Ryan Giggs: 10 Players Who Can Successfully Replace Manchester United Legend

Ryan Giggs is undoubtedly the most decorated player in the English Premier League. Even at 37, he is much better than many of the left wingers around the world.

He has been a loyal Red Devil who spent his entire career for Manchester United and contributed to the glory of the club for many years until present date.

Giggs, who is definitely one of my favorite players, will be retiring hopefully after this season. Maybe he will rejoin as a mentor in the club to guide young talents to paths of glory.

So, I have compiled a list of some of the best choices available in present day football to stand up and fill Giggs' position or even excel his legacy. 

At the end, we want someone who can make his own name in Old Trafford and surpass all competitors and comparisons.

Bryan Ruiz currently plays for club FC Twente and is a rising world talent. Ruiz is a Costa Rican footballer who has made a good name for himself playing for the Dutch side. 

Ruiz, also known as "la comadreja" (the weasel) due to his ability and velocity controlling the ball, plays generally as an attacking midfielder. He can play in any position upfront from a wing to the central attacking midfielder to second forward , nd is known for his ball control ability, speed, dribbles and scoring prowess.

Ruiz, at 25, has been a matter to interest to many big European clubs like Bayern Munich and can be an asset to any club. At Old Trafford, he can really add to the sharpness of the team along the left flank. 

Ruiz made one of the quickest hat tricks ever against Sparta Rotterdam on March 27, 2010 with goals in the 46th, 49th (penalty) and 50th minutes! That's quite a talent to welcome in.

Silvestre Varela is a Portugal-born talent who currently plays as a winger along the left flank in FC Porto.

Wonder where I found this guy?

Well, Portugal has never been short on talents and Manchester United has been gifted with some of them until now. So, we love Portugal.

Varela is a product of the Sporting Club youth academy and is a gem of a talent. He has had a solid season in Porto after he moved there on a free transfer deal, and has banged the 2009-10 season with nine goals and two assists in 17 games.

Varela, at 25, is a great option to watch for. Despite being injured in the 2010-11 season, he started in 12 games and scored six times, which is really an impressive figure for a winger. Varela is fast and strong, and can be a great gamble at the day's end. 

José Andrés Guardado Hernández is a Mexican footballer who currently plays for Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish League.

Guardado is a fellow countryman of Manchester United wonder boy Chicharito Hernandez. Guardado has been the most expensive Mexican player after he moved to the Spanish side three years ago. Since then, he has been a stellar figure in the left wing who can cover a lot of area along the left flank and take down defenders with ease.

Guardado often tries to move and dribble to find a good scoring position and is a master in long range shots. He is also a threat in dead ball situations.

A player with excellent energy, the 24 year old was even linked with a move to United earlier after his solid performance in the World Cup. Guardado is surely an experienced player with pace and agility, so is he what United needs for Giggs' place?

Speaking of Mexico, I remember another name though. Marco Fabian, at 21, is from Chivas Guadalaraja where Chicharito had been playing earlier. Fabian is said to be a great talent with his super speed that he uses to run past defenders. It is said that defenders cannot keep up with his pace at all. 

Are you scoping Fergie?

Capel, who currently plays for club Sevilla FC in La Liga, is called a "wonderkid."

Capel, along with his teammate Jesus Navas, are the only great strengths for the team. He is a wonderfully gifted player who has the ability to run high along the left flank and can cross the ball really well into the box for scoring opportunities.

Capel, who is 22 now, is more of an unused talent. Surely, Sevilla is not the right place for him. He is fast with sound technical skills, and needs a good mentor or experienced player like Giggs who can improve him via correct guidance.  

Capel has always considered moving out of Spain to other big clubs to grow, and can something materialise this time?

There was no mention of this 20-year-old boy when he moved to FSV Mainz from Schalke on a loan move. This was surely not registered as one of the top transfers, but it is looking so now!

Holtby, who is of English and German descent, has been the galloping frontrunner for Mainz until now. He is a 5'8.5" player who plays on the left wing with a rush of energy and mind-boggling dribbles.

He is a great natural scorer, too, and can create his own opportunity to score.

