Book – Giggs, the Autobiography. By Ryan Giggs

As my all time favourite United hero, this was a must read, although it took me nearly 3 years to pick it up. (I know, my priorities have changed now, honest!)I always believe the word ‘hero’ is over used but not as much as ‘legend’. I don’t think you can really be a legend until after you’ve gone, or at least after the age of 75 (I’ll regret saying that when I reach 74)Hero = brave man, conqueror, champion, idolLegend = fable, myth, fairy tale, marvel, prodigyTo me, a hero is someone who most of the time, does the right thing and inspires others to do the same.In any case, Giggs has mostly been compared with George Best. 2 words more often than not followed by another 2, ‘United Legend’. Not something I agree with although I‘m aware I’m in the minority. As far as I can see, GB did the right for about 5 minutes, the rest of the time he did not although by my own definition, I guess he was still an inspiration to some.Giggs is so much more of an all round nice guy and a gifted footballer much like one of his own favourite United player’s, Eric Cantona. ‘Gifted’ is another term I find difficult to associate with football. Talented maybe, but surely as David Beckham will testify, it takes practice, dedication, practice, patience, practice, training and practice. Talent can come with practice. With the ‘arts’ gifted can come into it but not really sports. Having said that, Springsteen’s E Street Band are the most gifted group of musicians I’m aware of but isn’t that where 20-30 years of intense practice gets you?Talking of hero’s, my main football inspiration is undoubtedly Sir Alex Ferguson. The only other person to put the fear of God into me, other than my own Dad. There’s no way I would say ‘no’ to either. Ever.Having said that, the likelihood of either asking anything of me is nil.I have the utmost respect for Fergie, not that I would ever call him that to his face. It would be ‘Sir’, even before the Knighthood.My respect for him is as a manager. As a ‘determined, won’t take second place, only the best will do, type of manager.He is up there at the top of my list of business inspirations along with Dale Carnegie, and Richard Branson. None of these can be described as conventional in their time.I wonder if Fergie would be on the list if I wasn’t a United Supporter but in the end, I’m grateful that I have had the opportunity to learn from the ‘Gaffer’.While Dale Carnegie inspired my lifestyle choice as well as my management style, Branson inspired me to market well and use brands and not to care what others think. Also, that you can start a business from a shoe box. (That’s what they call spare rooms in Milton Keynes).Ferguson taught me attitude; Think only about being the best. It’s the reason the picture of Old Trafford hands above my desk, not the team, but the ground. It represents the winning attitude during Fergie’s long reign that has made the team what it is.Giggs book was a great, easy read. I love people who punctuate with ! to make a point! I do it but I’ve been told that it means the sentence wasn’t good enough! I’m going to do it anyway! Lots!He talks about Ferguson and the times he did go against orders. He’s not the goody two shoes we think but he is but he is a dedicated footballer, team member and family man who likes to have fun, like the rest of us. He talks about winning and losing but more about winning. He talks about Cantona, ‘the best United footballer I have ever played with’, the famous boot incident with Beckham, marking the start of DB’s exit from Old Trafford.I felt privileged to be on the inside of his story or at least the parts he is happy to share.I look forward to the updated version that I trust will come with his dreaded but inevitable retirement from the beautiful game and the best team in the world.9/10Inspiration Factor 9/10 (It couldn’t be any less)