Giggs to captain British team at Olympic Games

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

AFP Photo

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs was yesterday named as captain of the British football team at the London Olympics.

Giggs is one of three over-age players in Stuart Pearce’s side at the 2012 Games.

“Obviously I have experience and there are a lot of younger players in this squad, as captain hopefully I can pass that on to the younger players,” the winger told www.thefa.com.

Giggs has never played in a major international tournament with Wales but at the club level he has won 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League crowns. He also won 64 caps for Wales before retiring from international football in 2007.

Giggs’ compatriot Craig Bellamy and Manchester City defender Micah Richards are the other two over-age players in the squad.They were picked ahead of David Beckham whose non-selection provoked a lot of debate.

Giggs will lead out Team GB for the first time when it faces Brazil at the Riverside Stadium on July 20.
 “Ryan Giggs is going to be captaining the squad for the duration of the tournament,” Pearce told the Press Association.

 “I looked at the squad and I thought there are some good candidates there.

 “Aaron Ramsey captains Wales, Micah Richards has captained Manchester City at times, Craig Bellamy for the experience he’s had and one or two others within the camp as well.

 “But I think Ryan is the standout captain amongst the group. He has got the respect of all the members of the group and I am quite looking forward to working with him and alongside him.”