Reports say that England boss Fabio Capello is also looking out for this sensation to play for England's national side. Holtby, who is the current U-21 captain of Germany, dreams of playing in England too.

Will Holtby be playing for England as well as Manchester United in the future?

Ashley Young is now a popular face in England. Playing for Aston Villa, he has only 18 months left on his contract and may soon leave his club in response to a good transfer deal.

Young is undoubtedly one of the vital talents that England has today, and at 25 he is one of the most dangerous quick feet players in the Premier League. 

Young has been an asset to his club thus far and has plenty of goals and assists. He has the ability to run really fast and can mesmerize the defense at times with his skills. He is also a good free kick specialist and always a person of preference in corners and penalties.

Young has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool this season, but United has also been a part of the race with their rivals. 

While the transfer tag will be higher than 15 million euros, can Sir Alex bring this talent home, edging his rivals?

Experienced and cultured in the EPL, Young will be a great player to watch for.

Xherdan Shaqiri is considered to be one of the brightest young talents in Swiss football today.

He scored six goals and provided five assists in an impressive debut season at FC Basel, helping his team to the league and cup double. 

He is just 19 years old and has raised the interest of many pundits all around the world. Being composed of a short and stout stature, Shaqiri is a real poacher in long range left footed shots. He can dribble past defenders at ease and cross or shoot as per the situation.

Though Shaqiri generally plays as a midfielder on the left, a 19 year old can always be nurtured properly to be a left winger or playmaker under the right guidance.

And who will be better than Sir Alex? 

What do you think of Shaqiri after watching this?

Douglas Costa, 20 years old, is a Brazilian prodigy who has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Douglas is a left-footed attacking midfielder who can also play as a winger. He is known for his sound technical skills, passing ability and vision. Also, he is a threat in deal ball situations, which earn him fame as a free kick specialist.

Currently playing for Russian club Shakhtar Donetsk, Douglas was doubted by pundits as to how much he can adapt to European football. However, he has come out strong with excellent performances in his term.

Manchester already has successful Brazilian stars running in the squad with the wonder twins Rafael and Fabio, and the improving Anderson.

So, can we see the Samba dance from Douglas on United? Only time will tell.

When it comes to wingers, Spain has always been one of the richest talent sources.

Juan Manuel Mata, who currently plays for Valencia in La Liga, is no new name. He is a left-footed winger who is known for his vision, intelligent runs, speedy moves and goal-scoring ability.

David Silva, who is also a product of Spain, has been a good asset for our rich spoiled neighbors. Juan Mata, who is currently 22, is way more physically stronger than Silva, and hence the chances of his success in the EPL are much better.

Earlier Juan Mata had been linked with a strong rumor moving to Liverpool, but that did not materialize. However, when interviewed about the recent game between Valencia and United, Mata expressed his respect for Ryan Giggs and United.

Valencia has been cash strapped and is selling off good players lately. So, can Sir Alex cash in on Juan Mata? I think it will be great to watch him play in the red jersey.

Marko Marin, the Werder Bremer star, the name all big clubs have been after in recent days.

Marin is a left winger as well as an attacking midfielder who is a gifted player. He is a talent of lilliputian dimensions with excellent technical skills and a high amount of creativity.

Marin is a diminutive attacker who operates down both flanks, usually the left side, but he can also act as a playmaker in the hole behind the forwards or play as a centre forward. The 21 year old possesses lightning pace and acceleration, and is adept at slipping between and hurdling opponents. He can deliver a wicked cross, and he often takes corners and free kicks, which contribute to an impressive amount of assists.

United has been linked with Marin, as Sir Alex sees him to be the next reinforcement option for Ryan Giggs. Though Werder Bremen is not in any mood to accept a deal after leaving Mesut Ozil, Marin has privately welcomed offers to play for big European clubs.

It is believed that Ferguson is willing to spend €19.5m to sign the youngster, and thus United has taken a pole position in the race to sign him by the beginning of next season.

What United will be getting for their notes is by no means the finished article, but Marin is a player with bags of potential who can excite fans and give defenders sleepless nights with his constant buzzing around.

And he will a great weapon to develop at United.