Gallery: Ryan Giggs wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
What’s this!? A professional footballer winning a public vote, over a heavyweight boxing world champion and an F1 world champ. I didn’t see that coming.
Generally, the British public prefers any sportsmen to footballers. But, as Gary Lineker pointed out last night, Ryan Giggs is a transcendent figure, liked by people who don’t even like football. His SPotY win was a shock – to Giggs himself , above all – but a welcome shock. For all of the bad stuff in football today, it’s great that a world-class model pro like Giggs gets this acclaim, even if it’s more of a lifetime achievement gong than based on his efforst in 2009 alone.
Fabio Capello won the Coach of the Year award for his admirable work in charge of England. The prize he wants is in 2010, but this will do for now.
Gallery of Giggsy and F-Cap at the awards:
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Do Arsenal Artificially Enhance The Emirates Atmosphere? – OTP
Big Cup Bullshit – The FCF
Guess UEFA Cup Finalists From Their Shirt – Three Match Ban
20 Damning Steve Kean Quotes – Mirror Football
'Abandon All Hope…' – Sunshine Room
Leaked Blackburn Letter Shows Extent Of Turmoil – EPL Talk
Genius Who Couldn't Exist Today: Dragan Stojkovic – LBITCR
German Philosopher Reflects On Jose Mourinho – Futfanatico
Rule Changes That Could Hand Title To Man Utd – FourFourTwo
Welcome To Posh – Danny Last for IBWM
He might, perhaps, the most admirable footballer in the premiership today, but winning a title you’ve won 10 out of 17 and getting (very strangely considering the number of games he played) the PFA player of the year award to amount to having the greatest year in sport of his life. He should get the lifetime achievement though, any day. The only Man United player I can stand.