far cry from the sums on offer when Giggs began his professional career at Manchester United nearly two decades ago, with many critics arguing the inflation has happened so quickly, there is now no connection at all between supporters and the men they support.

Yet Giggs, like long-time team-mate Gary Neville, does not feel the cash is excessive given the contracts being paid to televise the Premier League, which bring in well over £1.5billion.

"There is plenty of money in the game but the majority of the players deserve it," Giggs told ITV's News at Ten.

"There are a number of players that perhaps 20 years ago would not have got paid the money that they're getting now but that is the way that football is.

"The average player is getting a lot of money - if that is right, I don't know. But good luck to them - the money is in the game, why not earn it while they have got the chance?

"But twenty years ago that wouldn't have happened. Then it was probably only the top, top players, the elite players who would be earning good money."

Giggs career

It just emphasises the massive changes that have taken place during Giggs' stellar career, which has brought him 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies.

"The game has gone massive," he said.

"Footballers make the front pages and the back pages - it is big news, they are like pop stars.

"A lot of things are for the good. The fitness of players is better than it has ever been. The Premier League is the best league in the world."

Giggs is also keenly aware the profile of top football players allows them to make more significant contributions to wider-scale campaigns.

That is why he has been spending time in Sierra Leone on a UNICEF project aimed at tackling the spread of HIV in the region.

And Giggs realises, compared to the struggles faced by so many children in the war-ravaged African country, week-to-week combat in the Premier League is easy.

"You see what true bravery is," he said.

"You hear all the time that a footballer is brave going into a tackle or going up for a header. That's not bravery.

"What I've seen - a 21-year-old lad who was telling me that he is positive for HIV and what he wants to do about it, that he wants to educate other people, that he wants to help stop it happening to other young men and to other young women - that is bravery."

The full interview will be broadcast on tonight's ITV News at Ten.

Do footballers deserve the money they make? Have your say.

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neal 07, south stand lower (14/10/2009 at 15:05)

whilst the premier league is the most popular and sought after in the world, it has made 'too many nobodies millionaires'

Whilst the real stars deserve their cash, lesser clubs are being forced to pay seriously lesser players upwards of £40'000 a week, plus all the add ons and bonuses

Is the money being filtered back down throughout football...? NO! Just look at how many clubs are in/have been in administration!!!

I loved Utd when we were poor so the money is irrelevant to me, however I would like a freeze on my season ticket for next season Uncle Malc!!! (yeah and pigs will fly)!!!

Jordie, Manchester (14/10/2009 at 15:37)

This coming from a man who "allegedly" bought everybody who played in his testimonial a rolex watch specially inscribed to mark the occasion instead of giving it to charity rather smacks of somebody who doesn't live in the real world.

The Admiral Mann (14/10/2009 at 15:51)

I'm blue to the core but I'll say one thing if ever there was a player over the last twenty years that does deserve this kind of money,it has to be Giggs,not just for his footballing talent and skill,but the simple fact he's one of very few role models for youngsters out there in the game,you never see him falling out of a taxi or being photographed in a nightclub drunk etc etc.

Fair play to you.

When the seagulls follow the trawler, N Ireland (14/10/2009 at 15:58)

Wages is one thing but then you hear their on a win bonus,surely that's why they are getting paid their wages in the first place TO WIN or at least try and then a striker gets paid extra if he scores so many goals ,again surely thats why your getting paid your wages.

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (14/10/2009 at 16:04)

We are coming to the end of the television age. Within five years I belive all of the top clubs will run their own High Definition broadcasts on the internet of all their own games.

It stands to reason that rather than paying a monthly subscription to ESPN or SKY you should just be able to buy the games you actually want to watch i.e those games featuring the team you support.

However, the agents of the top footballers will not be shy about demanding a slice of this revenue and I fear that what we will end up with is billions of people watching games online that are being played in empty stadiums.

