Giggs best of last 20 years

Manchester City may have wrestled the title from their grasp, but Manchester United were yesterday awarded two prestigious honours for their dominance of the Premier League.

Alex Ferguson was named the best manager in the Premier League’s 20-year history and Ryan Giggs won the best player award at a ceremony in central London.

Ferguson, who was taunted by City striker Carlos Tevez during the Blues’ title-winning parade in Manchester on Monday, was not in London yesterday.

Chief executive David Gill picked up the award on his behalf.

Giggs did receive his award, which was given to him after he beat off competition from the likes of Thierry Henry, Paul Scholes and Dennis Bergkamp to clinch the vote from a panel of ‘experts’. The Welshman has made 909 appearances for United and is the most decorated player in the English game while Ferguson has won 12 Premier League titles since he took over the Lancashire club in 1986.

Alan Shearer received an award for most Premier League goals (260) while David James received a prize for most Premier League clean sheets (173).

The panel’s team of the last 20 seasons was named as: Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer.