Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs has backed battling Gareth Barry to keep on going for another “two-three years” after he beat his Premier League appearance record this week.
Barry, 36, ran out for a historic 633rd time during West Bromwich Albion’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Monday night. This saw the 53-times-capped England defensive midfielder surpass the previous figure, although his celebrated former opponent featured in 672 top-flight matches for the Red Devils from 1990-2014 when you include games played in the old Football League’s First Division.
Speaking in Dubai’s Al Wasl Club on the sidelines of the ongoing Premier Futsal finals, Giggs congratulated the new benchmark setter.
“It’s a great achievement to play in the Premier League so long,” said the retired 43-year-old Wales winger, who is the second-most-decorated player in football history with 35 trophies.
“I did it that long, it’s difficult especially when it comes to the later years as you need to manage yourself and he’s done that right – he’s playing top level as well, still.
“I think he can go on another two-three years, as well. He looks a good professional.
“I don’t know him that well. But when you look after yourself, especially in the later years, and have the right manager to look after you, then you can play two-three more years.
“He’s 36, so he’s got another few seasons at least.”
Barry debuted as a 17-year-old for Aston Villa in a 3-1 win at Sheffield on Wednesday May 2, 1998. He went on to further feature for Manchester City and Everton, winning the 2010/11 FA Cup and 2011/12 Premier League with the former.
He joined West Brom for an undisclosed fee in August.
“My earliest memories of him are as a left-back, sometimes centre-back at Aston Villa as they played three at the back at that time,” commented Giggs, who skippered Mumbai Warriors to a 10-7 victory against lethal ex-Argentina and Internazionale striker Hernan Crespo’s Chennai Singhams on Tuesday night. “He then moved into a midfield role for England and his club.
“He was just always a solid performer, probably a manager’s dream because you know what you’re going to get week in and week out.
“He’s somebody you can trust that you are going to get performances from.
“When you get a player like that, they are always going to be in the reckoning when it comes to picking your team.”
The Premier Futsal finals are taking place in Dubai until Sunday, October 1. Deco, Ronaldinho, Paul Scholes and Michel Salgado will also feature.
Day tickets are priced from Dh50-500, with packages available from Dh150-1,650.