I'm just like Stewie Griffin, Fictional Quahog, Rhode Island (14/10/2009 at 16:19)

I'm sorry Ryan, most of the prima donnas around these days do not deserve the money they're getting. In fact to be honest, nobody does, not even a great like you. Player earnings are just stupid nowadays and they wield far too much power. Tevez acted like a big baby to get more money out of us. When he didn't get it, he blubbered like a schoolgirl and ran off.....er...well....like a schoolgirl.

brokeback monton (14/10/2009 at 16:29)

I do believe that all the money shouln't go to the football club owners, however, that dosn't mean it should go to the players, the money should go towards reducing ticket prices.

keithmat (14/10/2009 at 16:33)

Footbal players (and other sports professionals) have a relatively short career so you could expect them to earn enough to look after themsleves when it is over or while they transition to another profession. But the amounts professional sportspeople get for basically possessing a unique skill, from both playing and endorsements, is somewhat obscene. I am sure an accountant can justify it based on how much gate receipts are attributable to that person, how many shirts and other merchandise are sold, how many credit cards are used in Korea .... but that is just the problem. In order to pay the salaries to get the player to sell the tickets and the shirts then ALL of the prices go up so that the 'common' man can no longer afford to be a spectator! If the salaries were halved, then so could the ticket prices and merchandise be halved etc., etc.,

But it will never happen as long as fans of all sports keep paying for the tickets and merchandise.

It still doesn't make it right though.

bobbydazzler (14/10/2009 at 16:55)

giggsy is normally a sensible lad and comes across as being well grounded. on this subject ryan you are totally and utterly wrong. few supporters will deny that footballers should be well paid. but get real ryan old lad there are many many very ordinary players( and ordinary is a compliment) that are earning more in a year than the average man in the street earns in a lifetime. they earn such fabulous sums on the back of hard pressed fans THIS BONANZA WILL NOT CONTINUE FOREVER.

Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (14/10/2009 at 17:28)

Neal - you are joking surely?. The Garden knomes are gonna squeeze you until the pips burst - with my full support of course. Up the Glaziers!.

Matthew Savage (14/10/2009 at 17:45)

The headline has no correlation with Giggsy's point or his comments

United Manchester, Altrincham (14/10/2009 at 17:46)

No wonder the average fan can no longer afford to support their teams,I'll always support United but players today are just mercenary in their wage demands with very few exceptions.The link between real fans,who give grounds the passion we all enjoy ,is fast dilluting,with the prawn sandwich brigade taking over.

sigmund fraud, strangeways (14/10/2009 at 18:35)

The accompanying photograph of Giggs wearing the new kit with the arrow across the breast pointing in a downward direction; symbolic of the unconscious descent of United. Hades the next destination.

tim chorlton, chorlton (14/10/2009 at 19:17)

What a crass article, what argument exactly has Giggs put forward?

If Giggs had any brains he would keep shtum about the embarassing amounts he earns and not make
tasteless comments akin to "someones got to earn it, fair play to us" etc.

No player deserves the kind of money they get for kicking an inflated pig skin around even if they are good at it.

And it should not be at the whim of overpaid footballers whether good causes receive any cash.

What about all the City and United stars donating a months wages to build a new hospital in Manchester?

The wage bill at City alone is over ONE MILLION A DAY.That should equal at least 50 million in a month between the two clubs.

Or why doesn't Giggs make a magnificent gesture of paying for a wage freeze for one season?

kendownunder, sydney (14/10/2009 at 19:23)

if pigs could fly would the price of bacon go up

manc abroad, OT (14/10/2009 at 19:29)

Too many average players getting paid salaries that the average man in the street could only dream of, from winning the lottery.

A few years ago players were saying they would not come to the Premiership, now the TV money is on offer they can't wait to come across. You know the stories, "I have always wanted to play for Arsenal", deal falls thru, "It has been my dream to play for United".

Too many lower league clubs are going into administration. Who will be the next Leeds ?

