Ryan Giggs is one of English football's most decorated players.

The 40-year-old, now a player-coach with Manchester United, has won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues among his 35 honours.

Individual accolades have also not been in short supply for the Welshman, who has been named the PFA Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of Year and BBC Sports Personality of the Year during his career.

However, while Giggs's tenure in the game has been a glittering one, it all started for him 23 years ago today in not so successful circumstances.

The then 17-year-old was named on the bench by Sir Alex Ferguson for a Division One clash with Everton at Old Trafford - a fixture that the visiting Toffees would ultimately win 2-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Mike Newell and Dave Watson.

From a United point of view, the match will best be remembered for the introduction of Giggs. Wearing the number 14 on his back, the young winger, who had been making headlines for the club's youth team, was handed his debut with just 30 minutes on the clock to replace the injured Denis Irwin.

The Red Devils may have lost the match, but it was clear from the quality of Giggs's cameo from the bench that Ferguson and United had a future star on their hands.

Speaking more recently about giving Giggs his debut, Ferguson said: "It was a big test, but I think that his time had come. It was inevitable that it was going to happen, it was just about picking the right moment. By his performances for the reserves, he was knocking himself into the team."

MAN UNITED: Sealey; Irwin, Pallister, Donaghy, Martin (Beardsmore); Blackmore, Ince, Ferguson, Sharpe; McClair, Wallace

EVERTON: Southall; Ratcliffe, Watson, Keown, Hinchcliffe; McDonald, Ebbrell, McCall, Nevin (Atteveld); Newell, Sharp (Cottee)