Ex-Manchester United Ryan Giggs' biggest controversies as he quits Wales job
Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk
Ryan Giggs has led a life of family affairs, injunctions and feuds. He has now resigned as Wales manager due to an ongoing legal battle set for later this year.
Ryan Giggs will not take charge of Wales for their historic World Cup appearance (Image: Getty Images)
Affairs and resignations, football man Ryan Giggs has hit the headlines again after resigning as Wales manager.
Controversy has ripped through the personal life of the once-flying Manchester United winger famed for his incredible skill.
In his later years, though, Giggs has become known more for his antics off the pitch than on it.
It is now official that the 48-year-old will not be leading Wales through their first World Cup finals appearances since 1958.
Their group will see them up against the USA, Iran and old enemies England in historic tournament for the Red Dragons.
The Football Association of Wales said: "The FAW places on record its gratitude to Ryan Giggs for his tenure as manager of the Cymru men's national team and appreciates the decision he has taken, which is in the best interests of Welsh football."
Ryan Giggs was forced to step down as Wales manager (Image: Getty Images)
"The full focus of the FAW and the Cymru men's national team is on the Fifa World Cup in Qatar later this year."
So why have so many controversies come Giggs' way and why did he have to step down?
Why did Ryan Giggs resign as Wales manager?
Ryan denies assaulting Kate Greville (Image: Kate Greville/Twitter)
Ryan Giggs stood down as Wales manager and said it was "only right" to end speculation about the future of the role as he did not want the "country’s preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilised or jeopardised".
Giggs is accused of using controlling behaviour and assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville between the period of August 2017 and November 2020. He denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty.
He said in a statement: "As has been well publicised, I have pleaded not guilty to the criminal accusations being heard at Manchester Crown Court. Whilst I am confident in our judicial process, I had hoped that the case would have been heard earlier to enable me to resume my managerial responsibilities."
The trial has been postponed until August 2022 and he has also pleaded not guilty to common assault of Kate's sister, Emma.
Wales will head into the World Cup under the management of interim coach Rob Page, the former Wales captain.
Giggs said: "After much consideration, I am standing down from my position as manager of the Wales men's national team with immediate effect.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to manage my country, but it is only right that the Wales FA, the coaching staff and the players prepare for the tournament with certainty, clarification and without speculation around the position of their head coach."
Rhodri's life was turned upside-down by Ryan and Natasha's affair (Image: Facebook)
It was revealed in 2011 that Ryan Giggs had been having an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri's wife, Natasha Lever.
Natasha also said she had aborted Ryan's baby before their wedding in 2010, while he was still married to and had children with Stacey Cooke. Their marriage was eventually dissolved in 43 seconds at London's Central Family Court in 2016 amid claims he had cheated on her with Kate.
Rhodri and Natasha married in 2010 after first getting together in 2003. After the affair was revealed, the two attempted to make a go of it but ended up divorcing in 2013. She also revealed details of the affair on Celebrity Big Brother.
Despite a reported attempt to reconcile in 2015, Rhodri and Ryan no longer speak and the brother of the former Premier League star said his family chose Ryan over him.
He thinks his family is upset that Rhodri has continued to speak about the affair in interviews and he even appeared in a 2019 Paddy Power advert in which he spoke about "loyalty".
On the Anything Goes With James English podcast, Rhodri said: "I don't speak to any of my family, none of them speak to me, they all speak to Ryan and they all live in Wales and go to Wales games and have nice food and nice hospitality."
Rhodri also said to the Sun he could "name ten footballers she had been with", but they are now on good terms as they have to co-parent.
Natasha said: "Rhodri's recollection can differ from the truth sometimes, I have no issue with him talking about his version of events as it's all part of his healing process."
Ryan Giggs' affair with Imogen Thomas
Ryan wasted £150,000 on an injunction (Image: Instagram/imogen_thomas)
While married to ex-wife Stacey Cooke and still conducting his affair with his own sister-in-law, Ryan also had an affair with former Miss Wales Imogen Thomas.
The two first got together in secret in September 2010 and had a six-month affair.
Giggs spent a reported £150,000 on trying to keep the affair with the Big Brother star quiet by taking out an injunction, but he was named in Parliament by Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming.
Imogen said: "I called it off a million times but he kept coming back. He knew it was wrong as well, he said as much, but he was pursuing me."
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