Happy Valley Barry, San Francisco, California (14/10/2009 at 19:40)

Can't agree with Giggsy! Players are earning too much, so much so that
clubs all over the world are in dept and the future could be bleak.
Fans cannot afford game tickets, the whole thing could go bust in this
era if nothing is done to keep clubs heathly, even if it's at the expence of player salaries. Real Madrid, Chelsea, United, now City are all paying
too much for players and hurting the game at large. To me the fans are
the most important element of football, we pay for SAF, Giggs, the lights,
balls and boots. If we cannot afford it anymore, there's no football.
Get real Mr Giggs, your stance here is way off base because you live in an
ivory tower and know nothing of personal sacrifce the fans make to see games.
Up the Reds!

danny, WILMSLOW (14/10/2009 at 21:58)

Footballers income is criminal and the managers no better.Long gone are the days of football being a working mans game,the prices are riduclas as are the transfer fees.
The good news is United players had a good night with Berbatov getting a hatrick Nani scoring for Portugal. Foster made a great save hwever he needs to stop dithering and either go or stay and stamp his authority.
Pique scored yet again for Spain.
And Boy we could do with Beckham somebody who could pass the balls to Rooney and Berbatov,he is still a great player.

Alias Smith, over the moon (14/10/2009 at 22:31)

So Giggs is doing charitable work for UNICEF and we get a headline about footballers earning obscene amounts of money? Come on MEN, that's journalism at its worst.

steve chew, usa (14/10/2009 at 22:38)

What do you expect Giggs and Neville to say? No, players are overpaid? Go interview any fox and ask if it's justified to raid the hen house and 100% of them would say yes. Which 'half a genius' reporter would think of asking Giggs this question and seek verification with Neville? (By the way a genius is defined as having an IQ of 150, half a genius is one with IQ half as much).

Steve, Glossop (14/10/2009 at 23:00)

I admire Ryan for all he's achieved & what he's doing now outside the field of play. Personally I don't let it bother me what players like Ronaldo or Keane get paid cos they earn it one way or another but I do believe money easily acquired softens ambition in lesser souls eg our No16. Clearly I'm jealous & twisted but feel I speak the truth for if I have a crap or average day I suffer financially usually. But hey though I live in the real world I must learn to be more caring & gentle towards unworthy millionaires & not critisise them in any fashion. I really feel for them!

Andrew Shaw (14/10/2009 at 23:25)

"The game has gone massive", he said. Wow. What an insight. Giggsy, you're a genius!

MyNameIsEarl, MANCHESTER (14/10/2009 at 23:46)

SAF eat humble pie, i know becks ossd you off demanding the virus move but common bring becks home, would be a free sighning and the right wing would be sorted.....

Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (14/10/2009 at 23:55)

Giggs is one of the greatest Utd players ever to wear the shirt...but lives and plays in an age when footballers get paid so much that the world to them is another planet as far as 99% of the fans are concerned. I wouldn't expect any PL player to come out and say "yes i'm guilty i'm being over paid" but let's face it, pound for pound the gap between the fans monthly wages and the players has increased beyond all comprehension since the PL began. I find it hard to find how any fans watching their premiership teams can have any form of connection with the players on the pitch when a lot of them struggle to pay for their own season tickets...while the players have to get ever more sophisticated security to keep themselves safe in their own homes each one the size of a small town containing 5 or more cars in the garage. One thing's for sure, i no longer supply the gravy train. To add another point, Giggs is probably one of the last football players still playing at the top level who's first car was similar to most other teenagers first cars...a Ford Escort Popular 1.1. Now you find that the youth players turned 17 are getting BMW M3's as first cars. Go figure....

I'm just like Stewie Griffin, Fictional Quahog, Rhode Island (15/10/2009 at 00:51)

sigmund fraud, strangeways
14/10/2009 at 18:35

Nah Siggy......it's V FOR VICTORY!!!!

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